Santa Maria in Santa Barbara County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Site of the Pacific Coast Railway Depot

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, November 29, 2020

1. Site of the Pacific Coast Railway Depot Marker

Inscription. This plaque marks the site of the Pacific Coast Railway Depot. The railroad, constructed with Chinese labor, arrived in Santa Maria April 22, 1882 coincidental with the first edition of the Santa Maria Times and the name change crom Central City to Santa Maria. The Pacific Coast Railway line ran from Port Harford near Avila to San Luis Obispo, Arroyo Grande, Nipomo, Santa Maria, Orcutt, Los Alamos, and terminated in Los Olivos. It was a major influence in the development of Santa Maria Valley.

[Council and Committee names not transcribed.]

Erected 1982 by Santa Maria Valley Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is April 22, 1882.

Location. 34° 57.204′ N, 120° 26.675′ W. Marker is in Santa Maria, California, in Santa Barbara County. It is at the intersection of West Main Street (State Highway 166) and North Depot Street on West Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 101 North Depot Street, Santa Maria CA 93458, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker

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is on California’s Central Coast,

specifically on the Coast Ranges,

and specifically in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: IOOF Temple (approx. 0.4 miles away); Veterans' Memorial Cultural Center and Park (approx. 0.4 miles away); Santa Maria's Oldest Building (approx. half a mile away); Historical Site of the First Masonic Temple in the County of Santa Barbara (approx. half a mile away); In Memory of William Alvin Newton (approx. half a mile away); Santa Maria Libraries (approx. 0.6 miles away); Original Masonic Cornerstone of Carnegie Library (approx. 0.6 miles away); Reuben Hart Residence (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Santa Maria.

Also see . . . Pacific Coast Railway (Wikipedia). "The Pacific Coast Railway

Site of the Pacific Coast Railway Depot Marker - wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, November 29, 2020

2. Site of the Pacific Coast Railway Depot Marker - wide view

was a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge railway on the Central Coast of California. The original 10-mile (16 km) link from San Luis Obispo to Avila Beach and Port Harford was later built southward to Santa Maria and Los Olivos, with branches to Sisquoc and Guadalupe." (Submitted on December 1, 2020.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 1, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 1, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 574 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 1, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.