Growing up in San Bernardino, I have heard a lot of remarks about how bad the city is. I have heard it all: it not being nice enough or it is too dangerous. However, most are snooty remarks from outsiders. I never understood the amount of hate San Bernardino received. I was too busy understanding the city’s potential. As I have gotten older, my admiration for this city grows even more. I began a journey to get to know this city better.
My journey began at the San Bernardino History and Railroad Museum. Down Mount Vernon and W 5th St, there is the giant smokestack with Santa Fe written down the pole. I must have driven past it thousands of times and never gave it a second thought. As I approached the museum, I can see Old Smokey right behind it. The building is beautiful, it has mission-style architecture. The original wooden structured depot was built in 1886, but destroyed in a fire in 1916. In 1918, the construction for the new Santa Fe Depot began and opened in July 15, 1918. The building seen today was actually reconstructed in 2002 and retained its accurate interior and exterior from the 1918 Santa Fe Depot that once stood in the same spot.
Once inside, I couldn’t decide where to start as there is a lot to explore. I began with why the railroads were so significant to San Bernardino. It helped shaped this lonely valley into the metropolitan city it is today. For a period of time it was believed that San Bernardino would be the largest city in Southern California because of the railroad. Having the railroad meant prospective opportunities. It helped create a thriving economy and an abundance of jobs.
As I spoke to Allen Bone (CQ), vice president of the museum, he stated the employment in the depot during its heyday was about 3,000 people plus, all the businesses that supplied the needs of Santa Fe. The amount of new people migrating also helped shape the city because the depot needed employees to help with the increase of travelers. Passenger rail was the main method of travel, 26 passenger trains a day – 13 eastbound 13 westbound. The amount of activity San Bernardino received helped local business, such as restaurants, hotels and other stores.
For many people coming from the Mojave Desert, San Bernardino was their first major stop and their first experience of Southern California.
The fertile valleys and high mountains left visitors astonished. Former President Theodore Roosevelt, was not only the first president to visit San Bernardino but while stopping at the San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot told a train attendant, “I would like to live in San Bernardino.”
Additionally, Lyndon B. Johnson once had a job as an elevator operator for the Platt Building in San Bernardino.
Gentlemen who work and volunteer at the museum undoubtedly represent a large part of who San Bernardino genuinely is. With the warm welcome and eager conversation, it is easier to connect to the different artifacts. They offer much information on the different artifacts. Some of the gentlemen even put their own history in the museum, such as Mr. Bone’s wooden fire trucks or Mr. Allan Dyer’s grandmothers 19th century wooden ice box. These generous offers of putting their own belongs into the museum are a contributing factor to the history of San Bernardino.
Some of these gentlemen are even CSUSB alumni. One proudly showing me his class ring from the first graduating class of 1967 with the original mascot: a badger.
I will continue my journey in discovering historical places this city has.
San Bernardino is more than its appearance. We are a loyal community, working hard and helping this city thrive. Our success is San Bernardino success.
-Museum hours: Wednesday 9am-12pm and Saturday 10am-3pm. Free admission to all.
Juan Morfin says
May 6, 2019 at 5:42 AMI have lived here 36 years and for the last 5 years I was involved with a church called The Rock and they say that they care for San Bernardino but none of the staff lives in San Bernardino and talks bad about it so after being involved in volunteering there I’ve got to see that this place is a multimillion-dollar a month business and it’s hurting San Bernardino instead of helping where the pastors and the lead staff have million-dollar homes and drive expensive vehicles but yet the community is still poor and they beg for money to pay off the building from poor innocent people of San Bernardino
Patricia S Morin says
May 3, 2019 at 10:46 PMBeautiful article! I’m going to plan a trip to the museum, I think it’s something my grandchildren will enjoy. Thank you.
Cleve Hubbs says
May 2, 2019 at 3:19 AMI was born in San bernardino in 1948 its true the area seem to wither away after the mid 1960’s But it appears things are turning around. things like this article do help even us native residents reconsider the unfair propaganda we have accepted. We lost the route 66 event title and the National Orange Show suffers from no first class promotion and two malls have dried up then the mass shootings and city finanial troubles really hurt our cities image But its strange how sometimes a place person or thing can seem to overnight become famous almost as if some invisible powers were at work. Well … we who live here can vouch for the Orange Show and Rain they seldom mention how many years that it didnt rain like 5 times in 90 years. But anyway its always fun to read about San berdu
Barbara says
May 1, 2019 at 8:51 PMI have lived in San Bernardino my entire life and I have seen it in its heydays. My father worked for Santa Fe and we have visited the museum several times.. Thank you for writing this amazing article and bringing a positive vibe to our city. Kudos to you.
Johnny Cheapo says
May 1, 2019 at 3:14 PMI alway thought the Train Station would be a great place for a craft brewery. Or maybe a place host a dance, live music or other entertainment event in the museum from time to time. If it was a brewery it would be great a starting point for a craft brew Train tour to Clairmont or LA!
Amanda says
May 1, 2019 at 2:05 PMBeautiful article! Thank you for highlighting the beauty of our city!! Thank you for what you do!
Maria D Arroyo says
May 1, 2019 at 9:52 AMI live in San Bernardino for about 14 yrs, am like 5 min away from the Museum and not once I have visited. Thank you, you inspire me to take my family and see the history of our city. I really enjoyed your article.