Chinatown in Los Angeles in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

River Station Area

Los Angeles State Historic Park

— “The Cornfield” —

River Station Area Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, April 1, 2023

1. River Station Area Marker

Inscription.
Site of the historic River Station - terminus of the Southern Pacific Railroad which arrived here September 5, 1876, changing forever the "pueblo" character of Los Angeles.
Declared Historic Cultural Monument No. 82 by the Cultural Heritage Board, Municipal Arts Department, City of Los Angeles.

Erected 1971 by City of Los Angeles. (Marker Number 82.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 5, 1876.

Location. 34° 4.085′ N, 118° 13.811′ W. Marker is in Los Angeles, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Chinatown. It is on Spring Street north of Sotello Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1516 N Spring St, Los Angeles CA 90012, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

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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: Zanja Madre (approx. 0.2 miles away); Welcome to the Graveyard (approx. ¼ mile away); Buena Vista Street Viaduct (approx. 0.3 miles away); Portolá Trail (approx. 0.3 miles away); Chinatown Heritage and Visitor Center (approx. 0.4 miles away); Central Plaza (approx. 0.4 miles away); Dr. Sun Yat-Sen (approx. 0.4 miles away); Bruce Lee Statue (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Angeles.

Regarding River Station Area. This area contains vestiges of 19th Century railroading, freight yards, warehouses, tracks, switch houses, docks, and cobblestone pavement.

The location of River Station, across the street from the marker, became Los Angeles State Historic Park in 2001. It was once referred to as "The Cornfield" because of the crops growing there prior to its industrial development.

The station

Photographed by Craig Baker, April 1, 2023

2. River Station Area Marker

was opened following the railroad's construction of the line linking San Francisco to Los Angeles. The first River Station was a wooden structure built in 1876. Transcontinental trains started serving the station in 1881. The two-story station had both women's and men's waiting rooms and later had a hotel and restaurants added to it. It was the arrival station of many migrants drawn during the land boom of the mid-1880s.

The second River Station was built in 1887, on the site of the demolished original one. It was a brick Romanesque Revival style building. Because the station was not in the city's center, Southern Pacific built the Arcade Depot in eastern Downtown Los Angeles in 1888. The second River Station was used until 1901, when it was demolished.
-from Wikipedia

Photographed by Craig Baker, April 1, 2023

3. River Station Area Marker

Historic Cobblestone Roadway image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, April 1, 2023

4. Historic Cobblestone Roadway

Located near the south end of the park are hand-chiseled 19th century granite paving stones. Railroad workers installed these “cobbles” as an all-weather surface at the railroad’s River Station freight house.

River Station, 1876-1887 image. Click for full size.

Public Domain

5. River Station, 1876-1887

River Station, 1887-1901 image. Click for full size.

Public Domain

6. River Station, 1887-1901

Credits. This page was last revised on March 22, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 3, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 1,033 times since then and 69 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on April 3, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.