Historic Livermore Train Station Gets State Preservation Award

LIVERMORE, CA — The Livermore Railroad Depot Relocation and Rehabilitation project is one of five recipients of the 2019 Governor's Historic Preservation Awards.

The depot, now located at 2500 Railroad Ave., was first built by Southern Pacific in 1892 and was most active until 1942. It served as Livermore's depot into the early 1960s, according to the state, and was altered after Southern Pacific transferred ownership of the property in 1973.

"The railroad and our train station were the reasons that Livermore thrived and neighboring communities faded away," said Mayor John Marchand in a Facebook post about the award.

Livermore's Redevelopment Agency acquired the depot in 2007, but it looked much different than it originally did. There was new paint and historic windows were gone. It sat in the middle of a parking lot, the state said.

Non-historic changes were demolished, the redwood exterior siding was restored, wood windows were replicated and other historic details were reinstated, according to the state. The structure was moved near Livermore's train tracks to serve as a train station once more, according to the city's post.

The award will be given at a Jan. 22 ceremony in Sacramento. See other winners here.