“We are looking for community members interested in the future of the Museum and believe that the museum can enrich the lives of its visitors and help build a better community,” said Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum Director, Stephanie Long. “We want people to bring energy and ideas to the table that will help utilize the museum to its fullest potential.”

Primary responsibilities include helping with special events, assisting in the construction of exhibits, serving as docents with tour groups, assisting with educational programs, and helping to fundraise. Another way volunteers can assist is serving on the committee to provide community input with the upcoming strategic planning process which will help set the vision and goals for the future of the museum.

The Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum was founded in 1973 to collect, preserve, and exhibit the history of the railroads and local history of Central Texas. Originally housed in the 1907 Moody Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Depot, it was moved to the current location, the historic Santa Fe Depot, in 2000. The current mission of the Railroad and Heritage Museum is to collect, preserve, and exhibit the history the city of Temple and of railroading in the Southwest United States, in order to engage a diverse audience in appreciating their heritage as a part of the foundation for their future. The Museum accomplishes this through an archives collection, exhibitions, programs, and publications that enlighten, educate, and entertain all ages.

“We want to refine this mission and get more of the community involved in planning for the future of the museum. The more ideas and suggestions we receive from members of the community, the better we will be able to ensure a great museum for everyone to enjoy,” said Long.

Individuals with interest or experience with public relations, fundraising, finance, law, education, community engagement or just want to help make the Railroad and Heritage Museum the best museum it can be, are encouraged to join in and help. Knowledge of railroad history is not required.

For more information on volunteering for the museum, please contact Stephanie Long at 254.298.5194.

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The celebration at the Railroad & Heritage Museum will include: an activities table sponsored by Amtrak, a drawing for a free trip on Amtrak, tours of some of the historic train cars at the museum, barrel train rides, handcar rides, Operation Lifesaver train safety activities, crafts for families and kids, and refreshments.

The Central Texas Area Model Railroaders will open the Moody Depot (next to the Santa Fe Depot) for visitors to view their extensive model train layouts. Come down and celebrate National Train Day with us!

Find more information on our National Train Day page

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Scheduling is flexible. We are looking for help with school tours during the week, and with general tours on Saturdays. Leaders for school tours will be scheduled whenever we have tours booked. We are also hoping to start scheduled tours of our rolling stock and railroad equipment on Saturdays. Volunteers could choose to come every Saturday, one Saturday a month, or cover Saturdays when our regularly scheduled volunteers need to be absent.

Call the museum at 254-298-5172 for more information.

School tour at the Museum

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We are busy booking tours for the Spring Season!

Please follow this link for more information.

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Saturday, March 30, we will be open.  Museum hours: 10 am – 4 pm.

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Carla Hahn Clardy from the Temple Junior Cotillion will be our special guest speaker.  Her special presentation begins at 11:30 a.m.  You won’t want to miss it! Following Carla’s presentation, we will begin tea time.

For this special day, you may dress for the tea party.  Additional information: Call Cynthia at 254.298.5175.  Your child’s admission is $5.00, which includes their museum admission.

Regular admission prices are $4.00 for adult, $3.00 for senior (60+), $2.00 children (ages 5-12).  Museum hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.  Barrel Train rides on Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. $2.00 per ride.

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Stephanie is a Texas native; she grew up in Austin and has worked with museums in Colorado, New York, Nevada, and currently in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

“We are excited to have Stephanie join us. She has a great deal of knowledge and experience that will help improve the Railroad and Heritage Museum with new exhibits and programs,” said Ken Cicora, Temple Parks and Leisure Services Director.

Stephanie has two master’s degrees, one in History Museum Studies from the Cooperstown Graduate Program, run by the State University of New York and one in Computer Information Systems, from the University of Denver. She is coming to Temple from Las Cruces, New Mexico, where she worked as the Senior Curator of Collections for the four city-run museums.

“I love history and history museums. My job in Las Cruces included an art museum, a science museum, a history and local culture museum, and a railroad museum. I am excited for the chance to focus on history again,” said Stephanie.

“The Railroad & Heritage Museum has so much potential to develop into an excellent historical museum for both Temple residents and the visitors to our City. But, in order to be successful, the new director will have to develop a strategic plan and vision for the museum and then pull together the community to support it,” said Cicora. “In order to achieve these goals, it was critical that we selected a director who was both experienced and professionally trained in the museum industry.”

“One of my goals is to raise the visibility of the museum and get more of the community involved. I am hoping to add new programs and events as well as update some of the exhibits and display areas in the building,” continued Stephanie. “I look forward to meeting with as many Temple residents as I can. The more input and support we can get will only ensure a great museum.”

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The history of American railroads cannot be separated from black history. For over a century, railroad companies provided the most important industrial occupation for blacks. Gandy Dancers, porters, chefs, mechanics, laborers — African American men and women have been essential to the daily operation and success of American railroads.

The connections between railroads and African Americans extend well beyond employment. Civil rights protests beginning in the late 19th century challenged railroad segregation and job discrimination. The major waves of black migration to the North depended almost entirely on railroads and the jobs they provided. The railroad played such a major role in black heritage that it can be seen prevalently in black art, literature, drama, folklore, and music.

The Railroad & Heritage Museum’s exhibit will illustrate how black Americans contributed to America’s great rail systems. From Gandy Dancers, who maintained the rails, to the Pullman Porters, who served travelers, entrants into the museum will experience the social, cultural, political, and economic influence railroads had on the black community. Part of the exhibit will also highlight the cultural influence of the railroad as it relates to the music of Ragtime composer, Scott Joplin, whose work – like others – was deeply influenced by the railroad.

Few today recall the importance of blacks to the American railroad industry, even though most black families have railroading ancestors. These stories of hardship and heroism, exploitation and endurance, anger and artistry illuminate a rich heritage and fascinating chapter in American history.

The exhibit will open on Saturday, February 2, and will remain on display through the end of March. A Family Day will also be held on January 26, in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Activities planned for that day include story time, creating a Peace Blanket, and sharing MLK’s birthday cake.

For more information about this exhibit or Family Day activities, please contact the museum office at 254-298-5172.

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