As Union Station turns 80 years old, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority invited the public to celebrate the last of the great train stations in the United States on Friday, May 3 and Saturday, May 4. Lots of activities are planned, including cultural displays, concerts, guided tours, arts and crafts, model train exhibits, train memorabilia, live music and fun activities for the whole family.
The largest train terminal in the western United States cost $11 million to build and opened eight decades ago on May 3, 1939 with a lavish star-studded three-day celebration. The station was designed by the father and son architect team of John and Donald Parkinson with an innovative blend of Spanish Colonial, Mission Revival and Art Deco architecture now commonly referred to as Mission Modern. The 80th anniversary will allow Angelinos to discover and rediscover the beauty and history of this beloved downtown landmark.
Celebration
Metro will kick-off a two-day community celebration with an opening ceremony at 12:30 p.m. on Friday, May 3 in the station’s Breezeway area. Following the opening ceremony, the California Feetwarmers will perform Jazz, and the New Recessionaires will play hits from the 20’s to 50’s, inviting the public to dance and enjoy the music. The public will also have the opportunity to play the piano located in the Passenger Concourse.
Adding to the festivities, each restaurant inside the station, such as Cafe Crepe, and Imperial Western Beer Company, will serve a specialty menu on Friday and Saturday. On Saturday, the fun begins at 11 a.m. in the North Patio with live performances, arts and crafts, a live concert stage and a kid’s zone with Griffith Park Travel Town featuring toys trains and tracks. On the South Patio, the public can visit Giggle Factory from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. where Kid Centric Entertainment will have amazing balloon twist artists and flash tattoo artists and arts and crafts. A demonstration of silkscreen printing will be conducted by Self Help Graphics & Art. Funk, Mariachi, Afro/Latin and Soul music will fill the air from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
In the Waiting Room, Del Oro Pacific Model Train will exhibit some of the oldest and largest model trains in the United States. Visitors can also enjoy a marketplace of community exhibitors, artisans, food trucks and live entertainment throughout the day.
The Ticket Concourse will begin its activities at 3:30 p.m. with live entertainment until 10 p.m. The public can listen to jazz/swing, American jazz, Ska and an eclectic mix of Cumbia, Jazz and Funk. Metro Art docents will lead tours highlighting the architecture features of Union Station. Metro also will provide information on projects, programs and studies now underway. Union Station is accessible via the Metro Red, Purple and Gold lines, Metrolink and Amtrak, with connections to several Metro Bus lines and other municipal bus lines.
