Union Station in Los Angeles: Part 1

Constructed in the 1930's and opened in 1939, Union Station in Los Angeles, California is said to be the last of the great railway stations built in the United States. The station combines elements of Art Deco, Spanish / Mission Revival and Moderne to create a structure that echoes the charms of Southern California and the grandeur of rail travel in its heyday.

Union Station is still a major transportation hub, serving over 100,000 passengers a day. Commuters can access Amtrak, subway, commuter trains, and bus lines here. I stopped in to explore Union Station after touring downtown Los Angeles, and despite a few exhausted travelers playing on their phones, I immediately felt transported back in time as soon as I walked through the front doors. Union Station was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.