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Home > Archives > Los Angeles Union Station waiting room, 1970s.

Los Angeles Union Station waiting room, 1970s.

Color slide showing the waiting room at Los Angeles Union Station; image likely dates to the late 1970s.

Los Angeles Union Station waiting room, 1970s.

Originally known as the "Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal", the station opened in 1939 to consolidate the services of the Southern Pacific, Union Pacific and Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe railroads in one modern facility. The grand building was designed in part by John and Donald Parkinson. Their combination of Spanish Colonial, Mission Revival and Art Deco designs was used to accentuate the city's personal history and heritage alongside its newly found modernity.

In the waiting room, travelers stroll to their trains along terracotta tiled floors accented with inlaid marble strips. Walls are clad with both travertine and early models of acoustical tile. Adjacent to the indoor waiting areas are beautiful enclosed garden patios and courtyards.

Today, Union Station is a vital intermodal transportation center that serves as a hub for Amtrak intercity passenger rail; Metrolink commuter rail; and Metro rail and Metro bus services. As of 2014, more than 60,000 travelers, commuters and visitors passed through the station every day.

Photographer: Unknown for Amtrak. From the Amtrak Corporate Collection.