The Firestone marquee had been removed by the April 2004 report, and the rest of the landmark location was subsequently demolished. The cleared lot remained undeveloped into early 2008 despite the earlier retail rumors. Both the tire business and its familiar roadside welcome were gone, adding another industrial landmark to the growing list of lost treasures. Justman Packaging and Display has been on this site since 2022. 10-26
Magic Johnson running the floor, Wayne Gretzky taking the ice, and Chick Hearn calling another fast break. For generations of Southern California fans, those memories lead back to the Forum.
Opened on December 30, 1967, the Charles Luckman-designed arena became an Inglewood landmark with its circular shape and tall white columns. Whether you called it the Fabulous Forum or the Great Western Forum, there wasn’t much mistaking this place from Manchester Boulevard.
After the Lakers and Kings departed in 1999, the old arena faced a different future. Fortunately, a major renovation brought it back into the concert spotlight in January 2014, with six sold-out Eagles shows welcoming crowds inside again.
UPDATE: Now known as the Kia Forum, the arena remains a busy music and entertainment venue. Looks like this landmark gets to stay here in Historical Sites after all. 10-26
St. Vibiana's Cathedral
Los Angeles, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
At Second and Main stands the former St. Vibiana’s Cathedral, a downtown landmark that nearly became a memory. Opened in 1876 and designed by Ezra F. Kysor, the cathedral survived more than a century before facing demolition following the 1994 Northridge earthquake.
Demolition began without a permit on June 1, 1996, but the Los Angeles Conservancy obtained an emergency court order that same day. Two successful lawsuits helped save the building, which developer Tom Gilmore purchased in 1999 and restored for a new use. Even the lantern removed from the bell tower made its way back in 2007.
UPDATE: Now known simply as Vibiana, the former cathedral hosts weddings and special events, with Redbird restaurant in the former rectory. Another downtown landmark saved from the wrecking ball and given something new to do. 10-26
Union Station interior
Los Angeles, CA Photo courtesy Rod Holcomb
Step inside Union Station and take a look at a time when arriving in Los Angeles came with a little more ceremony. Opened on May 3, 1939, the station brought Southern Pacific, Union Pacific, and Santa Fe passengers together under one impressive roof. The opening festivities stretched over three days and drew an estimated half-million people. Apparently quite a few Angelenos wanted a look at the new place.
Architects John and Donald Parkinson mixed Spanish Colonial, Mission Revival, and Art Deco touches, giving the terminal a look that was right at home in Southern California. The rows of wood and leather seats, patterned floors, and high ceilings give visitors plenty to admire while waiting for the next departure. No train ticket needed to appreciate this waiting room.
Take a little time to look around before heading for the platforms. The tall windows bring daylight into the spacious interior, while the courtyards offer a quieter place to pause away from the bustle. It’s the sort of station where an early arrival leaves a little extra time for sightseeing.
During World War II, the terminal became a busy passageway for servicemen, with troop trains keeping the station moving around the clock. Later, as cars and airplanes claimed more travelers, the crowds thinned. Fortunately, the old terminal remained, leaving Los Angeles with a working reminder of the days when a cross-country trip ended at the railroad platform.
Union Station
Los Angeles, CA Photo courtesy Sal Garcia
Hollywood has found plenty to like here, too. The historic ticketing hall appeared in Blade Runner, giving this 1939 landmark a part in the Los Angeles of the future. In 2021, the station traded train announcements for acceptance speeches when it hosted the 93rd Academy Awards. Not every waiting room gets that kind of evening.
UPDATE: Union Station remains an active transportation hub serving Amtrak, Metrolink, and Metro rail passengers. Restoration work has helped preserve its historic interiors, keeping the old terminal ready for another generation of arrivals, departures, and visitors stopping by for a peek. 10-26
Terminal Annex 1998
Los Angeles, CA Photo by RoadsidePeek.com
Across Alameda Street from Union Station stands the Terminal Annex, where mail once arrived by rail before heading out across Los Angeles. Opened in 1940, the Gilbert Stanley Underwood-designed building features arches, tiled domes, and twin towers that give this former mail-processing center a little more character than the average sorting room.
Inside, Boris Deutsch painted murals celebrating the cultural contributions of the Americas during the early 1940s. There’s a literary connection here, too. Charles Bukowski worked in the building during his postal years, experiences that helped supply material for his 1971 novel Post Office. Plenty going on behind those walls besides sorting envelopes.
UPDATE: Central mail processing moved elsewhere in 1989, and much of the Terminal Annex later became a data center. Information still passes through the old landmark, though these days it usually arrives without a stamp. 10-26
California Oil Museum
Santa Paula, CA Photo courtesy John King
At Main and Tenth streets in Santa Paula, the California Oil Museum occupies the former headquarters of Union Oil Company of California. The company began here in 1890, long before the Unocal name became familiar to motorists pulling in for gasoline. 10-10
The historic building later offered a look at the industry through equipment, photographs, and petroleum-related exhibits. It’s a reminder that Ventura County’s history includes more than citrus groves and small-town main streets. There was plenty happening beneath the ground, too.
UPDATE: The museum closed in September 2021 following financial difficulties. In January 2024, Chevron transferred the historic property to the City of Santa Paula with a $2 million grant to support its preservation and future use. 10-26
The Forum
St. Vibiana's Cathedral
Union Station interior
Union Station
Terminal Annex 1998
California Oil Museum
