One of the largest attractions at Durham Western Heritage Museum is the Main Waiting Room.  Designed in art deco architecture, it features a ceiling made of sculptured plaster, with painted gold and silver leaf trim and six restored bronze, copper and glass chandeliers that are 13 feet high and five feet in diameter. The room measures 160 feet long, 72 feet wide and has a 65-foot ceiling. The area contains ten cathedral-like plate glass window, a patterned terrazzo floor, columnettes of blue Belgian marble, and a wainscoting of black Belgian marble.

Passengers purchased their tickets at any of the 12 ticket windows along the north wall of the Main Waiting Room. The Main Waiting Room also provided a variety of services for travelers including a baggage checkroom, large dining room, lunchroom, barber shop, telephone and telegraph facilities, information and taxicab stations, a newsstand, an emergency hospital, a lounge for women and a lounge for the service/military men traveling through Union Station. 

The Baggage Check Counter was located directly north of the Soda Fountain. Luggage was tagged, moved to a freight elevator and transferred to the trains.  Passengers could hire a cab from the Taxi Stand located near the northeast entrance. 

The Gift Shop and Soda Fountain were popular stops while waiting for a train. The Gift Shop offered small items such as postcards, toys, personal hygiene products, candy and cigars. 

While waiting for a train, male passengers could also stop by the station's barbershop for a haircut.   The entrance to the barbershop was located on 10th Street which helped make it a very popular place for both traveling men and for local working men. This shop had 3-4 chairs. 

Women passengers were able to relax in the Ladies Lounge. It was highly decorated and included chairs, couches, a small sink and a mirror.  There were also current copies of the local newspaper available for the women.

Chances to reminisce are abundant at Durham Western Heritage Museum. Visitors can eavesdrop on the lives of people who traveled through the station in the 1930s, '40s, and '50s as they view the life-like sculptures designed by local artist John Lajba.