RAILROAD DAYS JULY 12-13
AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF ALL
THINGS TRAIN AND TRACK

Celebrate our
region’s railroad heritage and spend the day visiting some of the best
railroad-themed attractions that Omaha and Council Bluffs have to offer.
Explore the RailsWest Railroad Museum, the Union Pacific Railroad Museum,
The Durham, Lauritzen Gardens, and The Historic General Dodge House; all
for a $10 family pass. You can even go green and leave your car at any
one of the 5 locations and let the trolley do the work.
Each location
will have special activities and exhibits in addition to their permanent
exhibits. The RailsWest Railroad Museum is celebrating all things
Military in their new exhibit with a U.S.O. style canteen and Patriotic
Music. The Union Pacific Railroad Museum will be showcasing their
railroad china collection in “Dining in Railroad Style” as well as hosting
the ever popular N-track model railroad club. The Dodge House will have
special re-enactors from the Wild West creations and surveying
demonstrations. Special maintenance of way equipment will be showcased
track side at the Durham and Lauritzen Gardens is unveiling the new
addition to their garden railroad display.
Tickets
are just $10 per family (2 adults only) and will be available at each of
the 5 Museum locations as well as from Metro area Hy-Vee stores.
Redeem the ticket at your first stop, and get aboard for fun! Railroad
Days arm bands will allow you admission to all 5 Museums and the trolley
transportation for both event days.
VISIT THE RAILROAD DAYS WEB
SITE
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Swingin' at
the Depot

OPEN HOUSE!
Thursday July 10
5 - 7 pm
RailsWest Railroad Museum
at the Rock Island Depot
16th Ave. at South Main
“1940’s” USO Show Preview
WWI & WWII Military Uniforms
Big Band Music / Period Dancers
Cheese & Crackers & Wine Tasting
compliments of Pottawattamie Wineries |
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HSPC
ATTRACTIONS |
SQUIRREL
CAGE JAIL
Visit a truly one-of-a-kind structure on the National
Register of Historic Places Served as
the
Pottawattamie County Jail from 1885 until 1969. FREE
ADMISSION with membership. CLICK HERE for
hours and admission information. |
RAILSWEST MUSEUM
See railroad, postal, and regional memorabilia
in a restored 1899 Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific passenger and freight
depot. FREE ADMISSION with membership.
CLICK HERE for hours and admission information. |
HISTORIC RAIL CAR DISPLAY
Steam engines, a Chicago, Burlington and Quincy club
car, cabooses, and a Railway Post Office car are displayed.
Admission included with visit to RailsWest Museum. FREE ADMISSION
with membership. |
HO
SCALE MODEL RAILROAD DISPLAY
Watch model trains run over a layout styled after
Council Bluffs in the only permanent model railroad exhibit open to
the
public in the metro area. Presented by the Greater Omaha Society
of Model Engineers. Admission included with visit to RailsWest
Museum. FREE ADMISSION with membership. |
ONLINE DISPLAY GALLERY Council Bluffs
has changed a lot over history. Take a look at some photos from the
Historical Society's archives, featuring the changing scenes of Council
Bluffs.
See these historical photos. |
HAUNTED IN
THE BLUFFS
There are feelings of paranormal goings on at the jail that are other than
mortal. Ghosts? In Council Bluffs?? IN OUR JAIL???
We dare you
to take a look... |
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HSPC HISTORY ONLINE |
RAILROAD HISTORY AND THE ROCK ISLAND DEPOT
The railroads influenced the area's history perhaps more than anything
else. Visit this page for a comprehensive review of Council
Bluffs' evolution as railroad center of the Midwest.
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SQUIRREL CAGE JAIL
Rotary jails were rare -- only 18 were ever built -- and the largest
was in Council Bluffs. Visit this page for a history of the world's
only three-story rotary jail. |
SAM BAYLISS ON BROADWAY
Trace the life of this early citizen through
his influential role in the building of Council Bluffs and formation of
Omaha. Reprinted by popular request from previous HSPC Newsletters. |
COUNCIL BLUFFS IMPLEMENT DISTRICT
The farm implement trade made several businessmen among the wealthiest and
most prominent residents in town. Every implement firm doing business in
Omaha today started in Council Bluffs. |
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HSPC MEMBER SERVICES |
MEMBERS ONLY AREA includes archived Society MEMBER JOURNAL
The monthly HSPC Member Journal is a member benefit.
Society Members can access articles and
photos from past Journal issues. If
you're a member and need the password or cannot access the area,
contact us.
If
you're not yet a member and would like to see a sample Journal,
click here. |
To join the Historical Society,
CLICK HERE |
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CLICK HERE for more information, a
free sample of photos from the book, and to order your own copy of
Council Bluffs: Broadway. |