River Station (Los Angeles) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
River Station
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The first River Station
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| Location | The Cornfield, Los Angeles State Historic Park (site), Los Angeles, California |
| Coordinates | 34°04′07″N 118°13′52″W / 34.0687°N 118.2311°W |
| Owned by | Southern Pacific Railroad |
| History | |
| Opened | 1876 |
| Closed | 1901 |
| Rebuilt | 1887 |
River Station was an important train station in Los Angeles, California. It was run by the Southern Pacific Railroad. This station was located near the Los Angeles River, just north of Downtown. Today, the land where River Station once stood is part of the Los Angeles State Historic Park.
A Look Back at River Station
The River Station site was part of the Southern Pacific's main train yard in Los Angeles. This area is now at the northern edge of Chinatown. You can find its old location in a part of Los Angeles State Historic Park called 'The Cornfield'.
The First River Station (1876-1887)
The first River Station opened in 1876. This happened after the Southern Pacific Railroad bought the Los Angeles & San Pedro Railroad. They also built a new train line connecting San Francisco to Los Angeles.
The first station was a wooden building. It had two floors and separate waiting rooms for men and women. Later, a hotel and restaurants were added. Many people arrived at this station during the "land boom" of the mid-1880s. This was a time when lots of people moved to Los Angeles.
The Second River Station (1887-1901)
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A new, bigger River Station was built in 1887. It replaced the first wooden station. This new building was made of brick and designed in the Romanesque Revival style. This style uses round arches and strong, heavy shapes.
Even with the new station, Southern Pacific built another one in 1888. This was the Arcade Depot in eastern Downtown Los Angeles. It was closer to the city center. The second River Station was used until 1901, when it was taken down.
