Why you should experience Railroad Avenue in Los Angeles, California.
Railroad Avenue is a vibrant corridor where Newhall's railroad heritage, ranching history, civic institutions, and commercial traditions define one of Santa Clarita's most historically significant thoroughfares.
Running through Newhall between Valencia and Canyon Country, the corridor connects historic business districts, museums, parks, civic buildings, neighborhood businesses, and residential communities that collectively reflect more than a century of development in the Upper Santa Clara River Valley. Historic commercial buildings, mature street trees, preserved railroad features, pedestrian-friendly streetscapes, and carefully restored public spaces maintain a corridor shaped by transportation, commerce, and sustained community investment. Businesses, cultural organizations, municipal agencies, educational institutions, and local residents continue reinforcing Railroad Avenue's importance while supporting commerce, heritage preservation, and neighborhood life throughout Santa Clarita. The result is an experience defined by historical continuity, civic vitality, and the enduring character of Newhall.
What you should know about Railroad Avenue.
Railroad Avenue is best known for following the transportation corridor established after the Southern Pacific Railroad completed its line through Newhall in 1876, connecting the Santa Clara River Valley with Los Angeles and transforming the community into an important commercial and transportation center. The corridor developed across lands formerly included within the approximately 48,612-acre Rancho San Francisco, granted in 1839 by Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado to Antonio del Valle, whose family established one of California's most influential ranching enterprises before subdivision encouraged the growth of Newhall. Arrival of the railroad accelerated shipping of agricultural products, petroleum, livestock, and passengers while supporting businesses that concentrated along Railroad Avenue during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Incorporation of the City of Santa Clarita in 1987, together with preservation of Old Town Newhall, strengthened Railroad Avenue's role as the city's historic downtown corridor while encouraging restoration of historic buildings, expansion of cultural institutions, and continued investment in civic infrastructure.
William S. Hart Park, established following actor William S. Hart's death in 1946, preserves his Spanish Colonial Revival residence, extensive Western art collections, and historic ranch property immediately adjacent to the corridor. The Newhall Metrolink Station, opened in 1991, restored passenger rail service to the historic transportation corridor and today serves the Antelope Valley Line, strengthening regional connections between Santa Clarita and Los Angeles. The Saugus Café, established in 1887, remains one of California's oldest continuously operating restaurants and has served railroad workers, ranchers, travelers, and local residents for more than a century along Railroad Avenue. The Old Town Newhall Arts and Entertainment District, formally designated by the City of Santa Clarita, supports galleries, public art, performance venues, and community events that continue reinforcing the corridor's role as the cultural center of historic Newhall.
How to fold Railroad Avenue into your trip.
Railroad Avenue is best experienced as an exploration of Santa Clarita's railroad heritage, Western history, and historic downtown.
Begin at William S. Hart Park, where preserved ranch buildings, museum collections, and landscaped grounds introduce the historical foundations surrounding Railroad Avenue before following the corridor into Newhall. Continue to Old Town Newhall Arts and Entertainment District, where restored storefronts, galleries, and public gathering spaces reflect the commercial and cultural evolution that has defined the corridor for generations. Conclude at Newhall Metrolink Station, where modern passenger rail service provides a fitting finale celebrating the transportation legacy that gave Railroad Avenue its name and continues connecting Santa Clarita with the greater Los Angeles region. The progression moves naturally from ranching history to a preserved downtown before concluding with the railroad infrastructure that established Newhall as an enduring transportation center.
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