Barstow Harvey House facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Barstow, CA Harvey House Rail Depot
The depot in 2006
Other names	Barstow Harvey House
Location	685 North 1st Avenue Barstow, California 92311 United States
Coordinates	34°54′17″N 117°01′29″W / 34.90472°N 117.02472°W / 34.90472; -117.02472
Owned by	City of Barstow/BNSF
Line(s)	BNSF Railway Southern Transcon
Platforms	1 side platform (others out of service)
Tracks	Only 1 passing siding and 1 through track remaining
Construction
Parking	Free
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Station code	Amtrak code: BAR
History
Opened	February 22, 1911
Traffic
Passengers (2017)	3,509  11.3% (Amtrak)
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station Victorville toward Los Angeles Southwest Chief Needles toward Chicago
Former services Preceding station Amtrak Following station Victorville toward Los Angeles Desert Wind 1979–1997 Las Vegas toward Chicago San Bernardino toward Los Angeles Las Vegas Limited 1976 Las Vegas Terminus Preceding station Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Following station Lenwood toward Los Angeles Main Line Daggett toward Chicago Hinkley Trackage rights via Southern Pacific Railroad toward Oakland Oakland – Barstow Terminus
Harvey House Railroad Depot
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Area	1.1 acres (0.4 ha)
Architect	Francis W. Wilson
Architectural style	Santa Fe
NRHP reference No.	75000458
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	April 3, 1975

The Barstow Harvey House, also known as the Harvey House Railroad Depot or Barstow station, is a special historic building in Barstow, California. It was first built in 1911 and called Casa del Desierto. It used to be a hotel run by the Fred Harvey Company and a train station for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway. Today, it's still an Amtrak train station.

This building also houses city offices, the Barstow Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center, and two museums. It's a very important part of Barstow's history.

History and Design of Barstow Harvey House

Casa del Desierto shortly after it was built

The Casa del Desierto station and hotel was built in 1911. It replaced an older building from 1885 that had burned down in 1908. The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway built this new, grander station.

The Santa Fe company closed the station in 1973. For a while, the building was empty and falling apart. But the City of Barstow bought it in 1990. After a big earthquake in 1992 caused a lot of damage, the city worked hard to rebuild and restore it.

Architectural Style and Features

The building's design mixes different styles. It has parts of Spanish Renaissance and Classical Revival architecture styles. It also has a bit of a Moorish look. The building is made of concrete and covered with red bricks and light-colored artificial stone.

Large archways and columns line the front of the building. These provide shade from the hot desert sun. The roof is covered with red clay tiles. Towers at the corners and in the middle of the building have pointed roofs or painted domes.

Francis W. Wilson is the architect who designed this building. He also designed other famous Harvey House hotels. These include the Fray Marcos hotel in Williams, Arizona, and El Garces in Needles, California.

This historic building is considered one of the best remaining depot-hotels in California. It stands out in the Mojave Desert next to the Mojave River. In the 1950s, the Barstow Harvey House was listed in The Green Book. This guide helped travelers find places that welcomed them.

Barstow Harvey House as a Landmark

The Casa del Desierto was recognized as a very important historic site. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The state of California also named it a California Historical Landmark in 1976. This means it's a protected and important part of history.

Restoration and Museums at the Depot

After the City of Barstow bought the station in 1990, they spent over $8 million to fix it. This included repairing damage from the 1992 earthquake. Now, several city offices are located in the building. The Barstow Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center also operates here.

The building is also home to two interesting museums. On the east side, you can find the Western America Railroad Museum. On the north side, there is the Route 66 "Mother Road" Museum. These museums help people learn about trains and the famous Route 66 highway.

Train Platforms and Tracks

The Barstow Harvey House still serves as an active train station. It's a stop for Amtrak, which is a passenger train service across the United States.

See also

In Spanish: Casa Barstow Harvey para niños