The Ma’an station of the Hejaz railway stands as a witness to several local and regional events in the recent history of modern Jordan. The significance of the sites including Ma’an station is not about a main technological feature, or architectural monument of high aesthetic values, but of different layers of memories, also related to the Arab renaissance where series of battles along the Hejaz railway line against the Ottomans were fought including the battle of Ma’an. The decoration of Ma’an was minted to commemorate the martyrdom and bravery of the fighters who came from different parts of the Arab world to accompany Prince Abdullah, son of Sheriff Hussein of Hejaz, who arrived to Ma’an in 1921 to lead the Arab revolt. The role of Lawrence of Arabia as an advisor and co-fighter is well known. Prince Abdullah, the founder of modern Jordan, is the great grandfather of the Hashemite King Abdullah II of Jordan and grandfather to the late king Hussein.
An interesting place to see in Maan is the old railway station that is being turned into a museum. The station and the Hijaz railway line was built by the Germans. The compound includes the house of the German engineer who built the station as well steam generation room and a small building that was used as the National Defence Centre but which was later used as a small palace for King Abdullah I bin Al Hussein of Jordan.