Tag: trains

Taking it Easy at La Posada

When most people think of Winslow, Arizona, standing on the corner and flatbed Fords probably come to mind.

But if you visit Winslow, don’t just take it easy, take a selfie, and go running on down the road. Although the Corner is a fine sight to see, you’ll miss what I consider the true jewel of Winslow (sorry, Jackson Browne), La Posada Hotel.

La Posada was opened in 1930 as part of the Harvey hotel and restaurant chain built to cater to railroad passengers. The architect, Mary Colter (famous for her buildings at the Grand Canyon), blended Native American and Spanish cultures into the design. The hotel survived the stock market crash but closed in 1957, as fewer and fewer people traveled by train, opting instead to go by automobile.

In the early 1960s, the empty buildings were repurposed as offices for the Santa Fe Railway. In 1994, when the railway announced plans to move out, it was scheduled for demolition. Fortunately, before that could happen, the National Trust for Historic Preservation added it to their endangered list and a new owner was found.

I first fell in love with La Posada in 2015, when our Route 66 road trip took us through Winslow. My husband and I spent an hour or so touring the public areas and gardens, and watching the trains. We couldn’t book a room back then, but I hoped it might be possible in the future. Last spring, on the return leg of our east coast road trip, we had our chance.

As we explored the historical hotel as guests, I tried to envision La Posada as it must have been in its heyday, when it was filled with long-distance railway travelers. Although those days are gone, I am grateful that we can still experience the beauty and romance of this last, great railway hotel.

The Interior

In 1997, the estimated $12 million restoration of La Posada began, slowly bring it back to its former glory. Arched ceilings, faux adobe walls, period furnishing, and unique doors can be found throughout. (Slideshow)

Our Hotel Room

Despite being close to train tracks, our room was quiet and comfortable. We appreciated the touches of Southwest design and colorful tiles. (Slideshow)

The Exterior

Beautiful iron gates and vintage doors invite guests to wander the property. (Slideshow)

Watching the Trains Go By

The hotel provides several sitting areas for guests to watch the trains. Twice daily, trains on the Los Angeles/Chicago line stop at the hotel to pick up and drop off passengers. (Slideshow)

I found the history of La Posada, railway hotels, and the architect, Mary Colter, fascinating. If you are interested in learning more, check out these websites:

La Posada

Legends of America

Pioneering Women of America

Please visit Dan at No Facilities to see more beautiful doors. His Sunday Recap (to be posted on January 19) will include submissions for the 2025 Thursday Doors badge contest, including mine:

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Thursday Doors: Santa Fe Train Depot

Anyone who has lived anywhere any length of time probably knows that feeling of sadness and loss when a beautiful but outdated structure is destroyed in the name of progress. The old building probably wasn’t up to modern codes and, often, the shiny new structure built in its place is bigger, taller, and capable of generating more tax dollars than the previous one.

Fortunately, though, sometimes a building is just too beautiful, too beloved, and has too much local historical significance to be touched by a wrecking ball. The Santa Fe Train Depot in downtown San Diego is such a structure. It is a jewel of a building surrounded by glass and steel high rises.

The structure draws heavily from the architecturally distinctive Spanish, Moorish, and Mexican styles.

The size and grandeur far surpassed anything the Santa Fe had ever built in the West.

The station was officially opened in 1915, to welcome visitors to the Panama-California Exposition. The Depot’s Spanish Colonial Revival architecture was the same style as was used for the buildings at the Exposition.

The massive arch of the front entrance is flanked by twin campaniles, each topped by a colorful tile-covered dome and displaying Santa Fe’s blue “cross” emblem on all four sides.

From the outside in.

From the inside out.

The grand interior space of the depot features natural redwood beam ceilings, highlighted by walls covered with a brightly colored ceramic tile wainscot.

All of the tiles were manufactured locally.

Your train is waiting.

Welcome to San Diego!

Doors within doors within doors.

Although the city lost its early battle to become the West Coast terminus of the Santa Fe Railway system’s transcontinental railroad to much larger Los Angeles, in its heyday, the facility handled Santa Fe train traffic and that of the San Diego and Arizona Railways. The Depot is still an active transportation center, providing not only train service but also service to the trolley and bus systems.

Out with the old, in with the new.

Oh, and speaking of structures being destroyed in the name of progress, the original train depot that had served San Diego for nearly three decades, was razed when the “modern” Santa Fe Depot opened for business. The old clock tower was pulled to the ground by a steel cable attached to two locomotives as part of the grand opening celebration on March 7, 1915.

Since the first National Train Day was held ten years ago today, on May 10, 2008, I thought it fitting to feature the Santa Fe Train Depot in my Thursday Doors post. To see other beautiful doors, choo-choo on over to Norm’s station and click on the ah-door-able blue frog.