Wichita Falls Railroad Museum
WICHITA FALLS, Texas – The Wichita Falls Railroad Museum will reopen after the Wichita Falls City Council approved a one-year lease on the Museum building, Texoma’s News reported. The museum will be managed and operated by its board of directors.
The Wichita Falls Railroad Museum was founded in 1980 to establish a museum of railroad, streetcar, and pioneer history in the town’s historic Depot Square, but closed in March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Museum officials originally agreed with the City of Wichita Falls — which owns the museum’s building — to terminate the lease and ship the contents to the Museum of North Texas History, also in Wichita Falls. Now it will reopen instead.
Board president Alyssa Johnston spoke to councilors, saying how grateful she is for the opportunity to run the museum and says there are plans to revitalize it instead of just painting and cleaning the place, Texoma reported.
Exhibits at the Museum include a Fort Worth & Denver 2-8-0, a Katy EMD NW2 switcher, several passenger cars including a diner and troop sleeper, and cabooses.
The board is still working with city management to iron out details and set an opening date, but gates will be open for a “Running Dead” event on Oct. 28.
As it moves forward, The Rail Yard at Depot Square envisions becoming a must-visit destination for train enthusiasts across Texoma and beyond. By preserving the rich history of rail transportation and fostering a strong community connection, the museum is set to make a positive impact on Downtown Wichita Falls and the city’s economy.
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