Golden / Colorado / United States
The mission of the Colorado Railroad Museum is to acquire, preserve and exhibit to the general public, railroad equipment, artifacts, paper records, books, art work and photographs emphasizing Rocky Mountain area railroads, to explain and interpret the role of railroads in the history of this region from the 1860s to the present by means of exhibits, a reference library, educational programs, publications and information sharing with other historical groups. Furthermore to provide incentives that will enhance interest in railroads and railroading history. Depot Museum A replica of an 1880s-style depot, the Museum building houses thousands of rare old photographs, artifacts and documents illustrating the colorful histories of the railroads which have served the state for over 125 years. An outstanding book and gift shop features hundreds of railroad books and videos, as well as magazines, posters, jewelry and other memorabilia. The Museum is located just east of Golden, Colorado, at a point where Clear Creek flows between North and South Table Mountains. Display tracks, complete with rare three-way stub switches and century-old switch stands, hold many historic narrow and standard gauge locomotives and cars. The Museum building, based in exterior design on standard station construction of the 1880s, houses the largest known collection of historic records, mementos, artifacts, and pictures of Colorado railroads. Museum Grounds The Museum grounds contain three main buildings: the actual Museum and gift shop, the Robert W. Richardson Library, and the Cornelius W. Hauck Restoration Facility, better known as the Roundhouse. There are approximately 15 acres of grounds, which contain the buildings, locomotives, and rolling stock. Depot Museum Building The actual Museum building contains the gift store, offices. There is also an art gallery between the upper and lower levels. We have original art by Otto Kuhler, Howard Fogg, Ted Rose and other artists. Also shown is original photographs from such noted pioneer photographers as William Henry Jackson, Louis Charles McClure, and George Beam, to name a few. The bay window on the west part of the building contains a reconstructed telegrapraphers office. There is a telegraph sounder that taps out the dots and dashes of Morse code. A key text alongside lets the visitor know just how the exchange goes as in railroad days.
