Santa Fe Railway Passenger and Freight Depot
Also known as: Fullerton Amtrak Station
Why it's listed
Built in 1930, this reinforced concrete depot along the Santa Fe tracks in Fullerton combines a two-story center section with a flat-roofed freight terminal and a U-shaped arcaded waiting area. Its Spanish Colonial Revival details include red clay tile roofs, cast concrete brackets, wrought iron grills, parabolic arches and keyhole transoms, with Moderne touches on the trackside facade. The Santa Fe Railroad carried much of the citrus crop that anchored North Orange County's economy and also served the oil fields and other farm products. Passengers arriving from the Midwest and East, especially during World War II, often met Fullerton first at this station. Opened with a public dedication in July 1930 at a cost of $50,000, it is one of the few historic stations left in Orange County and the only one in North Orange County still serving as a station. The city bought it after demolition was proposed, and rehabilitation was planned.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the depot is locally significant for its ties to the Santa Fe Railroad, which supported Fullerton's citrus economy, its oil industry and other agriculture. It is also a well-preserved example of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture and one of the few historic stations left in Orange County.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 91002031, listed February 5, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 140 E. Santa Fe Ave., Fullerton |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | February 5, 1992 |
| Reference number | 91002031 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1930-41 |
| Architect / builder | Builder: Herbert, E.J.; Architect: Santa Fe Railroad Co. architect |
| Architectural style | Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Agriculture, Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in heavy use as a railroad depot (Amtrak station); the city bought it after a former owner announced plans to demolish it, and a rehabilitation was planned. Second-floor offices were not in regular use. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 33.86885, -117.92204 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 91002031.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q108866974
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.