On February 15, 1887, the Portland Union Station Company received a charter for a new railroad depot at the intersection of Congress and St. John Streets. This station would function as a central hub for the Maine Central Railroad and the Boston and Maine Railroad lines, serving all points to the north. In July, when the Board of Railroad Commissioners inspected the site, construction of the new depot was well underway, with the first floor already in place and approximately 105 workers on site.

Portland contractor James Cunningham secured the contract to build the design from the Boston architectural firm Bradlee, Winslow, and Wetherell, with J. & J. Philbrook of Portland tasked with oversight of the carpentry.

This image is part of an album owned by William S. Edwards, a civil engineer in the City of Portland. Edwards captioned the photograph, "Foundation M.C.R.R. Depot Congress St. July 9, 1887."