Arcade Depot facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Los Angeles
Arcade Depot |
||
|---|---|---|
.jpg)
Arcade Depot c. 1895–1900
|
||
| Location | Fourth and Alameda Los Angeles, California |
|
| Coordinates | 34°02′30″N 118°14′20″W / 34.0418°N 118.2389°W | |
| Owned by | Southern Pacific Railroad | |
| History | ||
| Opened | 1888 | |
| Closed | 1914 | |
| Services | ||
| Lua error in Module:Adjacent_stations at line 236: Unknown line "Pasadena".
|
||
The Arcade Depot was a very important train station in Los Angeles, California. It served as the main passenger hub for the Southern Pacific Railroad from 1888 to 1914. You could find it on Alameda Street, between 5th and 6th Streets. This station brought all the long-distance train services closer to Downtown Los Angeles. It was much more convenient than the older San Fernando Street Depot.
Contents
A Look Back: The Arcade Depot's Story
.jpg)
The City of Los Angeles gave the land for the station to the Southern Pacific Railroad. The city wanted to encourage the railroad to build a major station there. This beautiful wooden station, built in the Victorian style, was finished in 1888. Victorian style means it had lots of fancy details and decorations.
The station was built where William Wolfskill once had large orange groves. This area was on the east side of Downtown Los Angeles, near the Los Angeles River.
Building a Grand Station
The Arcade Depot was a huge wooden building. It stretched about 500 feet (150 m) long. Inside, it had skylights that let in natural light. Its arched roof soared 90 feet (27 m) above the train platforms. When the station first opened, a palm tree was planted right outside.
This new station took over from the Southern Pacific River Station. The River Station was an older, smaller terminal located further away from downtown. The Arcade Depot became the main place for people to catch trains in Los Angeles.
More Than Just Steam Trains
Besides the big steam trains that traveled long distances, the Arcade Depot also served Pacific Electric Red Cars. These Red Cars were electric streetcars that carried people all around the Los Angeles area. They were a popular way to get around town.
The End of an Era
By 1913, the Arcade Depot was starting to show its age. It needed a lot of repairs. People began to talk about needing a new, bigger station. They knew more and more passengers would be traveling by train.
The Arcade Depot closed its doors in 1914. The Southern Pacific Railroad opened a brand new station called the Los Angeles Central Station just north of the old one. Soon after, the old Arcade Depot was torn down. This made space for new outdoor platforms that served the modern Central Station.
