Vintage Photo Friday
I was perusing the L.A. Library Photo Archives this morning and came upon this photo by Dick Whittington from the Summer of 1938 of Union Station under construction.
Union Station is one of the most graceful buildings in the city of Los Angeles, inside and out! Anyone can visit at anytime of the day and experience it's beauty.
From Wikipedia about the architecture of Union Station: Union Station was partially designed by John Parkinson and Donald B. Parkinson (the Parkinsons) who had also designed Los Angeles City Hall and other landmark Los Angeles buildings. They were assisted by a group of supporting architects, including Jan van der Linden. The structure combines Dutch Colonial Revival architecture (the suggestion of the Dutch born Jan von der Linden), Mission Revival, and Streamline Moderne style, with architectural details such as eight-pointed stars. Enclosed garden patios are on either side of the waiting room, and passengers exiting the trains were originally directed through the southern garden. The lower part of the interior walls is covered in travertine marble, and the upper part is covered with an early form of acoustical tile. The floor in the large rooms is terra cotta tile with a central strip of inlaid marble (including travertine, somewhat unusual in floors since it is soft). Attached to the main building to the south is the station restaurant designed by southwestern architect Mary Colter (the last of the "Harvey House" restaurants to be constructed as a part of a passenger terminal). Although now usually padlocked and stripped of many interior furnishings, the topology of its rounded central counter, streamlined booths, and inlaid floor patterns remain.
Union Station, July 2011
L.A. City Hall in the background
Union Station is one of the most graceful buildings in the city of Los Angeles, inside and out! Anyone can visit at anytime of the day and experience it's beauty.
From Wikipedia about the architecture of Union Station: Union Station was partially designed by John Parkinson and Donald B. Parkinson (the Parkinsons) who had also designed Los Angeles City Hall and other landmark Los Angeles buildings. They were assisted by a group of supporting architects, including Jan van der Linden. The structure combines Dutch Colonial Revival architecture (the suggestion of the Dutch born Jan von der Linden), Mission Revival, and Streamline Moderne style, with architectural details such as eight-pointed stars. Enclosed garden patios are on either side of the waiting room, and passengers exiting the trains were originally directed through the southern garden. The lower part of the interior walls is covered in travertine marble, and the upper part is covered with an early form of acoustical tile. The floor in the large rooms is terra cotta tile with a central strip of inlaid marble (including travertine, somewhat unusual in floors since it is soft). Attached to the main building to the south is the station restaurant designed by southwestern architect Mary Colter (the last of the "Harvey House" restaurants to be constructed as a part of a passenger terminal). Although now usually padlocked and stripped of many interior furnishings, the topology of its rounded central counter, streamlined booths, and inlaid floor patterns remain.
Union Station, July 2011
L.A. City Hall in the background
Labels: Architecture, Los Angeles, Memories, Vintage Photos
posted by Ellen Bloom @ 11:25 AM
2 Comments:
Recently took the train to San Diego. It was a fantastic way to travel south for less than the price of a tank of gas. It feels like you are in a movie walking through Union Station. It just takes you back in time.
I agree, Union Station is just a total gem, day or night.
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