Core-Columbia in San Diego in San Diego County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Santa Fe Depot

Photographed by Col. James F. Jamison, USMC (Ret), May 25, 2018

1. Santa Fe Depot Marker

Inscription.
Santa Fe Depot - 1915.
In tribute to the Atcheson, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad,
Pioneers of The Western Movement.
Placed by Dist. XIV California State Society Daughters of the American Revolution, November 16, 1985.

Erected 1985 by Dist. XIV California State Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1915.

Location. 32° 42.98′ N, 117° 10.174′ W. Marker is in San Diego, California, in San Diego County. It is in Core-Columbia. It can be reached from the intersection of Kettner Boulevard and West Broadway. Marker is at the West Broadway end of the depot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1050 Kettner Boulevard, San Diego CA 92101, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Peninsular 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: McClintock Storage Warehouse (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lane Field Ballpark Site (approx. 0.2 miles away); Pearl Harbor Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); United States Aircraft Carrier Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); San Diego Barracks

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

(approx. 0.3 miles away); USS San Diego Memorial (approx. 0.3 miles away); First Air Combat Victory of Vietnam War (approx. 0.3 miles away); “Star of India” (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Diego.

Also see . . . National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form.

Listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, the statement of significance from the nomination form reads: "The Santa Fe Depot represents the tangible evidence of [a] historic battle waged by the City of San Diego for being the Western terminus of the Continental Railway. The construction of this depot (1915) marked a great new era for San Diego and its completion was rushed to concur with the grand opening of the Panama/Pacific International Exposition of that year.

The style of the building, Spanish or Mission Revival, is the Style of California, blending both the unique and traditional elements of San Diego’s Spanish heritage. The Architects, Bakewell & Brown of San Francisco are especially notable.

The structure was recorded by the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) during the Summer of 1971 under the supervision of Professor Robert C. Giebner, University of Arizona (Cal-1965)
Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, July 4, 2025

2. Santa Fe Depot Marker
Marker is to the right of the south entrance.
and was noted as an "outstanding example of Railway Station architecture and an especially handsome example of the Spanish Revival Style" by James E. Massey, Chief, HABS.

It is featured in the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Guide/San Diego (1971) and has been designated as Historical Site #56 (1972) by the City of San Diego, Historical Site Board.

The structure makes a significant contribution to the urban fabric of San Diego, giving a unique quiet quality that is quickly disappearing in the rapidly expanding downtown area."

(Submitted on July 9, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon.)

Additional keywords. Train station, Spreckels, transportation

Santa Fe Depot image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, July 4, 2025

3. Santa Fe Depot

Photographed by Craig Baker, March 20, 2026

4. Santa Fe Depot

Photographed by Jamie Gallant Jamison, May 25, 2018

5. Tile Mosaic

On each interior column.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 21, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 25, 2018, by Col. James F. Jamison, USMC (Ret) of Coronado, California. This page has been viewed 566 times since then and 37 times this year. Last updated on February 26, 2024, by Carolyn Sanders of Plano, Texas. Photos: 1. submitted on May 25, 2018, by Col. James F. Jamison, USMC (Ret) of Coronado, California. 2, 3. submitted on July 9, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. 4. submitted on March 21, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5. submitted on May 29, 2018, by Jamie Gallant Jamison of Coronado, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.