Buffalo Central Terminal is a monument to the city's resilience. Its imposing art deco architecture embodies the optimism and grandeur of the 1920s, when construction began. But the Great Depression befell the economy only a year after the Terminal's opening, foreshadowing its beleaguered history.

From inception, the immense structure’s capacity exceeded the demand for rail travel. Designed for 10,000 passengers a day, and with its own power station, Central Terminal was perpetually underused. The rise of the automobile and interstate system, the loss of manufacturing jobs, and whispers of organized crime and corruption conspired to the Terminal’s ultimate abandonment. The last passenger train left the station in 1979.

Through the work of tireless preservationists and a visionary developer, Buffalo Central may finally secure the future it deserves. Plans are in place to rebuild the entire surrounding neighborhood, with the Terminal serving as a residential and commercial hub. There’s even a growing movement to bring passenger trains back. Here’s hoping.