Elkhorn City Railroad Museum

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Elkhorn City Railroad Museum
ElkhornCityRailroadMuseum.jpg
Elkhorn City Railroad Museum
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Location within Kentucky
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Elkhorn City Railroad Museum (the United States)
Established1990
Location100 Pine Street, Elkhorn City, Kentucky 41522
Coordinates 37°18′18″N82°20′30″W / 37.304996°N 82.341548°W / 37.304996; -82.341548
Type Railroad
FounderEdward "Chick" Spradlin
ManagerLarry Lounsberry
DirectorWendall Ward
CuratorLarry Lounsberry
OwnerElkhorn City Heritage Council
Nearest parkingOn site (no charge)
Website elkhorncityrrm.tripod.com

The Elkhorn City Railroad Museum is a railroad museum located in Elkhorn City, Kentucky. The museum was established in 1990 and is dedicated to educating the public on the history of railroads in Kentucky's Eastern Mountain Coal Fields region. [1] It also documents the history of the local timber and coal industries and local genealogy. [2]

Contents

History

The museum was founded by Edward "Chick" Spradlin; a retired railroad employee. Most of Spradlin's 40-year career was spent in Elkhorn City railyard which was the northern terminus of the Clinchfield Railroad before it closed in 1981. Wanting to preserve the history of the railroad in the area he and a few other former railroad employees started collecting artifacts and opened the museum in 1990 in a former Coal company office [3] that was donated to the museum. [1]

In 1999 Chick died and management of the museum was transferred to the Elkhorn City Heritage Council. [4] An organization created to preserve the history of the Elkhorn City area. [5] The museum is still staffed by volunteers; most of whom are former railroad employees. [6]

In 2016 a water line break caused the main building to flood. This ruined many of the museum's pieces and caused it to temporarily close. A plan to renovate the museum was implemented in 2019. [7] In 2020 the museum temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and reopened by 2022. [2]

Exhibits

More than 1,000 pieces of railroad memorabilia dating from the 1800s to today are on display. [8] Including two cabooses, velocipedes, motor cars, antique uniforms and equipment. [9] As well as a seat from the private railcar of President James Garfield. [8] Also on display are exhibits detailing the completion of the Clinchfield Railroad which was considered an engineering marvel at the time. [6] All items and exhibits have been donated to the museum. Most of which were abandoned by the railroad when it closed and salvaged by members of the community. [3] During the winter months when the museum is closed some displays are moved to the library and occasionally to area schools. [6]

The museum is also a stop on CSX's annual Santa train. A Christmas-themed train that distributes toys, food, and clothing in the Appalachian region every November. [10]

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References

  1. 1 2 Prats, J. J. (October 20, 2015). "Elkhorn City's Railroads". www.hmdb.org. Powell, OH: Historical Marker Database. Archived from the original on October 8, 2018. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  2. 1 2 Slone, Gary (June 22, 2022). "EC Railroad Museum open for visitors". news-expressky.com. Elkhorn City, KY: Appalachian News-Express. Archived from the original on December 11, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Wallace, Morris; Owens, Roy (April 11, 2015). "Interview with Morris Wallace, Roy Owens, April 11, 2015". Elkhorn City River Oral History Project (Audio). Interviewed by Love, Brichelle; Mullins, Samantha. Elkhorn City, KY: University of Kentucky. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  4. ↑ "A Brief History of Elkhorn City Railroad Museum". elkhorncityrrm.tripod.com. Elkhorn City, KY: Elkhorn City Railroad Museum. Archived from the original on September 28, 2018. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  5. ↑ "About the ECAHC". www.elkhorncity.org. Elkhorn City, KY: Elkhorn City. Archived from the original on October 9, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  6. 1 2 3 Hairston, Gail (August 9, 2016). "UK students create Elkhorn City Railroad Museum's mobile exhibition for schools, tourists". www.kyforward.com. Lexington, KY: KyForward. Archived from the original on October 8, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  7. ↑ Forbes, Buddy (July 15, 2019). "Elkhorn City group on track to renovate railroad museum". www.wymt.com. Elkhorn City, KY: WYMT Mountain News. Archived from the original on August 29, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  8. 1 2 Slone, Gary (May 9, 2023). "EC Railroad Museum chugging along". www.news-expressky.com. Elkhorn City, KY: Appalachian News-Express. Archived from the original on May 15, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Area Attractions". sekchamber.com. Pikeville, KY: Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. 2012. Archived from the original on October 9, 2018. Retrieved October 9, 2018. This is a guaranteed good time with colorful stories and lots of memorabilia including: two cabooses, velocipedes, motor cars, antique uniforms and equipment. More than 1,000 pieces of railroad memorabilia are on display.
  10. ↑ Sneider, Julie (November 2017). "Railroads' holiday trains deliver gifts, food and joy". www.progressiverailroading.com. Progressive Railroading. Archived from the original on April 29, 2019. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
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