La Grande Station


La Grande Station was the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway's main passenger terminal in Los Angeles, California, until the opening of Union Station in 1939.
Heavy damage from the 1933 Long Beach earthquake meant the last operating years of the station were spent in a state of disrepair as portions of the building had to be removed for the safety of passengers. When Union Station opened in 1939, Santa Fe moved all of its passenger services there and the building was demolished in 1946.

History

Santa Fe opened La Grande Station on July 29, 1893. The station was unique for Southern California with its Moorish-inspired architecture.
After the 1933 Long Beach earthquake, the station's dome was removed. The station continued to serve as Santa Fe Railway's LA passenger terminal until the opening of the new LA Union Station on May 7, 1939. The station was located at 2nd Street and Santa Fe Ave, just south of the First Street viaduct built in 1929 and on the west bank of the LA River.
'', led by engine No. 53, makes a stop at La Grande Station, circa 1899.

In popular culture

Many Hollywood movies were filmed at the stylish station. Laurel and Hardy's film Berth Marks was one of the first sound movies shot on location. Other movies that used Santa Fe's La Grande Station included Choo Choo 1931, Lady Killer, 1933 with James Cagney, Swing Time 1936 and Something to Sing About 1937.