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..

Spring Time Where are You?

What a wet and cold crazy start to the year we've been having. Rain, cold, snow, sleet, more rain, more snow and very little heat.

A special note particularly to our out of town travelers and visitors

Due to the recent and seemingly never ending snows and rains we have been experiencing please call us at 712-233-6996 ahead of your visit to check on our grounds and parking lot conditions and possible closings due to the muddy and puddling conditions. We would hate to have you spend your valuable time traveling and money for gas to find out that you may need rubber boots or knee high waders to get around the complex or that we may be closed.

We won't have our paved parking lot and complete paved trail system completed for another year so please be patient and hopefully warmer and drier conditions are just around the corner.

Thank you for your understanding and thank you for your interest in the Milwaukee Rail Shops Historic District.

The Railroad Museum is set to anchor the Sioux City Historic Preservation Week festivities

Please copy & paste the link below to checkout all the planned events going on around Sioux City during the week of May 4th - May 11th.


 


     http://www.siouxcityhp.org/preservation-week.html



Thought for the day: If you don't know where you came from or how you got there, how can you plan where you're going? Valuable time and resources will be lost and wasted while you repeat and relearn the valuable lessons of the past journeys our forefathers have made.

See and learn about what made Sioux City great and how we can all move forward once again by working together, being inventive, being innovators, and being proud of our great community. Spend a little bit of time learning about and enjoying your history during this special week and start planning for a great future.

Omaha Train Show - Sat & Sun April 20 & 21

If you happen to be in the Omaha area this weekend and are looking for something train related to do, stop by Bruke High School near 120th & Dodge for the Western Heritage Division & Model Train Show Swap Meet. We will have a booth set-up at the show all weekend so please stop by and visit with us. We will have some of our most popular gift shop items (t-shirts, books, photo's and more) on hand for sale.

If you've never been to the Railroad Museum in Sioux City this will be a great opportunity to stop by ask questions, watch some slide shows and see what we have to offer.  We also have $3 million dollars in construction planed over the next few years to finish rehabilitating our 1917 built buildings and add in visitor comforts such as restrooms, paved parking, paved trails throughout the 31 acre complex and a 16" gauge train that will move people around the complex and provide a nice ride experience as well.

If you're not going to be in Omaha, stop on out to the Railroad Museum in the north Riverside area of Sioux City on Hwy 12 just 2 miles south of Stone State Park and give us a visit.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the recent snows and rains please call ahead (712-233-6996) of your visit to check on conditions and possible closings due to the muddy and puddling conditions. Hopefully warmer and drier conditions are just around the corner.

Junior League of Sioux City awards grant to railroad museum

Loyanne Jensen, a board member with Junior League of Sioux City, visited the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District on Saturday, March 23, to present a grant check in the amount of $1000 to executive director Matt Merk. The grant was awarded to help our railroad museum purchase an outdoor cinema movie screen to help with educational programming around the complex.  We wish to thank the Junior League for their continuing support of our children and family education programs.

Museum Complex Closed Due to Weather Conditions

The following message was sent out to all volunteers by Matt Merk the Railroad Museums Executive Director.

 

"Ground conditions due to mass thaw yesterday, today and forecasted throughout the weekend has created a mess on the complex grounds.  The deep ground frost under the waterlogged mud is slowing the the ability of the water to be absorbed by the ground and causing large pools throughout the complex and very soft ground.   Visitors that have come out have decided to return in a couple of weeks when the grounds are in better condition.

 

The museum will be closed beginning Noon today and throughout the weekend.  (Friday 15th, Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th)  Reopening on Tuesday for our normal business hours.

 

Reaching the south end of the complex and buildings is not recommended due to the mud and damage to the grounds that vehicle traffic would cause." 

 

 We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our volunteers and visitors but, Mother Nature wins this round. There is light at the end of the tunnel though. A paved parking lot and fully paved trail system throughout the complex will be a reality in the next couple years.

Thank you for understanding.