Union brings together a historically significant public square in the downtown area, parks, architectural history, and river activities. German cultural influence is still evident in the architecture. This gives you several themes to choose from when planning your stay: local history, nature trails, and activities on the water. If you’re looking for a hotel in Union, it helps to first decide which of these interests you want to shape your free time. That way, your planning starts with the town’s specific offerings and can be tailored to your travel interests.
Parks and River Connections
Hansen Park is a historically significant public square in downtown Union. City Park offers a different focus: it has a Liberty Swing designed for wheelchair users. The distinction between these locations is specific: Hansen Park connects a public square with local history, while the swing at City Park is a distinctive feature designed for wheelchair users. Visitors interested in parks will find more than one shared focus here.
Clearview Park offers views of the Bourbeuse River and a natural hiking trail through a secluded forest. Union Access offers a different kind of river connection: access to the Bourbeuse River for fishing and boating. The two options differ in the activities they offer—here, a forest trail and river views; there, fishing and boating. This makes it easier to choose between a nature trail and a specific river activity.
Architecture and History
German cultural influence is still evident in Union’s architecture. The historic Franklin County Courthouse offers a different, more precisely dated chapter of history: it was built in 1923 and completely renovated in 1970. The year before the renovation, it had been bombed as a diversion during a bank robbery. The courthouse houses the Franklin County Veterans Museum. The enduring cultural influences in the architecture thus sit alongside the dated history of a particular building and its use as a museum.
The Franklin County Historical Society offers private visiting hours for groups, organizations, and extended families. Visits are scheduled for the first and third Wednesdays and the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, from noon to 4 p.m.; visits by appointment are also possible. Check the hours before you arrive. This makes it easier to plan a visit without confusing the regular hours with an appointment.
Downtown Farmers Market
During the 2026 season, Union’s Farmers Market is located at Oak & Main Street next to Hansen Park in downtown. Its proximity to the historic public square brings together two distinct aspects of downtown: the park and the seasonal market. Since dates and operating details may change, check the specifics before planning a market visit.
Choose a Hotel Based on Your Travel Interests
When planning your stay, you can distinguish among the local offerings by the kind of time you want to spend: the architecture and courthouse offer historical interest, Clearview Park offers a forest trail and river views, and Union Access is for fishing or boating. This lets you shape your plans around the things that genuinely interest you.
Explore more destinations: Sullivan, Saint Clair, Villa Ridge, Pacific, New Haven.
See the broader travel overview: Franklin County.
