Amtrak Miami station, 1978.

The Miami station opened in 1978 and lies just east of Miami International Airport in the Hialeah area. Rising two stories, the building is composed of variegated buff brick interspersed with large expanses of glass that allow natural light to flood the interior waiting room.

A prominent metal cantilevered roof caps the station and its deep eaves protect passengers against inclement weather. Viewed at a distance, the roof appears to float above the building due to a band of clerestory windows that follows the top edge of the walls. Inside, a sweeping staircase leads to a raised circular seating area that looks out over the full-height waiting room.

In its first decade of operation, Amtrak developed standardized designs for new stations that would help create a brand identity for the company. A twin of the Miami station building opened the same year to serve Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minn.

Photographer: Unknown for Amtrak. From the Amtrak Corporate Collection.