Union Station
Los Angeles
Union Station is the great downtown train station, opened in 1939. It blends the style of the Spanish missions with Art Deco in a pale, bright building.
The party of 1939
The station was completed in 1939. It cost many millions of dollars, a huge sum for those years. At the opening there was a big party, with half a million people coming to see it. A few years later it was busy day and night, with trains arriving and leaving every hour.
A father and a son
The architects were John and Donald Parkinson, father and son. They mixed three ideas: Spanish colonial houses, the old missions of California and Art Deco. Today this blend is called Mission Moderne, and it has become a symbol of the city.
Inside the great hall
The waiting room has Art Deco chandeliers and floors with marble stripes. The tiles are painted by hand with geometric designs. On both sides there are two shady courtyards, where travelers fresh off the train once passed.
A landmark to protect
In the 1950s many Americans chose cars and planes, and passenger numbers fell. But the station stayed important for getting around the city. Today it is a protected historic landmark.
