MRHA visits depot. Photo by Jerry Galle.
By Matthew Payne
It has likely been more than a century since the Mineral Point Depot welcomed so many visitors at one time.
On June 19, approximately 110 railroad enthusiasts toured the Mineral Point Railroad Museum as part of the annual Milwaukee Road Historical Association Convention, held this year in Madison. The visit brought two full motor coaches of convention attendees to Mineral Point, making it one of the largest, if not the largest, single-group visits in the museum’s history.
While the depot was once a bustling transportation hub, even its busiest years may not have matched the number of people who passed through its doors that afternoon.
In the late 1910s, as many as 15 trains arrived and departed from Mineral Point each day, many carrying passengers. Yet despite that steady traffic, museum volunteers believe the June 19 gathering may represent one of the largest crowds ever assembled inside the historic depot at one time.
The museum served as a featured stop on a convention tour that also included railroad-related sites in New Glarus, Brodhead, Gratiot, and Darlington. Although trains no longer run to Mineral Point, the city’s railroad heritage remains a significant draw for enthusiasts from across the country.
Among the visitors was a former Milwaukee Road employee who has visited railroad museums throughout the United States. Requesting anonymity, he offered high praise for the Mineral Point Railroad Museum. “This is by far the best railroad museum of its size I have ever visited,” he said. “Its displays and information are as good as any museum run by a full-time staff.”
The compliment carried special significance because the Mineral Point Railroad Museum is operated entirely by volunteers. From staffing the museum and maintaining exhibits to preserving artifacts and conducting research, every aspect of the organization is supported by community members who donate their time.
While welcoming more than 100 visitors at once is not an everyday occurrence, museum leaders say they are preparing for continued growth. Expanded marketing efforts, partnerships with local organizations, and increased social media outreach have already produced results. Museum attendance during May increased by 76 percent compared to the same month last year.
Housed in Wisconsin’s oldest surviving railroad depot and the oldest surviving structure associated with the Milwaukee Road, the museum tells a story that extends well beyond railroads. Exhibits explore how rail transportation shaped Mineral Point’s economy, connected local industries to national markets, and influenced the community’s development for more than a century.
Museum volunteers emphasize that preserving local history remains at the heart of their mission.
“The story of the railroad is inseparable from the story of Mineral Point itself,” volunteers often note. “When people visit the depot, they aren’t just learning about trainsthey’re learning about the people, businesses, and industries that helped build our community.”
The Mineral Point Railroad Museum is open seasonally from May through October. Regular hours are Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. A modest admission fee supports museum operations and preservation efforts. Group tours may also be arranged outside regular operating hours.
For more information, visit mprs.org.
