Santa Fe Passenger Depot, Fresno, California
historic place
The Santa Fe Passenger Depot in Fresno, California, is a historic place. This Mission Revival style building was completed in 1899. It was designed by W. B. Storey, Jr., who later became president of the Santa Fe Railway System. The depot was built for the San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railroad. Its construction aimed to challenge the Southern Pacific Railroad's transportation monopoly in the San Joaquin Valley. The first train of the San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railway arrived in Fresno on October 6, 1896. The Santa Fe Passenger Depot was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. After closing for passenger service in 1966, and later being abandoned, the City of Fresno purchased the station in 2003. Following a six-million-dollar renovation, it reopened in 2005. Today, it continues to serve as an active transportation hub for Amtrak and other services. The depot remains a vital link to Fresno's past and present transportation network.