Archeology Dig to Unearth The Railroads Past

Wow, we are getting national attention with our planned archaeology dig scheduled to start in August. The archaeology team coming in from the University of Iowa are also looking for 30 volunteers to help.
These volunteers will work side by ...side with the archeologists doing some digs, and sifting through the dirt, looking for any type of historic artifact. If you are interested or know of someone that would like to help please contact us. No special skills are needed to volunteer. Interested volunteers can email the Milwaukee Railroad Shops at: shra@cableone.net or call: 233-6996.

 

For more information about the dig and volunteering for it please click on the links below.

 

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a094daaaf2e5-sioux

 

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jul/23/artifact-dig-planned-at-sioux-city-rail-museum/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS#.U9Ex5c6bq8E.facebook

Pictures Needed of the Rounhouse Complex and its Employee's

The Siouxland Historical Railroad Association is seeking old photos from area families of the Sioux City-based Milwaukee Road Railroad Shops and its railroad workers in search of pictures that can assist with an archaeological dig or can accompany the nomination to list the historic site on the National Register of Historic Places.

Larry Obermeyer, railroad museum president, said they would like to include photographs donated by local Milwaukee Road families of themselves or their relatives working at the railroad shops complex. “The images of the workers, buildings, etc., provide a historical overview of the functionality of the site. We would like to be able to show the worker perspective by including their photos in with the historical documentation,” Obermeyer said.
Individuals who have photos may bring them to the Railroad Museum, where staff will collect the photos and information for sresearch team. After scanning, the research team will return the originals to the owner.

For those unable to bring the photos to the Railroad Museum, digital photos may be e-mailed. These photos should be scanned at a dpi of at least 300 to provide good reproduction. The photos should be e-mailed by August 5th to shra@cableone.net. Along with the photos, contributors will be asked to provide the railroad worker’s name and occupation.
Photos will be used for the National Register nomination and may be used by the field archaeologists studying the site from August 6 to August 29. The photos may also be permanently exhibited in a display at the railroad museum.

The Railroad Museum is located on the grounds of the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District at 3400 Sioux River Road in the North Riverside Neighborhood of Sioux City. The museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and Noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Families contributing photos to the Museum’s historical study will receive Free Admission.

During this holiday weekend, July 4 – 6, the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association will hold its Heritage Giving Weekend, a three-day online giving initiative to raise funds to construct the Sioux City & Dakota Grand Scale Railroad, a fun and educational railway ride exhibit to illustrate the history and importance of the railroads to Midwestern culture.

The intent of this project is to improve mobility and accessibility for children and their families while providing a train ride experience during visits to the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District. Photos and videos of the train being built can be viewed at GiveToMuseum.com or TrainProject.org. Donations of $10 or more can be made by visiting GiveToMuseum.com.

The crowd funding initiative seeks to raise $60,000 for the purchase of the train set and track building materials as part of a multi-phased project to build and install a park-style Miniature Railroad at its museum campus, located at 3400 Sioux River Road in Sioux City, Iowa. The Miniature Railroad will feature a classic-style 3-inch scale miniature park train that will run on a 1.5-mile rail line constructed with 15-inch gauge tracks.

This miniature railroad will be capable of running a three-car train set consisting of a vintage reproduction of the historic F-7 diesel locomotive with a four motor drive system and phoenix sound, two twelve-passenger economy coaches, and an ADA-compliant observation car. The train set is currently under construction at the Swannee River Railroad shops in Fort Worth, Texas.

Help us expand on our railroad experience by donating at GiveToMuseum.com today!