Duluth’s Union Depot first opened its door on March 1, 1892. Designed by the Boston firm Peabody and Stearns, the rail station is one of few examples of French Norman style architecture in the United States. In Duluth’s heyday, the Union Depot served seven railroads with 50 trains arriving and departing each day.

As a result of great community involvement, the building gained status as a National Historic Site in 1970, and work began to repurpose the building. The building reopened its doors once more in 1973 with a new life as The St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center. Today the building continues to host seven cultural organizations and helps to provide heritage and arts programming to the region.