Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Passenger and Freight Depot
Also known as: San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot; San Bernardino Depot
Why it's listed
Completed in 1918, the San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot is a long, two-story passenger and freight station at 1170 West 3rd Street. It measures about 380 feet by 100 feet and is built of cast-in-place concrete with hollow clay tile infill, finished in rough-cast stucco under a red clay tile roof. Los Angeles architect W. A. Mohr designed it in the Mission Revival style, with four domed towers that add a Moorish note. Described as the best and largest example of the style in the city, it was the last Santa Fe depot built in this mode and was second in size in California only to Los Angeles Union Station. A Fred Harvey restaurant wing with upstairs quarters was added in 1921. Later changes include infilled windows and altered second-floor offices, though the exterior and first-floor lobby keep much original fabric. Amtrak still uses the main lobby and part of the baggage area, while the rest of the building is unoccupied.
Significance in brief: The depot is described as the best example and largest structure of Mission Revival architecture in San Bernardino and the last Santa Fe depot built in that style. When completed in 1918 it was second in size in California only to Los Angeles Union Station. Its design, with four domed towers adding Moorish influence, was unique in the Santa Fe system. The building also retains a high level of integrity.
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 01000025, listed February 2, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1170 W. 3rd St., San Bernardino |
|---|---|
| County | San Bernardino County |
| Listed | February 2, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01000025 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | W. A. Mohr (also given as W. H. Mohr), Los Angeles architect employed by the Santa Fe |
| Architectural style | Late 19th - early 20th Century Revivals: Mission Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Amtrak occupies the main lobby and part of the baggage area; the remaining portions of the building are unoccupied. Many second-floor windows were infilled in the 1960s. |
| Acreage | 3.3 |
| Coordinates | 34.10477, -117.30943 (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 01000025.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7419522
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.