Harvey
House Railroad Depot Casa Del Desierto
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Harvey
House Railroad Depot also known as the Casa
Del Desierto sits by the railroad tracks in Barstow,
California. The building opened in 1911 as
a Santa Fee train station and Harvey House. Before trains
had dinning cars trains would stop at Harvey Houses so
passengers could dine or even spend the night before
resuming their journey. Barstow's Harvey House was equipped
with a full ballroom and not only used by train passengers
but by locals for dances and social events. After Santa
Fe started serving meals on trains Casa
Del Desierto went into decline. Over the years vandals
stole, destroyed and ransacked much of the stations
interior and the Santa Fe Railway decided to tear down
the the
building
in 1988. Thanks to an effort from locals, historians
and rail fans Santa Fe was persuaded to halt the demolition
of the depot. Restoration began in 1990, 8.3 million
dollars later, the Casa Del Desierto was re-dedicated
in 1999.
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Today the Barstow
Harvey House Railroad Depot is used for Greyhound and
Amtrak stations, the Mother Road Route
66 Museum, and the Western America
Railroad Museum. If your 're heading to or from Las Vegas
take an hour break from the busy freeway and check out
this
wonderful
historic building. The route 66 museum is full of pictures
and memorabilia about route 66 and the Harvey House. Admission
is free but donations are welcome. Western
America Railroad Museum also has free admission and
is jam packed with information about Casa
Del Desierto and the trains that
use to stop there. Outside is a collection of rail cars,
locomotives, rolling stock and general railroad operating
equipment. While visiting the Harvey House Railroad Depot
chances are you will see a least a couple of huge freight
trains passing by on their way out into the Mojave Desert.
Some
of these
trains are over a mile long. Plan on spending at least
an hour visiting Casa
Del Desierto. No food or beverages are on site but plenty
of places just up the hill in Barstow. Nearby
Barstow attraction, Calico
Ghost Town, a
restored western silver mining town and Tanger
Outlet Center.
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| Barstow Harvey House
Railroad Depot 685 North First Street Barstow, CA 92311 |
From Interstate 15/40:
Take Barstow Road north (toward Main Street). At Main Street
turn left (west), go three blocks, then right (north) on
1st Avenue. Cross the first bridge over the BNSF rail yards
until you get to the Harvey House entrance on your right.
From Route 66 (Main Street): Head down Main Street until
you get to 1st Avenue. Make a right or left (north) towards
the BNSF rail yards. Cross the first bridge over the BNSF
rail yards until you get to the Harvey House entrance on
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