During the Second World War, on 1 April 1945, a heavy bombing raid mostly destroyed the station and tracks. It is commemorated by the bunker built next to the station, in which the Kunsthalle Recklinghausen was established in 1950.
An outstanding feature of the architecture of the station building with its glass front is now the clock tower. The new bus station was built in 1998. Up until the renovation of the building, a plaque commemorating the 5000th kilometer of electrified rail of the Deutsche Bundesbahn, was located in the station. The plaque has been missing since the completion of the renovation.