Union Station, Los Angeles’ elegant monument to the Golden Age of the railroad is the largest passenger railroad terminal in the Western United States, and a celebration of the most popular architectural styles of its day–Mission Revival; Spanish Colonial and Streamline Moderne.
When it opened in 1939, “Gone with the Wind” and “The Wizard of Oz” were playing in downtown Los Angeles’ great movie palaces. Los Angeles’ population was soaring as families, tourists, entrepreneurs, land developers, movie star hopefuls et al settled into the mild climate and boom-town energy of the developing city.
Over half–million people turned out for the grand opening ceremonies of Union Station–approximately 20% of the population–which lasted for three days, with parades, speeches and even a theatrical play, “Romance of the Rails, which was performed on a specially built stage suspended over the tracks.
In 2014, Union Station celebrated its 75th Anniversary and continues to lure and charm travelers and visitors from around the world.