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Santa Fe Depot
The New (1918) Santa Fe Depot - San Bernardino, CA
In 1875, the Southern Pacific Railroad came into the area at Colton, California. In 1886, after a bit of a tussle involving Virgil Earp, the Santa Fe Railroad arrived in San Bernardino and the area became Santa Fe's "gateway" to Southern California.
A permanent wooden depot was also built in 1886, but only 20 years later, at 11:00 P.M. on November 16, 1916 it was destroyed by fire. I have no idea why the pinpointed time is relevant.
In 1918 a new-- and excuse me while I twist the end of my handlebar mustache when I say this-- $800,000 depot was built.
Its busiest period was the years between mid-1920's to mid-1950's before automobile travel on the interstate highway system became popular.
The depot fell into decline and disuse.
~ Walter Feller
It didn't burn down. However, a renovation took place between 2002 through 2004.
Today, the restored depot serves Metrolink, a commuter rail service.
~ Walter Feller
