Kelso Depot

Last updated

Kelso Depot, Restaurant and Employees Hotel
Kelso railroad depot.jpg
USA California location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location90942 Kelso Cima Road Kelso, California
Coordinates 35°0′44″N115°39′9″W / 35.01222°N 115.65250°W / 35.01222; -115.65250
Built1923
ArchitectLos Angeles and Salt Lake R.R.
Architectural style Mission Revival & Spanish Colonial Revival architecture
NRHP reference No. 01000760  (original)
100003401  (increase)
Significant dates
Added to NRHPAugust 2, 2001 [1] [2]
Boundary increaseJanuary 31, 2019

The Kelso Depot, Restaurant and Employees Hotel or Kelso Depot, now also the Mojave National Preserve Visitors Center, is located in the Mojave Desert within the National Park Service Mojave National Preserve, on Kelso Cima Road at the junction of Kelbaker Road in Kelso, California, between Baker and Interstate 15 to the north and Interstate 40 to the south. [3] It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and along with the adjacent ghost town of Kelso, was declared a United States Historic District in 2000. [4] The district was increased by a boundary increase approved by the National Park Service in 2019, with reference number 100003401. [2]

Contents

History

Early years

The first depot, by the Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad, opened in 1905. In early 1923 the railroad began construction of the new "Kelso Clubhouse & Restaurant" which opened the next year. The Kelso Depot was built to provide services to passengers and railroad employees, and a water stop for the steam locomotives. It is an example of a surviving mid-1920s era Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival architecture Styled railroad depot with a hotel, restaurant, and gardens in Southern California. It was designed by the firm of John and Donald Parkinson. [5] The facility served interstate passenger and shipping traffic and the transport of ore from local mines, especially the Vulcan Mine. It was an essential element of the 1920s modernization of the Union Pacific Railroad stations to compete with the Santa Fe Railway and its Harvey Houses such as "Casa del Desierto". [6]

The oasis-like landscape design and overall style and character of this remote station made it a popular gathering place for Union Pacific employees, passengers and local residents. The original gardens with shade from Fremont cottonwoods (Populus fremontii), Chinese elms (Ulmus parvifolia), and manicured geometric lawns lingered, but did not survive the desert conditions between depot closure and the park's Visitor Center restoration. Only date palms (Phoenix dactylifera) survived. [7]

Mid-20th century

The Kelso Depot served as a significant element in the Union Pacific's contributions to the American war effort during World War II. The end of World War II marked the beginning of a long decline in the depot's utility. The sharp decline in the volume of freight traffic and diesel engines replacing steam caused a reduction in services and the need for fewer employees. The Vulcan Mine closed early in 1947, further reducing freight and passenger traffic. A surge of activity occurred with the outbreak of the Korean War in the early 1950s, resulting in a renewal of high traffic levels on the Union Pacific line for several years.

In 1953 and 1957, attempts were made to market the low-grade iron ore stockpiled at the Vulcan Mine. However, higher horse power, second generation diesel-electric locomotives of the 1960s resulted in the further decline in Union Pacific personnel needed at Kelso. This technological change eliminated the need for helper locomotives entirely in 1959. Coupled with the closing of the station agency and cessation of passenger train service to Kelso on August 14, 1964, this development spelled the end of the depot's principal function with the exception of the Lunch Room which remained serving until 1985. [8]

Restoration and Visitor Center

Restored Kelso Depot restaurant. Kelso depot restaurant.JPG
Restored Kelso Depot restaurant.

The Union Pacific proposed the demolition of the then unused depot in 1985. Efforts to preserve the building culminated in its 1992 transfer to the Bureau of Land Management and its East Mojave National Scenic Area. [6]

In 1994 the Mojave National Preserve was established, and the depot was transferred to the National Park Service. A historical restoration and adaptive reuse project followed in 2002. The Kelso Depot now serves, since 2005, as the main Visitor Center of the Mojave National Preserve. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mojave National Preserve</span> Protected wilderness area in California, United States

Mojave National Preserve is a United States National Preserve located in the Mojave Desert of San Bernardino County, California, US, between Interstate 15 and Interstate 40. The preserve was established October 31, 1994, with the enactment of the California Desert Protection Act by the United States Congress, which also established Joshua Tree National Park and Death Valley National Park as National Parks. Previously, some lands contained within the Preserve were the East Mojave National Scenic Area, under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management. At 1,542,776 acres (6,243 km2), within the contiguous United States it is the third largest unit of the National Park System and the first largest National Preserve. The preserve was created within the Pacific West Region of the National Park Service and remains within that jurisdiction today.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelso, California</span> Ghost town in California, United States

Kelso is a ghost town and defunct railroad depot in the Mojave National Preserve in San Bernardino County, California, USA. It was named after railroad worker John H. Kelso, whose name was placed into a hat along with two other workers to decide the name of the town. The town was built in 1905 specifically as a railroad station along the rail line between Utah and Los Angeles, originally called "Siding 16," because of its location and nearby springs that provided abundant water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelso Dunes</span>

Kelso Dunes, also known as the Kelso Dune Field, is the largest field of aeolian sand deposits in the Mojave Desert. The region is protected by the Mojave National Preserve and is located near the town of Baker, San Bernardino County, California, and the Preserve Visitor Center. The dune field covers 45 square miles (120 km2) and includes migrating dunes, vegetation-stabilized dunes, sand sheets, and sand ramps. The tallest dunes rise up to 650 feet (200 m) above the surrounding terrain.

Bagdad is a ghost town in the Mojave Desert, in San Bernardino County, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daggett, California</span> Unincorporated community in California, United States

Daggett is an unincorporated community located in San Bernardino County, California in the United States. The town is located on Interstate 40 ten miles (16 km) east of Barstow. The town has a population of about 200. The ZIP code is 92327 and the community is inside area code 760.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grand Canyon Railway</span> Historic railway to Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona

The Grand Canyon Railway is a heritage railroad which carries passengers between Williams, Arizona, and the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Niles Canyon Railway</span> Heritage railroad in California

The Niles Canyon Railway (NCRy) is a heritage railway running on the first transcontinental railroad alignment through Niles Canyon, between Sunol and the Niles district of Fremont in the East Bay of the San Francisco Bay Area, in California, United States. The railway is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Niles Canyon Transcontinental Railroad Historic District. The railroad is operated and maintained by the Pacific Locomotive Association which preserves, restores and operates historic railroad equipment. The NCRy features public excursions with both steam and diesel locomotives along a well-preserved portion of the first transcontinental railroad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cima, California</span> Unincorporated community in California, United States

Cima is a small unincorporated community in the Mojave Desert of San Bernardino County, California, in the United States. It lies in a mountain pass on the divide between the Ivanpah Valley and the Mojave River basin, at an elevation of 4,175 feet (1,273 m). The Ivanpah Mountains and Interstate 15 are to the north, the New York Mountains are to the east, and the Providence Mountains are to the south. To the northwest is the Cima volcanic field, which contains Cima Dome at 5,745 feet (1,751 m) above sea level, a prominent landmark along I-15. Cima is also home to one of the densest Yucca brevifolia forests in California, located in the Cima Dome.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tidewater Southern Railway</span>

The Tidewater Southern Railway was a short line railroad in Central California in the United States. For most of its history, it was a subsidiary of the Western Pacific Railroad. It was originally built as an interurban system, connecting to the Central California Traction Company, Western Pacific Railroad, Southern Pacific Railroad and Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in Stockton, California. Its mainline went southeast from Stockton to Escalon, California and thence to Modesto, California before splitting into two branches ending at the towns of Turlock and Hilmar. Until the mid-1930s, there were plans to extend the line to Fresno and even toward the Los Angeles area. Today, much of the line is still operated by the Union Pacific Railroad. Of all the former interurban railroads in California, the former Tidewater Southern retains the highest percentage of still operating trackage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Union Station (Ogden, Utah)</span> Train station in Ogden, Utah, United States

Union Station, also known as Ogden Union Station, is a train station in Ogden, Utah, United States, at the west end of Historic 25th Street, just south of the Ogden Central Station. Formerly the junction of the Union Pacific(UP) and Central Pacific (CP) railroads, its name reflects the common appellation of train stations whose tracks and facilities are shared by railway companies.

Ludlow is an unincorporated community in the Mojave Desert on Interstate 40, located in San Bernardino County, California, United States. The older remains of the ghost town are along historic Route 66.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minneapolis station (Milwaukee Road)</span>

The Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Depot Freight House and Train Shed, now officially named The Depot, is a historic railroad depot in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. At its peak, the station served 29 trains per day. Following decline, the station was closed and eventually adapted into various other uses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barstow Harvey House</span> Train station in Barstow, California, U.S.

The Barstow Harvey House, also known as Harvey House Railroad Depot and Barstow station, is a historic building in Barstow, California. Originally built in 1911 as Casa del Desierto, a Harvey House hotel and Santa Fe Railroad depot, it currently serves as an Amtrak station and government building housing city offices, the Barstow Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center, and two museums.

Kelbaker Road is a paved road in San Bernardino County, California, that serves as the primary and busiest route through the Mojave National Preserve. It also connects the communities of Kelso and Baker. Its southern terminus is at County Route 66 between Amboy and Chambless. Kelbaker Road's northern terminus is at Interstate 15 in Baker. The road then continues as California State Route 127 northward to Nevada, connecting to Nevada State Route 373, passing near Death Valley National Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iron River station (Michigan)</span>

The Iron River depot was built by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad—better known as the Milwaukee Road—in 1913. Located in Iron River, Michigan, the brick depot has a modified Neoclassical design and is rectangular in shape. The depot has a covered porch on one end that connected to the waiting room. The station agent's office was located in the middle of the building, and a freight room was on the other end.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Caliente station</span> Former train station in Caliente, Nevada, United States

Caliente station is a historic Mission Revival style railway station, located in Caliente, Nevada, United States. The station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Caliente Railroad Depot, and is Nevada Historical Marker number 249.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">El Garces Intermodal Transportation Facility</span> Railway station in Needles, California

El Garces Intermodal Transportation Facility is an Amtrak intercity rail station and bus depot in downtown Needles, California. The structure was originally built in 1908 as El Garces, a Harvey House and Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway (ATSF) station. It is named for Francisco Garcés, a Spanish missionary who surveyed the area in the 1770s. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RailsWest Railroad Museum</span>

RailsWest Railroad Museum is a railroad museum operated by the Historical Society of Pottawattamie County at 16th Avenue and South Main Street and illustrates the history of railroads in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

References

  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. 1 2 "weekly list 20190201 (aggregate list)". National Park Service. 2019.
  3. "Cinder Cones National Natural Landmark introduction". Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved July 11, 2010. accessed 7/11/2010
  4. "accessed 7/12/2010". Archived from the original on August 4, 2012. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
  5. Strack, Don. "Union Pacific Utah Depots". UtahRails.net.
  6. 1 2 Barstow, Mailing Address: 2701 Barstow Road; Us, CA 92311 Phone:252-6100 Contact. "Kelso Depot - Mojave National Preserve (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov.
  7. Harland D. Unrau (June 19, 2000). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory—Nomination: Kelso Depot, Restaurant and Employees Hotel". National Park Service. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  8. "Kelso Depot, Restaurant and Employees Hotel". List of Classified Structures. National Park Service. Archived from the original on August 4, 2012. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
  9. "Visitor Centers, Mojave National Preserve". National Park Service. Retrieved December 30, 2008.
Preceding station Union Pacific Railroad Following station
Flynn
toward Los Angeles
Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad Hayden