By 1902, seven railroad companies each ran their own separate station in El Paso, and passengers struggled to change trains. That led to calls for one shared union station. The depot was built in 1905 and 1906 and was designed by architect Daniel Burnham, who also designed Washington Union Station.
Opening night in February 1906 drew more than 10,000 visitors. The building was red brick with a tall bell tower. The second floor held a Harvey House restaurant tied to the Santa Fe railroad, and trains from Mexico crossed the Rio Grande to reach it.
In the 1940s the depot was remodeled in a Southwestern style, and the steeple was taken off. The depot closed in 1974. Restoration began in 1982 and removed paint from the brick and rebuilt the tower's spire. Amtrak's Texas Eagle and Sunset Limited stop here today.