FIG. 019Specimen · Rare
1911 Union Station Fir
$6per board foot
- Species
- Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas Fir)
- Dimensions
- 9–14in sq · up to 20ft
- Age
- 110+ yrs
- Reclaimed
- Union Station building, Denver, 1911
- Note
- Straight, dark patina
Browse online · buy in person · cash or card · we load with forklift
| Dimensions | Price |
|---|---|
| 14in × 12in × 179in | $1,253 |
| 12in × 13in × 179in | $1,164 |
| 10.5in × 9.5in × 240in | $997 — damaged ends |
| 9.75in × 11.75in × 179in | $854 |
| 11.5in × 9.75in × 156in | $728 |
| 12in × 10in × 126in | $630 |
| 11.25in × 9.25in × 120in | $520 |
| 9in × 9in × 147in | $496 |
| 9.5in × 11in × 59in | $256 |
Prices current as of publication · call 720·236·0454 to confirm stock
These are Douglas fir support beams out of a Denver Union Station building put up in 1911. They held that structure for over a century. Straight, sound, and carrying a dark amber patina that nothing on a shelf at a lumber yard is going to match.
$6 per board foot. $40 per cut.
Why old-growth fir is not the same product
A 1911 beam came out of a slow-grown old-growth tree — often twenty or more growth rings per inch. Modern plantation Douglas fir is grown fast and cut young, and the ring spacing shows it. The old material is denser, more dimensionally stable, and has a color depth that comes from a hundred years of oxidation rather than a can of stain.
Every beam is documented
We can tell you which building each of these came out of. If you are specifying this for a client, that provenance is part of what you are selling — a beam with a date and an address behind it is a different object than reclaimed lumber of unknown origin.
What people build with it
Mantels, structural exposed beams, timber-frame accents, stair treads, and bar tops. The shorter pieces make exceptional fireplace mantels. The 20-footers are for exposed structural runs and there are not many left.
Call 720-236-0454 to check what is still on the rack before you drive out. When it’s gone, it’s gone.
FIG. 019.QQuestions
1911 Union Station Fir — common questions
Where does the 1911 Union Station fir come from?
These are Douglas fir support beams pulled from a Denver Union Station building constructed in 1911. They carried that structure for over a century before we deconstructed it.
How much does 1911 Union Station fir cost?
It is $6 per board foot, plus $40 per cut. Individual beams currently in stock run from $256 for a 9.5x11x59in piece to $1,253 for a 14x12x179in beam.
Do you cut the beams to length?
Yes. Cuts are $40 each. Tell us the finished length when you buy and we will make the cut before you load.
Is old-growth Douglas fir different from new fir?
Yes, substantially. A 1911 beam came from a slow-grown old-growth tree with tight, dense growth rings — often 20 or more per inch. Modern plantation fir is far coarser. The old material is denser, more stable, and has a deep amber patina you cannot fake.
When it's gone, it's gone.
Inventory turns over weekly. Call ahead, then pull your truck up — we load with the forklift.