Adventure 051, Site 024 – Santa Fe Passenger Station

 
































 
 Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 051, Site 024 – Santa Fe Passenger Station

National Registry ID: 1976000482

Local Registry ID: 10

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  September 16, 2012

Location:

Latitude: 36°44′18″N

Longitude: 119°46′55″W

Address: 2650 Tulare, Fresno, CA

Description:

Date Built: 1896

Architect: Unknown

Until seven years ago, the Amtrak station was more of place to leave than a site where you wanted to be at. In 2005, the station moved across a courtyard to the newly refurbished station. It has made a wonder of a difference to traffic through the station. It is comfortable and inviting.



The Santa Fe Railroad Depot was completed in 1899 as a station for the San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railroad (later the Santa Fe Raiload). The San Francisco and San Joaquin reached Fresno in 1896, breaking the monopoly of the Southern Pacific on Fresno's railroad traffic. Enthusiasm for the new railroad in Fresno was high. The Fresno Morning Republican of October 6, 1896, stated, "the celebration yesterday of the arrival of the first passenger train over the San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railroad marked the beginning of an era of development and prosperity for the San Joaquin Valley in general and Fresno County in particular. The 'octopus' [as the Southern Pacific Railroad was known], whose tentacles have strangled commerce, industry and agriculture in this great basin, has been deprived of its power to do any further harm to these great interests."



Alterations and additions were made to the south end of the building in 1909, and an office unit was added in 1912. Additional alterations and additions were made in 1917. The waiting room, ticket office and baggage room were completely remodeled in 1940. In 1966 the station was abandoned for passenger use and the waiting room was converted into a communications center for the railroad. The entire second floor was converted into electronic and computer control areas along with related offices. The railroad later completely abandoned the building and it stood vacant for many years. In 2005 the building was renovated for use as the Fresno Amtrak Station.









References:

• Guide to Historic Fresno
  

Overall Landmark References:

• David Schmitt's California State Historical Landmark (Schmitt)
  
• Wikipedia: California's National Landmarks (WCNL)
  
• State of California's California Historical Landmarks (CHL)
  
• Wikipedia: California State Landmarks (WCSL)
  
• State of California Historical Resources (CHR)
  
• National Registry of Historical Places (NRHP)