Not only is Union Station one of L.A.’s most underrated landmarks, but it’s also one of the busiest, with more than 110,000 people passing through every single day.
If you’ve ever found yourself rushing through Union Station to get from Point A to B, there’s a new opportunity available to stop and take a closer look at the building’s most iconic architectural features, many of which date back to Hollywood’s Golden Age and the early days of rail travel.
Union Station is now welcoming visitors to join their free spring Art & Architecture Tours, which will occur on select weekends now through June.
Union Station Art & Architecture Tours
Metro Art, the organization behind L.A. Metro’s most stunning public art pieces around the city, hosts these limited tours that give visitors an unparalleled look at Union Station.
The guided walk explores the intricacies of the station’s Mission Moderne architecture alongside sculptural seating, art, murals, and even a voice-activated light and sound installation that’s hidden in plain sight.
Tours are available on the following limited dates this spring, from 10:30am to 12pm.
- Saturday, May 2, 2026
- Sunday, May 3, 2026 (Spanish-language tour)
- Sunday, May 31, 2026
- Saturday, June 6, 2026
- Sunday, June 7, 2026 (Spanish-language tour)
- Sunday, June 14, 2026
The Metro Art tours are free to attend, but you must RSVP at least 48 hours before the tour. Head to the L.A. Metro website for more details.
The largest passenger rail terminal in the Western U.S.
Union Station opened in 1939 as a major terminal meant to consolidate the city’s numerous rail services in one place.
Father-son duo John and Donald Parkinson designed the station with a combination of Art Deco, Mission Revival, Spanish Colonial, and Streamline Moderne styles. Its most iconic area is the Grand Waiting Room, which still has its original coffered wooden ceilings, dazzling chandeliers, and opulent mahogany seating.
The station was awarded a spot on the prestigious National Register of Historic Places in 1980, and like many L.A. landmarks, it’s appeared in legendary Hollywood films such as Blade Runner, The Dark Knight Rises, Catch Me If You Can, and Pearl Harbor.
These days, Union Station continues to be the busiest railroad station in the Western United States, serving Metrolink, Metro Rail, regional bus lines, and Amtrak.
In fact, a new project called Link US plans to renovate Union Station in anticipation of California High-Speed Rail. By transforming the station from a “stub-end” terminal into a through-station with run-through tracks, the historic station is set up to serve passengers well into the future.
