The National Railroad Museum (reporting mark NRMX) is a railroad museum located in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin, in suburban Green Bay.
Founded in 1956, by community volunteers in Green Bay, the National Railroad Museum is one of the oldest institutions in the United States dedicated to preserving and interpreting the nation's railroad history. Throughout its history, patron contributions have continued to create one of the largest railroad preservation institutions in the United States.
The National Railroad Museum has a large collection of rolling stock and spanning more than a century of railroading and a number of historic locomotives, including an Aerotrain, Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4017 (One of the world's largest steam locomotive types), and British Railways Class A4 No. 60008 Dwight D Eisenhower (ex-London & North Eastern Railway No. 4496 Golden Shuttle) and train used by the Supreme Allied Commander and his staff in the United Kingdom and continental Europe during World War II.
In addition to the rolling stock, there is a museum building housing a wide variety of railroad artifacts, an archive, and photography gallery. There is also a standard gauge track around the perimeter of the grounds. There is also an 80-foot (24Â m) high wooden observation tower with views of the river and Green Bay. The museum hosts an annual Day Out with Thomas event, where Thomas the Tank Engine pulls young friends past the exhibited rolling stock.
In October of every year in preparation for Halloween, the grounds of the museum are the site of the Green Bay Preble Optimist Club's haunted attraction, "Terror on the Fox", which uses the trains for "haunted" rides through the grounds after dark, along with other attractions.
History
My Wisconsin - National Railroad Museum - My Wisconsin visits the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay For information on this museum and many more places to visit in Wisconsin visit: http://www.travelwisconsin.com/ Music provided...
The origin of the National Railroad Museum dates to 1956, when local residents advanced the concept of a national museum dedicated to American railroad history. Two years later, a joint resolution of Congress recognized the museum as the National Railroad Museum. Since then, the museum has operated as a privately funded 501(c)(3) educational organization with a mission to foster an understanding of railroading and its significance to American Life.
Rolling stock collection
Steam locomotives
Diesel locomotives
Electric locomotives
Passenger cars
Freight cars
Maintenance of way cars
Cabooses
Other equipment
Other collections
Archives collection
The archives collection includes corporate records and documents, annual reports, maps, mechanical and engineering drawings, oral histories, and ephemera. The holdings represent various railroad companies, labor unions, and fraternal organizations.
Library collection
The library collection represents a variety of topics surrounding the social, economic, political, and cultural aspects of U.S. railroading history.
Artifact collection
The National Railroad Museum houses over 5,000 artifacts, including textiles, uniforms, tools and personal items.
Photograph collection
The photograph collection includes 15,000 photographic prints, slides, and film negatives representing railroading in the United States geographically from 1890 through the present day.
Capital Campaign
The museum is planning to construct a roundhouse that will surround the current buildings on the property (except the train station). This will allow the locomotives and cars displayed in the open pavilion protection from the weather. The museum plans to invest in a two to three year fundraising plan to accomplish the money needed to construct the roundhouse. It's is hoped after the museum's Capital Plan, the museum's main building will become an icon of the area.
See also
- List of heritage railroads in the United States
References
http://nationalrrmuseum.org/support-giving/capital-campaign/
External links
- National Railroad Museum official website
