Canyon Country near Santa Clarita in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Lang Southern Pacific Station

Photographed by Craig Baker, January 26, 2022

1. Lang Southern Pacific Station Marker

Inscription.
On September 5, 1876, Charles Crocker, President of the Southern Pacific Company, drove a gold spike here to complete his company's San Joaquin Valley Line, the first rail connection of Los Angeles with San Francisco and Transcontinental lines.

Erected 1957 by California State Parks Commission and The Historical Society of Southern California. (Marker Number 590.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Events • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the California Historical Landmarks, and the Southern Pacific Railroad series lists. A significant historical date for this entry is September 5, 1876.

Location. 34° 25.869′ N, 118° 22.733′ W. Marker is near Santa Clarita, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Canyon Country. It is on Lang Station Road 0.2 miles south of Soledad Canyon Road, on the right when traveling south. Located just before the railroad tracks on the right side of the road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 14000 Lang Station Rd, Canyon Country CA 91387, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this

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marker is in Greater Los Angeles

and 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 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Mitchell River House (approx. 3 miles away); Union at the End of the Tunnel (approx. 3.4 miles away); Lang Station (approx. 3.4 miles away); Chinese Railroad Workers (approx. 3.4 miles away); In Honor of All Chinese Railroad Workers (approx. 3.4 miles away); The Village of Mapipinga (approx. 5.2 miles away); How Do We Know What We Know? (approx. 5.2 miles away); "Devil’s Punchbowl Wildlife" Mural (approx. 5.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Santa Clarita.

Regarding Lang Southern Pacific Station. The demolition of historic Lang Station in 1969 led directly to the formation of the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society.

Also see . . .
1. The Story of the Golden Spike.

Photographed by Konrad R Summers, August 1, 2008

2. Lang Southern Pacific Station Marker

The Southern Pacific built a line out of Los Angeles to join with the Southern Pacific line being built southward through the San Joaquin valley, which connected with the Central Pacific main line near Stockton. (Submitted on May 13, 2010.)

2. Lang Station Landmark Plaque. Article from the Santa Clarita Valley History website on this marker and the town of Lang. Excerpt:

The location was already known as "Lang," as it was the place where homesteader John Lang had built a hotel in 1871 where health-conscious patrons could enjoy his hot, sulfurous springs (ergo, Sulphur Springs).

(Submitted on September 7, 2019.)

3. Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society. The Historical Society's website offers links to additional information and vintage photos of the station, the town, and the people of Lang. (Submitted on May 13, 2010.)

4. Southern Pacific Railroad: Driving the last golden spike at Lang Southern Pacific Station. A 20-minute YouTube video.

"Lang Station" is a local colloquialism for the "wedding of the rails" that joined Los Angeles and San Francisco. It was a watershed event in California history,
Photographed by Craig Baker, August 24, 2018

3. Lang Southern Pacific Station Marker
putting Los Angeles on the (railroad) map of the United States. Train tracks laid north out of Los Angeles and south out of San Francisco met on John Lang's homestead in Soledad Canyon and culminated in a "golden spike" ceremony on September 5, 1876, similar to the more famous golden spike ceremony in Utah that marked the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869. Now, in 1876, Los Angeles had a direct link to the Transcontinental Railroad and was transformed from an isolated, politically impotent and sparsely populated outpost into a budding metropolis that would eclipse San Francisco in population and industry."
-from SCVHistory.com

(Submitted on April 15, 2024, by Robert Schwemmer of Santa Clarita, California.)

Lang Station and Marker image. Click for full size.

circa 1960

4. Lang Station and Marker

This is 1,000 feet east of where the marker is today.

Lang Station Location Today image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, August 24, 2018

5. Lang Station Location Today

The monument at lower left had two 1976 centennial markers, one honors the Chinese laborers who built the railroads, and the other marked the exact location of Lang Station. Now relocated, see Nearby Markers.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 17, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 13, 2010, by Konrad R Summers of Santa Clarita, California. This page has been viewed 6,265 times since then and 211 times this year. Last updated on August 24, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. It was the Marker of the Week September 8, 2019. Photos: 1. submitted on January 26, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 2. submitted on May 13, 2010, by Konrad R Summers of Santa Clarita, California. 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 24, 2018, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.