Exhibits in the Steamtown National Historic Site Railroad History Museum

The Railroad History Museum at Steamtown National Historic Site is a massive collection of information about the railroad industry from its beginning up until the 1980s when the park was created. There is an emphasis on the history as it pertains to the east coast of the United States where everything began, but overall, I can’t imagine there are many topics that are not covered. Most of the exhibits are information panels with reproductions of historical photographs, maps, and newspaper articles, so there is a lot to read. There are physical artifacts on display, but these tend to be memorabilia related.

Railroad-oriented memorabilia from World War II on display at the Steamtown National Historic Site Railroad History Museum

Railroad-oriented memorabilia and artifacts on display at the Steamtown National Historic Site Railroad History Museum

An exhibit I particularly enjoyed covers the different jobs in the railroad industry during the steam era. Statues of railroad workers in their uniforms stand against one side of a display fixture, and on the other side is information and physical items pertaining to their job.

Exhibit about the various railroad industry jobs at Steamtown National Historic Site’s Railroad History Museum

Exhibit at Steamtown National Historic Site’s Railroad History Museum about the job of a conductor on a steam locomotive

Since the park is situated on the former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad railyard, its story and how it pertains to the overall history of the railroad is often worked into the narrative. There is even an exhibit room dedicated exclusively to the DL&W Railroad during the years when William H. Truesdale was the president (1899-1925). This is the era of the railroad’s most ambitious expansion and modernization.

Exhibit at Steamtown National Historic Site’s Railroad History Museum on the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad in the early 1900s

Another important exhibit covers Nelson Blount and his creation of Steamtown USA in 1960. Blount was a millionaire train collector who wanted to start a museum and excursion business. Steamtown USA first operated in North Walpole, New Hampshire, before moving to Bellows Falls, Vermont. Due to excess air pollution regulations and fighting over the rights to use the state-owned railroad tracks, the organization moved to Scranton in 1983 and opened for business the following year. It was not as successful as everyone expected, and this led to what many at the time felt was the underhanded creation of Steamtown National Historic Site in 1986, which effectively stuck the public with the bill for a failed business operation.

Steamtown USA memorabilia on display at the Steamtown National Historic Site Railroad History Museum

At the end of the History Museum is a reproduction of a railroad ticket booth and a passenger waiting room, and from there visitors can step out onto a station platform and board two different railcars, a mail car and a typical passenger coach.

Passenger coach on display outside of the Railroad History Museum at Steamtown National Historic Ste

SCHEDULING YOUR TIME

I realize that most people come to Steamtown National Historic Site, or any other railroad museum, to see the locomotives and to go on train rides. How a typical visitor should tackle such a large museum, I don’t know. If the saying “in for a penny, in for a pound” ever applied to a museum, this is it, because anything short of a thorough examination is somewhat of a waste of time. My bet is that most people will step in and start reading through the first exhibits, but as soon as they realize how big the place is, they’ll head back out to the train rides. However, if you love trains and want to learn about railroad history, this is definitely the place to be. All I can say is that if you want to read through everything, plan on spending an hour and a half at the History Museum. I know because this is how long it took me to read through everything.

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