All Aboard! This is your last chance to see The Railroad Museum before we close for the season.

If you have been planning a trip to The Railroad Museum, Sioux City your time is running out. The museums last day of operations for the season is this Sunday, December 22nd. Your next opportunity to visit will be when the museum reopens to the public on Saturday, March 1st, 2014.

Even though, the museum will be closed to the public, life at the old Milwaukee Road roundhouse complex in the north Riverside neighborhood of Sioux City, Iowa will be brisk with activity. The staff and volunteers will be busy over the winter months continuing the restoration efforts, designing and building new displays and creating new and exciting interpretative and educational experiences for our visitors.

We have come along way since 1995 when we first moved out to the roundhouse complex and started the long hard process of converting this rail yard turned salvage yard back into a working rail yard and tourist attraction that not only the Siouxland region can be proud of but, a nationally recognized historical site and tourist destination. Please keep up with our progress through the winter by returning to this blog site for updates or following us on our Facebook page.

If you can still make it out for a visit before we close for the season please do so. We would love to have you stop out and visit with us. Thank you for your past and continued support and we look forward to many more happy years of entertaining and educating our wonderful community.

Big Sioux River Recreational Bike Trail through the Railroad Museum complex

We intend to submit a grant application to the State of Iowa to assist with the construction and development of a hard-surfaced interpretive trail system at our museum complex and the Big Sioux River Recreational Bike Trail through the museum complex.

We are collecting public input and comments to submit with our application for funding. If you are interested in leaving a comment for the need of the trail system or would like to show your support, please visit our petition site to register your support and comment. Please encourage your friends to also visit and sign our petition. THANK YOU.

 

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/big-sioux-river-dike-trail-milwaukee-railroad

 

Santa's Coming to The Railroad Museum, Sioux City!

Santa's Whistle Stop Tour has been revised and re-opened!

WOW! You guys are GREAT! We love our supporters and guests so much! We have been overwhelmed by calls, letters, e-mails, and comments since the announcement that we were cancelling this event for this year due to construction issues. However, with such amazing support we cannot find it in our hearts to disappoint so many people. SO... We have brought the event back to life. It will be somewhat downsized due to a lack of available space but we are going to make this happen and Santa is so happy that he will be able to meet all the childern at the roundhouse.

Santa to make Whistle Stop Visit Next 3 Saturdays at Sioux City’s Railroad
Museum

Sioux City, IA - The Railroad Museum - Sioux City announces Santa will be
making his 2013 Whistle Stop Tour at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic
District on Saturdays, December 7th, 14th, and 21st. Admission to the Railroad
Museum will be free during Santa’s Whistle Stop Tour.

COLD TEMPERATURE ADVISORY - The Railroad Museum advises visitors to dress
their children and themselves warmly and appropriately layered for the colder
weather ahead, as the interior of the buildings will be very cool.
Additionally, everyone is encouraged to wear shoes appropriate for rugged
terrain and long distance walking between the roundhouse building and the
model railroad exhibit center.

Santa will arrive by diesel locomotive and caboose at 1:15 p.m.; and will
greet visitors in the Preservation Gallery of the roundhouse building from 1:30 to 3:30.
Santa and his train will depart the Railroad Museum at 3:30 p.m.

Visitors are welcomed to bring their own digital device or camera to take
photos of Santa and his young believers. In addition, the Railroad Museum will
take pictures for $5 each for those who do not have a camera and wish to have
a photo print before they leave the railroad museum complex.

Pending availability, Santa may bring a special guest with him from the North
Pole – The Conductor - if he is not making a train run. The Conductor will
do a special story book reading from The Polar Express in the roundhouse atrium.

Motor Car rides may be purchased for $1 per person during Santa’s Whistle
Stop Tour. This “ride on the rails” is the Railroad Museum’s version of
a Christmas time horse and sleigh ride. Visitors are encouraged to be bundled
up for the ride with the much colder temperatures expected.

Santa, small electric trains and Christmas are a natural holiday coupling.
After visiting Santa at the Railroad Museum, children and grownups will have
the opportunity to watch and enjoy the operations of an HO-Scale model
railroad exhibition featuring the Nebraska Central Railway. In addition, there
may be an O-scale and N-scale layout operating in the Model Train Exhibit
Center.

The Railroad Museum - Sioux City is located in the Milwaukee Railroad Shops
Historic District at 3400 Sioux River Road, along State Highway 12 – Loess
Hills National Scenic Byway – in the north Riverside neighborhood of Sioux
City.

Gift Shop stocked with holiday gift giving ideas - FREE ADMISSION

The Railroad Museum Gift Shop has gifts and stocking stuffers for all ages.

We have a variety of gifts from apparel to puzzles, mugs, books, toys, gift cards and more. 

We accept cash, checks, Visa, MasterCard and Discover.

Admission to the museum is waved for folks just wanting to shop for Christmas!

The Gift Shop is open Tuesday thru Saturday, 10am - 4pm and Sundays Noon - 4pm.

Get GREAT gifts and ideas while supporting our non-profit museum!!

 

See you soon!!

The Railroad Museum - Sioux City

Santa's Whistle Stop Event Canceled for 2013

It is with heavy hearts that we have to announce the cancellation of this years Santa's Whistle Stop Event, but it is not being canceled for bad reasons. Due upcoming construction projects and the prep work that we need to acomplish before the contractors can start there will not be enough usable space to hold our event this year. We are entering the final phases of our reconstruction efforts and unfortunately this event needs to be canceled so that your visitor experience in the future will be better and more comfortable.

The construction slated to start soon will include our Engineers Tools Shed (main entrance), Car Shops Building, Sand House and south end Water Closet Building.  Theses buildings must be emptied and the items currently stored in these buildings will have to be moved into the remaining buildings for temporary storage and protection while the construction is on going.

We thank each and everyone of you for your continued support. And appreciate your understanding of this unfortunate hic-up, but the overall end result will be a wonderful new addition to the overall visitor experience in the very near future.

The museum will still be open for normal daily business so if you were planning on a visit please continue to make your plans to do so. Also, our gift shop will still be open and is being stocked up for the holidays so if you have any gift giving ideas or plans we will still be able to help you out.

From the staff and all the volunteers at The Railroad Museum, Sioux City we wish to extend warm and heartfelt thank you and the best of wishes for the happiest holiday season.

2013 Halloween-at-the Roundhouse - Recap

 

What was once a foresaken parcel of history has now become one of Sioux City's destination attractions for children and family-oriented edutainment. Who would have thought a former junk yard could be transformed into a vibrant place for Halloween fun?

On Saturday, October 26th, the Railroad Museum hosted its fifth annual Halloween-at-the-Roundhouse event. City Council Member Rhonda Capron served as Traveling Engineer (similar to a parade marshall) and drove Sir Topham Hatt into the complex for the Halloween fun. Both Council Member Capron and Sir Topham Hatt greeted children and their families throughout the complex.

An estimated 7,619 people visited the historic site during the afternoon - based on visitor registrations. Among those visitors, approximately 3,886 were children and teenagers.

New to this year's event was the Cobweb Car Shops Haunted House. There were children's activities throughout the complex, hay rack rides, and tours of historic railroad equipment. Costumed witches, hoboes and railroad characters interacted with visitors - casting spells and handing out candy. The kids were also able to enjoy the pony rides and petting zoo.

We would like to thank the railroad museum volunteers, boy scouts, hoboes, and the Children's Museum volunteers for helping to staff and run the event. A special thanks to all the railroad museum volunteers who provided most of the financial investment to put on the event. And we would like to thank all our business sponsors.

Save-the-Date: Halloween at the Roundhouse, Saturday Oct. 26th from Noon until 4:00 PM.

 Our FREE ADMISSION event of the year is nearly here!  This is far and above the most anticipated event we have each year. Last year over 6,300 family members came out for a great afternoon of family bonding and fun. We have some new and exciting additions this year that are sure to please our visitors.

In the past two years we introduced our Haunted Caboose attraction which became an instant hit with our guests. Unfortunately this past year we restored this caboose back to its original glory (that sounds weird doesn’t it … we unfortunately did good?!?!?) so the caboose can no longer be haunted. Fret not because we have not only found a new location but we have expanded its size also. Our haunted offering can be found in the Car Shops building for more frightful chills and fun.

We have also added an apple slingshot area where you can fling 3 apples for $1.00 with our slingshots and if you hit any of the targets that we have set up then you can win a prize also.  Here is a rundown of some of the activities that will be available.

Pumpkin Carving demonstration and Auction

Haunted Car Shops

Apple Slingshot  **

Scavenger Hunt

Motor car rides **

Model Railroad Exhibit

Petting Zoo **
Pony Rides **
Pumpkin Bowling
Screaming Contest
Fishing Game
Soda Pop Ring Toss
Make your own Crafts
     Spider crafts
    Pumpkin Sock Puppets
     Skeleton Crafts

Food Vendors  **

Hay rack Rides
Trick or Treating

** additional fees apply

Late breaking news:  Two special VIPS will be dropping in to help out with the activities. Sir Topham Hatt and the Conductor are arriving from the Island of Sodar at 12:45 PM!!

For some of the games and contests there will be pumpkin prizes awarded to our winners (while supplies last). Also, our full cast of Hobo’s, witches, goblins, ghouls, and railroad characters will be on hand to interact with and play with our quests. 

Come on down to The Railroad Museum, Sioux City and join in the fun. Come in costume or not, but plan on having a great family afternoon. We can’t wait to see you!

 

The 2013 Rock ‘n’ Rail Festival announces Music Headliners

Organizers of the Rock ‘n’ Rail Festival today announced the bands for the 2013 Festival, which will be held on Saturday, September 14, from noon to 6 p.m. at the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District in Sioux City, Iowa.

This year’s headlining bands are Premium Draft, The Kelly Quinn Band, and The Emily Johnson Band.

The 2^nd Annual Rock ‘n’ Rail Festival is family-friendly rock-oriented music event hosted on the historic grounds of the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District in Sioux City.

The musical performances will take place in a grassy area surrounded by the historic railroad buildings and rail cars. The public is invited to bring lawn chairs, blankets, or sheets for seating; and may bring their own beverages/coolers. Local vendors will host food and beverage concessions.

While attending the music festivals, visitors will have an opportunity to tour the Railroad Museum, enjoy motor car rides, and view the public display of Sioux City’s landmark steam locomotive and other railroad equipment displays. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own digital cameras and devices for snapping photo opportunities with children and family.

Adult admission is $5 at the gate; child admission for ages 6 to 18 is $3; and young children under age 5 will be admitted free with paid adult admissions. Proceeds from the music festival will benefit the operational costs associated with developing the Railroad Museum.

For information, contact the Railroad Museum at 712-233-6996 or e-mail shra@cableone.net.

Built in 1917, the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District is one of the largest remaining steam locomotive-servicing facilities in the Midwest. The 31.5-acre site consists of a roundhouse with turntable, machine/blacksmith shop building, car/carpenter shop building, sand drying house with wood sand tower, engineer’s tool shed and a water closet building. This historic site also contains eighteen other historical remnants, including foundations of the water tower, boiler house and coaling tower.

The Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District is located adjacent to the Big Sioux River and Loess Hills National Scenic Byway in Sioux City’s north Riverside area; approximately 2 miles south of Stone State Park on State Highway 12.  

AG RAIL HERITAGE FESTIVAL 2013 - THIS SATURDAY & SUNDAY, AUGUST 17th & 18th

Come on down to The Railroad Museum, Sioux City this weekend and help us celebrate the working relationship between the railroads and the great American farmers. Lots of displays will be set up for you learn about or teach your kids about the "good ole days". Live music, awesome food, trains, tractors, kids activities, operating model railroads, live antique threshers in operation, an antique tractor pull, petting zoo, pony rides and see an actual railroad roundhouse turntable in operation! There are lots of cool things to see and do at the AG Rail Heritage Festival. See the list below for times and more information about what is going on. We can't wait to see you!

Special admission fees for this event are:

• $6 for adults
• $4 for kids 12-18 years old
• Free for kids 0-11 with the paid admission of an accompanying adult.

Kids Activities – All Day

Motorcar Rides – All Day

Tractor Parade – 11:00am

Kids Pedal Tractor Pull – 1pm

Antique Tractor Pull – 2pm

Petting Zoo – All Day

Pony Rides – All Day

Turntable Demonstrations

(Saturday 10:30am, Noon, 2pm, 4pm, 5:30pm)

(Sunday 10:30am, Noon, 2pm, 3:30pm)

Music – All Day

Food  - All Day

Beverage Garden – Opens at Noon

Model Trains – All Day

Hay Rides – All Day

Ugliest Truck Contest

Noon – 4pm (Saturday Only)

Antique  Farming Demonstrations

West Field (threshing, plowing, shelling)

Northern Pacific Caboose #1318 gets a 100th Brirthday Present - New Paint!

With the help of a $1,000.00 grant from Security National Bank in Sioux City, Iowa. Volunteers of The Railroad Museum, Sioux City have been busy over the past 5 months saving another piece of American History. Northern Pacific Caboose #1318 was built in 1913 at the Tacoma, WA shops of the Northern Pacific Railway Company. This 24 foot wood caboose needed quite a bit of love to help restore it. One entire wall was severely rotted and required the wall supports to be jacked up so the wood and structural supports could be replaced. Two bunks and a table were also reinstalled to meet the original blueprint designs. Many external pieces of wood also needed to be replaced and new windows installed throughout. Although the restoration is not 100% with the upgrades, paint and repairs the caboose is now physically sound and our visitors will be able to see another beautiful piece of America's past.

This past Saturday, August 3rd, 2013, found our volunteers and volunteers from Security National Bank working side by side repainting the caboose back to it's original colors. Many people may remember this caboose as one the yellow cabooses that used to greet people at the KD Stockyard Station shopping complex that was built in the former Swift pork packing plant in the Sioux City Stockyards. Below are some before and after pictures of the painting party held this past Saturday. If our plans hold together and the weather cooperates the caboose painting will be complete and will be on outside display for all to see and walk through during our 11th Annual Ag/Rail Heritage Festival coming up on August 17th and 18th, Saturday 10 am - 6 pm and Sunday 10 am - 4 pm.

Our wonderful financial supporter and volunteers from Security National Bank. Thank You!

Northern Pacific Caboose #1318 returns back to it's original colors. This wood caboose was built in 1913 at the Northern Pacific Shops in Tacoma, WA. Happy 100th Birthday!

Interior view of the two newly re-installed bunks and folding table with the original two tone paint freshly applied. For those that have been in this caboose recently it was dark and dingy and hard to see. We have actually used it as a haunted caboose the past two years during our Halloween event. It is now bright and cheery.

Here is a look at the cupola area of the caboose. With the new windows and fresh paint it has really brightened up the inside of the caboose. The open area under the cupola seating originally had sliding doors and was used for storage. We intend to leave this area open, enclosed with plexiglass and lighting and house artifacts and other displays in this area in the future.

This is an actual picture of caboose #1318 while still in service. As you can see it was even in pretty rough condition at the time this undated photo was taken.

Here is a clearer photo of a sister caboose # 1324 which may give you a better idea of what the finished appearance of #1318 will look like when completed.

Gilchrist Foundation grant will boost site improvements

The Railroad Museum has been selected by Security National Bank to receive a $37,000 grant award from the Gilchrist Foundation of Sioux City. The funds will be used to transform and furnish the sand drying house as an audio visual theater for speaking and lecture events, film festivals, and other multi-media presentations. Funds are also earmarked to furnish and redevelop the oil house and store house foundation areas as an outdoor amphitheater. The funding is from the Gilchrist Foundation, a family-based foundation with a mission to further the philanthropic interests of the Gilchrist family in the arts, wildlife, conservation, public broadcasting, medical care and disasters. Security National Bank serves as trustee for the Gilchrist Foundation.

"Cruisin to Sioux City" Car Show , Satuday July 27th from 10 AM - 4 PM

Come attend the 2nd Annual "Cruisin to Sioux City" Car Show at the Railroad

Museum this Saturday from 10 AM - 4 PM.  Come see all the classic 

automobiles, street rods, and specialty vehicles.  Check out the railroad 

exhibits, take a train ride on the motor car, and enjoy all the classic 

cars. There will be food vendors, rock-n-roll music, and lots of fun for 

the whole family. 

All cars are welcome, and dash plaques will be presented to the 

first 100 cars. 

We Need Your Help!! Please Donate.

We are changing our name to something simple! The Railroad Museum, Sioux City

 

Over the years we have learned that our name The Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District is just too much of a mouthful for people to say or remember. Our name was modified, changed and substituted by many, even to include our own volunteers and the press. Last year we participated in a Branding Triangle survey and workshops in conjunction with JD Gordon Creative Labs a marketing consultation and creative services firm here in Sioux City. Although the name The Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District is the most accurate name for our in-side the fence part of the rail yard complex it also was very misunderstood.  Through our surveys and workshops we found that some folks thought the name represented a shopping mall or shopping center, some thought it was still an operating railroad and even others had no idea what the name meant at all. Only a few knew what we were about and even then still refereed to us as the railroad museum. Well, you don’t have to hit us over the head with a stick (too many times) for us to clue in. So, if you can’t beat them … join them. Many wonderful and intriguing names were dreamed up and tried out and yet as we learned, simple is best.

Our new name The Railroad Museum, Sioux City; it pretty much says it all. And it actually works better for our vision of the future and our long range goals. The Railroad Museum name encompasses the entire 31 acre complex. The actual Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District name will still be a part of the overall museum complex and location naming. The historic district is actually everything that is inside the fenced in area of the museum grounds. Due to the fact it is a Historic District there are certain guidelines and stipulations that we must follow to protect its historic integrity. Outside of the fenced area of the museum grounds we have a large riparian timberland area to our south and east to which we have designated as Nature Zones to help show off and protect the natural wonders and some of the critters surrounding the rail yard. To our west is a large field which is bordered by the Big Sioux River and a timbered river bank and our Historic District west fence.  This area encompasses our agricultural area for our antique farm equipment that is displayed during our AG-Rail Events in August. But, parts of it will also be repurposed into what we are calling our Railfield Recreational Area. This area will have play pockets built to give children a chance to play and burn off some energy in railroad themed learning and playground areas. This same area will also serve as a trail head connector between the City of Sioux Cities Big Sioux River Trail system and a proposed Stone State Park Trail System.

Also, although we are located in the old Milwaukee Road locomotive servicing shops we are not a Milwaukee Road only focused museum. We want to teach people about all the railroads that operated in and still work in our regional area. Sioux City once had 6 of these Roundhouse servicing facilities so we have a lot of history to cover and a responsibility to remember those other important work sites that so many people worked in, for and around.

So come on down to The Railroad Museum, Sioux City. We are still the same great place with the same great volunteers….we just now have an easier name to remember us by.

Crusin" to Sioux City Classic Car Show Postponed Until Sunday, May 26th

Due to the current and forecasted future rain and possible hail for today (Sunday May 19th) the Crusin' to Sioux City Classic Car Show has been postponed until next Sunday, May 26th. The show will be held at the same time from Noon- 4 PM.

Sorry for the inconvenience, but hopefully we'll get to see everyone next Sunday.

Crusin’ to Sioux City, Classic Car Show, Sunday May 19th from Noon to 4 pm

GN #1355 with a beautiful 1950 Plymouth convertible

Are you a classic car lover? Do you own one that you like to show off or do you just enjoy reminiscing of days gone by and  looking at them? Either way, we have just the fix for you. This Sunday, May 19^th is our 2^nd Annual “Crusin’ to Sioux City” classic car show.  The Railroad Museum sits on 30 acres of land so we have LOTS of space to display LOTS of cars. Come on down and check out the cool cars and chat with the owners. Classic cars and trains are a win-win combination in any book. Pack up the family and enjoy some great old fashioned family togetherness.

Here’s the rundown of what you can expect

1. Show Hours: Noon to 4 PM
2. Two food vendors will be on hand...Kirks BBQ and Foster Concessions
3.  All classic cars that are displayed and their passengers will be admitted FREE!
4. Gates open at 8am, show starts at 12 noon.
5. Rock-n-Roll music
6. Commemorative dash plaques will be given to the first 100 cars
7. Steam Locomotive Great Northern #1355 will be on outside display on the roundhouse turntable so that photos of your classic car with this historic locomotive in the background can be taken.
8. Railway motorcar rides – FREE
9. All museum buildings and exhibits will be open
10. See the 75' x 17'  HO Scale Nebraska Central Model Railroad with 6 operating trains
11. For those visitors not bringing a classic car for display normal daily admission rates apply:

          Adults: $5.00
          Seniors: $4.00 (Age 50 and Older)
          Students: $3:00 (Age 6-18)
          Kids: FREE w/Paid Adult (Ages 5 and Younger)     
          Family Package: $20.00  Includes: 2 Adults and 4 or more children
                                       (Immediate family members only)

For more information about the Railroad Museum Sioux City, contact information and directions please visit our web site at http://www.milwaukeerailroadshops.org

RAILROAD MUSEUM RECIEVES VISION IOWA GRANT AWARD!

May 8, 2013 (Des Moines) – The Vision Iowa Board awarded a $314,862 Community Attraction and Tourism grant to the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District & Railroad Museum in Sioux City. According to Jessica O’Riley, Vision Iowa board member and member of the Iowa Economic Development Authority, the grant was approved today by the Vision Iowa Board at their meeting in Des Moines.


Matt Merk, Executive Director stated, “This is very exciting news and could not have been made possible without the extensive progress that the volunteers have made in rescuing this national treasure and even more importantly the outstanding support that our community has provided through donations, sales, pledges and attendance. All of these combine together and demonstrate to those looking on at not only the state level but at the national level that we have something very special here in Sioux City.” Larry Obermeyer, SHRA Board President also added, “Our supporters can see that completing this project will not only provide a valuable economic impact on our region, but it has already and will continue to also increase the quality of life here in the Siouxland area by enhancing family ties and interactions with each other.”

Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District – CAT 2 – Sioux City
Total Project Cost: $2,661,897
Amount Requested: $314,862
Amount Awarded: $314,862
Award Contingencies: Completion of fundraising within 30 days. ($85,000 still need to be raised!)

This project includes the exterior renovation of five historic buildings (Engineers Tool Shed, Car Shops, South End Water Closet, Sand Dying House, and the Roundhouse) the construction of a permanent restroom facility and an alternative transportation system of interpretive paved walking trails, paved parking lot and a 16” gauge miniature railroad. Additionally, this project will also support interior improvements to the roundhouse building and continue interior improvements to the machine shop building.

To everyone that has supported this historic development, thank you so very much for your past, present and future support.

For those of you that would like to become involved or would like to see what it really going on out in this north Riverside neighborhood come on out and see what you’ve been missing out on. This Saturday would be a prefect chance to stop out and see what’s happening. The National Train Day and Sioux City Historic Preservation Week all wrap up at the Railroad Museum this Saturday. We are located at 3400 Sioux River Road, 1/2 mile north of Military Road on Hwy 12, Admission is FREE! Hours: 10 am – 4 pm.

For more information about the Historic District and Railroad Museum please visit our website at  www.milwaukeerailroadshops.org and like us on Facebook.

National Train Day, Saturday May 11th, 2013

The Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District and Railroad Museum will be combining two events into one spectacular day. We are the feature attraction closing up a week-long celebration as Sioux Cities Historic Preservation Week wraps up and we are once again joining the nationwide celebration of National Train Day.

National Train Day marks the 144th anniversary of the creation of the nation's first transcontinental railroad. On May 10, 1869, in Promontory Summit, Utah, the 'golden spike' was driven into the final tie that joined 1,776 miles of the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railways, forever transforming the face and character of America.  Special celebrations have been planned by Amtrak at many of its stations across the country as well as hundreds of additional railroad focused museums, tourism trains and historic sights.   We are also lucky enough to be celebrating Sioux City Historic Preservation Week at the same time.

Things to see and do!

·         Hours: 10 am – 4 pm

·         Admission: FREE 

·         Motor Car Rides: $2 each for kids all the way up to 105 years old                                          

·         1:30 PM in the south end of the Machine/Blacksmith Shop - Dr. Rudy Daniels will be giving a talk about the Railway Postal Service.

·         Popcorn and refreshments for purchase

·         Try our self-guided walking tour book for an in-depth look around the complex. Cost is only $3 and $1 of each book sold goes directly to the building restoration fund

We have A LOT of construction projects scheduled for this summer and fall. This will be a great time to see some “before” looks of some our buildings before the construction. Then, you will really be able to appreciate the “after” looks you’ll see next year. Here’s a teaser for this year’s construction plans:

·         Build brand new restroom facilities.

·         Restore the Engineers Tool Shed and convert it into our permanent entrance/visitor center.

·         Restore the Car Shops Building and begin the conversion into a Railway Marketing Display hall and rental space for parties, meetings and family get togethers.

·         Restore the south end Water Closet building and conversion to a storage room.

·         Restore the Sand Drying House and begin conversion into a multimedia theater and rental facility for business/community meetings, lectures, weddings, etc..