Ralph Gilbert

St. Paul Union Depot Murals

This was a commission from the Ramsey County Railroad Authority, funded in part by the National Transportation Administration. There are six historical, multicultural murals evoking the history of the region and of rail transportation. They are painted on panels constructed of a fiberglass facing over an aluminum honey comb interior, making them very lightweight and very strong. Research played a big part in this project, as did conversations with community members. The St. Paul Union Depot is on the National Register of Historic Places.

St. Paul Union Depot Murals plus studies in the Studio

Here you see me standing next to the mural panels in my studio, along with the final color studies that are each six feet high. 

St. Paul Union Depot Murals in the Studio

I worked on these paintings without an assistant and it was a rewarding but strenuous undertaking! Though a great deal of planning went into the work, as I developed the final images there were still discoveries and additions that were unplanned and appeared late in the process.

Aggregated View of Three of Six Panels

This digitally pulls together three of the six panels and allows one a closer view of several in relation to each other. Each theme posed unique design challenges.

Aggregated view of 3 of 6 panels

This view digitally pulls together three of the six panels and allows one a closer view of several in relation to each other. My goal was to make the six panels cohesive yet varied.

The St. Paul Union Depot and the African American Community

In the 1st half of the 20th century, the Rondo neighborhood was the heart and soul of the black community in St. Paul. Many African Americans worked as employees in service related jobs. Because of tips, some of the most remunerative jobs were railroad related, such as sleeping car porters, dining car waiters and railroad station porters (called “red caps”). The connection between the Union Depot, the railroads and the local African-American community is significant.

The Mississippi River and the Expansion of the Railroads

The Mississippi River and the expansion of the railroads played a key role in westward expansion and settlement of the area. This had significant impact on the Dakota tribe, that ceded lands to make way for new settlers, bringing increased traffic from ox carts, trains and steamboats.

The Orphan Trains

From 1854 to 1929 an estimated 250,000 children born in New York were placed on orphan trains to to be assigned new homes throughout the United States. Accompanied by the Sisters of Mercy, some of the orphans were placed with families on farms near St. Paul.

Immigrant Panel

Minnesota became a significant immigration state as result of the wave of immigration to the United States at the turn of the 20th century. Immigrants arrived at Union Depot, which welcomed newcomers from around the globe who would settle in Minnesota and shape its future in unique ways.

The St. Paul Union Depot and the U.S. Mail

At one point there were 500 postal workers at the Depot, sorting and loading all mail from the east to territories west of the Mississippi River.

The St. Paul Union Depot and the Military

Soldiers deploying and returning from the world wars were an important part of the Union Depot's history. Many soldiers left their families in Minnesota to go to war and never returned. Sleeping quarters, medical rooms and a bowling alley were amenities over the decades for our nation's soldiers.

Installing the murals in the St. Paul Union Depot

The installation of the panels was done by experts whose precise work was critical to the success of the project. I am grateful to Dr. Duane Chartier of Authentica in Los Angeles and Joel Pieper of JPFA in Minneapolis for their patient and skilled installation. 

Installing the Murals, St. Paul Union Depot

The light weight, strength and rigidity of the mural panels were critical characteristics for this project. Each panel weighs about 65 pounds. In the studio I could move them a foot or so at a time by myself as needed, but handling them correctly required a crew. 

The First Mural Installed in the Grand Waiting Room of the St. Paul Union Depot

Dr. Duane Chartier allowed me to watch the installation of the first panel, but was very clear that once I was satisfied with the installation I was to get out of the way and let him and his crew do their jobs. I deferred to his expertise and left them to it.  

Facade of the St. Paul Union Depot, which is on the National Register of Historic Places