EYFriday, 7:30pm | Unless you live in a mass-transit hub like Chicago, Washington D.C., or New York you probably don’t find yourself at train stations all that often — probably even more so during the off-hours. But here’s a tip. Next time you find yourself near a station, especially when its quiet, take a step in. Train stations are incredible relics of modern American history and though New York’s refurbished Grand Central is a sight to behold, but one of our favorites is nearly 2,500 miles away: Los Angeles Union Station.
Photo essay continues after the jump.
Opened in 1939 to much fanfare, LAUS is now one of the smaller big-city transporation hubs in the US. Formerly known as Los Angeles Union Passenger Terminal, what LAUS lacks in size it makes up with a bevy of ornate detailing. Part of a string of Los Angeles buildings designed in the 19th century, LAUS is a standing monolith of Mission and Streamline Moderne architecture made popular during the Art Deco age. Controversially built on the the former grounds LA’s Chinatown, the station served 6 major railways including the Union Pacific Railroad and Topeka & Santa Fe Railroads. After a downturn in the 50’s and 60’s from a demand for air travel, LAUS has now surged back into use as an increasingly critical transportation hub in grid-locked Los Angeles.
Dominated by its architecture and broad waiting room, which you might recognize as the police station in Blade Runner, the station is a tremendous subject to photograph. So, what better than a quick excursion down to 800 North Alameda Street… after a quick detour for French Dip at Cole’s, of course. Practically dusk and nearly empty, the station proved to be an incredible backdrop for photography and a perfect subject for another photo essay.
