{"id":24695,"date":"2020-07-16T16:13:45","date_gmt":"2020-07-16T20:13:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/?p=24695"},"modified":"2023-06-07T13:33:38","modified_gmt":"2023-06-07T13:33:38","slug":"visit-union-station-las-best-kept-architectural-secret","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/visit-union-station-las-best-kept-architectural-secret\/","title":{"rendered":"Visit Union Station: LA\u2019s Best-Kept Architectural Secret"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A visit to Los Angeles may not conjure images of trains or buses, so it might surprise you that LA\u2019s Union Station is the largest railroad passenger terminal in the West, often called \u201cthe last of the great train stations<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why should a tourist care? Well, it\u2019s earned that nickname in part due to its drop-dead gorgeous architecture. If you\u2019re an architecture buff \u2014 or just like a good Instagram photo \u2014 a visit to LA\u2019s Union Station should be near the top of your list. And if you find yourself coming in or out of Los Angeles via this transportation hub, go ahead and add some extra time to take a walk through the original building while you\u2019re there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Makes Union Station Worth Visiting<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Interior<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Like so many places, it all goes back to the history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Built in 1939 by father and son architecture duo John and Donald Parkison, LA\u2019s Union Station cost $11 million to build — a staggering amount of money at the time, but that means it was done well. It served as the city\u2019s transportation hub until the 1950s when LA became car-crazy and the romance of train travel was replaced by the convenience of the automobile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the station is so architecturally unique and historically significant that in 1980 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what you don\u2019t want to miss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Union Station Architecture<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Union<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The building is an unusual blend of Spanish Mission and Art Deco. This rare combination came to be known as Mission Moderne. You\u2019ll see elements of this blending of styles in the station\u2019s 40-foot windows, Art Deco chandeliers, hand-painted ceiling tiles, marble floors, and enormous walnut wood beams. Sound fancy? It is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Save some time to tour the exterior, too. On the outside, the station\u2019s 100-foot clock tower is its crowning feature, a perfect photo opp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In short, Union Station is an unusual and beautiful place. The first time I walked through, I remember being shocked at how pretty it was and how well preserved. The original part of the station really does feel like you\u2019re walking back in time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And perhaps the coolest thing is that it\u2019s not the kind of place most people think of for their tour of LA<\/a>. So while you\u2019ll definitely visit the Hollywood sign, the beaches of Santa Monica and Venice, and maybe even hike the Hollywood Hills, remember this awe-inspiring (and free) hidden gem is worth visiting, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inspiration for Your Stomach, Too<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Bavarian<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Hungry? You\u2019re already in the right place. Located in the great hall of Union Station, with towering ceilings, massive windows, and plenty of room for over 500 people is the Imperial Western Brewing Company<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This isn\u2019t your average train station restaurant. With a Bavarian-inspired menu (think big pretzels and classic bratwursts), and a real working brewery right there in the train station, the Imperial Western Brewing Company offers 18 beers on tap. Each one is crafted by award-winning local brewers. What better way to pass the time while waiting for your train or just enjoying the beauty of Union Station than with a fresh, local California beer?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Answers to Your Questions About Union Station<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Union<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Where is Union Station?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll find Union Station at 800 N. Alameda Street in downtown Los Angeles, right in between Chinatown and Little Tokyo. It\u2019s more than a pretty face. As a working train station, it offers connections to Amtrak, the Los Angeles Metro, Metrolink, Greyhound, Megabas, and the Flyaway Bus, which goes directly to and from LAX International Airport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do I get to Union Station?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Union Station is easily accessible by the Los Angeles Metro red, purple, silver, and gold lines. You can also get to it from the 10, 101, and 110 highways, all of which encircle the station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re driving, parking is $2 every 15 min with an $8 max per 24-hour period in Union Station East and a $16 max in Union Station West.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What\u2019s nearby?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Union Station benefits from an incredible location, surrounded by some of LA\u2019s coolest sites<\/a>. Immediately to the north is LA\u2019s famous Chinatown and to the north of that is the Dodgers Stadium and beautiful Echo Park neighborhood. To the south is Little Tokyo, a tiny but picturesque Japanese enclave.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And just to the west is downtown LA where you can experience another train station, one of the most unique train rides in the world \u2014 Angel\u2019s Flight<\/a>. Right across the street from Angel\u2019s Flight is the famous Grand Central Market, offering one-of-a-kind culinary experiences from both local food vendors and world-famous celebrity chefs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Union Station: A Free LA Attraction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Union<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A lot of people who visit LA fly in and out of LAX, and unless they take the bus from the airport, they\u2019ll probably never see the inside of Union Station. But for a city with such a unique mix of architectural styles and photo-worthy backdrops, Union Station stands on its own for historic beauty and charm. And while you\u2019ll pay for your meal if you decide to dine, touring the building is free \u2014 and free LA attractions<\/a> should be savored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plus, since you\u2019re so close to some really cool downtown neighborhoods, you can see a lot more while you\u2019re in the area. Add Union Station to your tour of LA architectural gems<\/a> like the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the U.S. Bank Tower, and get to know some local history. It\u2019s just part of the fabric of what makes LA incredible.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

A visit to Los Angeles may not conjure images of trains or buses, so it might surprise you that LA\u2019s Union Station is the largest railroad passenger terminal in the West, often called \u201cthe last of the great train stations.\u201d Why should a tourist care? Well, it\u2019s earned that nickname in part due to its<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":24700,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24695"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/30"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24695"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24695\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33088,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24695\/revisions\/33088"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24700"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24695"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24695"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.exp1.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24695"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}