Walking Tour of San Luis Obispo's Historic Railroad District
By The History Center of SLO County
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Podcast Description
Step back into history as you tour San Luis Obispo's historic railroad district. The tour is comprised of audio and visuals that will guide you to each stop and introduce you to characters from the past. The tour takes approximately an 45 minutes to complete.
| Name | Description | Released | Price | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | VideoChapter 1 - Introduction & Railroad Depot | Today’s tour will start right here at the historic train depot. San Luis Obispo’s first railroad was established to help local farmers get their goods to larger markets. In 1872, the San Luis Obispo Railroad Company was organized... | 6/13/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 2 | VideoChapter 2 - Southern Pacific Railroad Tower | Built in 1942, when up to ten passenger trains stopped here every day, this 65,000-gallon steel tank held the water that powered the steam locomotives during World War Two. | 6/13/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 3 | VideoChapter 3 - Hotel Park | Originally known as Glen Dell Hotel, this historic building is one of many we’ll visit today that catered to the railroad trade, boarding workers and offering respite to travelers. | 6/13/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 4 | VideoChapter 4 - Jennifer Street Bridge | Made of self-weathering steel that eliminates the need for paint, this popular footbridge connects Osos Street with Jennifer Street on the opposite side, and provides an excellent place from which to watch and photograph trains. | 6/13/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 5 | VideoChapter 5 - Freight House | Built in 1894, this venerable old building was one of the few in California that served two different types of railroads: the local narrow gauge Pacific Coast Railway and the nation-wide standard gauge Southern Pacific Railroad. | 6/13/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 6 | VideoChapter 6 - Del Monte Cafe | Look right across the street and you’ll see the charming Del Monte Café, looking very much like it did in 1922 when it was built. Designed and constructed for just $600, it began life as a grocery store and barber shop owned by J.R. Robbins. | 6/13/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 7 | VideoChapter 7 - Channel Commercial Building | Conveniently situated near the train depot, this three-story brick building was where almost all of San Luis Obispo’s wholesale groceries first arrived, before they were distributed to the county’s many small markets. | 6/13/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 8 | VideoChapter 8 - Tribune-Republic Building | Believe it or not, this is the oldest wooden commercial building in the city. Built in 1873 to house the city’s first newspaper, The San Luis Obispo Tribune, this house was originally located on Morro Street, several blocks from here. | 6/13/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 9 | VideoChapter 9 - Hageman Sanitarium | This two-story neo-colonial house with Queen Anne influences was built in 1880 for Judson Rice, not as a private home, but specifically to be a boarding house. | 6/13/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 10 | VideoChapter 10 - Parkview Hotel or The Establishment | Perhaps The Establishment’s most famous tenant was Jack Kerouac, who moved into an apartment here when he went to work for Southern Pacific in 1953. | 6/13/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 11 | VideoChapter 11 - Avila House | Have a seat and hear about the Avilas who built the Spanish-style home right across the street at the corner of Osos and Buchon. | 6/13/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 12 | VideoChapter 12 - Mitchell House / Mitchell Park | From humble brick mason to city mayor, Frank Campbell Mitchell earned his place in our city’s history. | 6/13/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 13 | VideoChapter 13 - Adriance Court | Your final stop is Adriance Court, less than one block up Santa Rosa Street on your right. These nine identical bungalows built around a center courtyard are typical of California-style multiple residences popular during this era. | 6/13/11 | Free | View In iTunes |
| Total: 13 Episodes |
Customer Reviews
Just Do It 3
Like I said before, you've go to see all three walking tour videos. They're GREAT !
Take the tours and have a great time.
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