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Railroad Days 2008 July 12 – 13, 2008 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. |
All Aboard for the Railroad Days 2008!
An annual celebration of all things train and track
Click here to download a PDF of this press release. Click here to download a PDF of the Railroad Days Flier. Click here to download photos. (OMAHA, Neb.) – Lauritzen Gardens, The Durham Museum, the Union Pacific Railroad Museum, the RailsWest Railroad Museum and the The Historic General Dodge House have teamed up to celebrate our region’s rich railroad heritage at Railroad Days 2008 on Saturday, July 12, and Sunday, July 13. During this annual celebration, an entire family can attend all five participating venues for only $10 (limit two adults) and spend the weekend visiting some of the best railroad-themed attractions that Omaha and Council Bluffs have to offer. A family pass also includes free trolley service to each destination, and free parking is available at all locations. All participating venues will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the festival. This event is made possible thanks to a generous donation from the Union Pacific Corporation and a grant from the Iowa West Foundation. For individuals traveling to Omaha and Council Bluffs, there are many convenient hotel and dining accommodations to select from, making this a cost-efficient and fun weekend getaway. In addition, each location is hosting special activities and events during the two-day celebration: LAURITZEN GARDENS, OMAHA’S BOTANICAL CENTER Lauritzen Gardens, Omaha’s Botanical Center, features more than a dozen outdoor display gardens on 100 acres, along with a visitor and education center housing an indoor floral display hall, café, gift shop, classrooms and a horticulture library. Also at the garden is Kenefick Park, which features two of the greatest locomotives to ever power Union Pacific Railroad - Centennial No. 6900, the largest and most powerful diesel-electric locomotive ever built, and Big Boy No. 4023, the world’s largest steam locomotive. In 2007, Lauritzen Gardens opened its ever-popular model railroad garden, which features dozens of buildings, tressels and bridges constructed of natural materials and five G scale model train lines that run seasonally from April through October. Visitors may hop aboard the Union Pacific minitrain for free rides through the garden during Railroad Days. Other activities throughout the weekend will include railroad-themed music performed by the Union Pacific Railroad Chorale, three model train exhibits, the newly expanded model railroad garden, children’s train make-and-take projects and more. THE DURHAM MUSEUM Making its home in Omaha’s former Union Station, The Durham Museum is one of the country’s best examples of art deco architecture. Union Pacific Railroad donated Union Station to the city of Omaha in 1971, and four years later the museum opened its doors. Omaha’s Union Station was extensively renovated by The Durham Museum to capture the character and glory days – when 10,000 passengers would pass through the station daily. Today, visitors can explore exhibits that preserve the areas rich history including an extensive train car exhibit with steam engines, a Pullman car, Lounge cars and a caboose. There is also an impressive 100-foot O scale model train layout representing Union Pacific’s double track main line during the 1950’s. Visitors will also enjoy exploring Amazon Voyage: Vicious Fishes and Other Riches from the Miami Museum of Science, currently on exhibit at The Durham Museum. During Railroad Days, The Durham Museum will host a special appearance of rarely-viewed Union Pacific Maintenance of Way Equipment, including: Jackson 6700 Tamper, which settles the rock ballast and provides a level and smooth riding track; Large Section Truck with Boom, which is used by track maintenance to carry supplies and lift heavy pieces of rail; and Air Force #1, which is a track snow blower. Additional special events include performances by Yesterday’s Kids Barbershop Singers, Thomas the Train™ movies in the Truhlsen Lecture Hall, Topper the Clown balloon, magic and juggling act; face painting; candy train craft corner and specials in the Soda Fountain. UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD MUSEUM Visitors to the Union Pacific Railroad Museum enjoy a trip through 140 years of railroading in the United States. The museum chronicles the race to build the transcontinental railroad and how Union Pacific became the country’s east-west artery, transporting passengers and freight across the American wilderness. Hands-on exhibits allow visitors to experience everything from a telegraph to being an Engineer on a locomotive simulator. Visitors discover how railroads helped lead America’s technological revolution at the Union Pacific Railroad. The Union Pacific Railroad Museum is housed in the beautifully restored Carnegie Library in Council Bluff’s beautiful historic district. Railroad Days visitors will be treated to a special exhibition of “Dining in Railroad Style” which showcases Union Pacific’s collection of historic railroad china and related ephemera. Special activities for kids will include building their own “Dining in Style” menu. Visitors step back in time at the grand Victorian mansion of General Grenville M. Dodge. General Dodge was the chief engineer of the Union Pacific during the building of the transcontinental railroad. That, coupled with his extensive railroading career, has dubbed him “the greatest railroad builder of all time.” This vision and attention to detail is reflected in his elegant and spacious home. The Dodge House was built in 1869, and has been a National Historic Landmark since 1961. Visitors to this gracious historic place see how the Dodge family lived and contributed to the city of Council Bluffs and to the Nation. During Railroad Days only, visitors will enjoy open-house tours of the 1869 home of Grenville Dodge, railroad surveyor and engineer, as well as special activities. On Saturday, July 12, characters straight from the Wild West days of Council Bluffs will perform, brought to the Dodge House by Wild West Creations. On Sunday, July 13, visitors will enjoy demonstrations of railroad surveying equipment and techniques, provided by HGM Associates. RAILSWEST RAILROAD MUSEUM The RailsWest Railroad Museum, housed in the historic Rock Island Depot, illustrates Council Bluff’s rich railroad history. The Rock Island Depot is the last remaining passenger depot in Council Bluffs, and was built in 1899. Visitors experience real railcars and locomotives in the beautifully restored Depot and enjoy the extensive HO scale model train display. Council Bluff’s railroad past comes alive at the Rails West Railroad Museum. Railroad Days celebrations include “Railroad’s History with the Military” with a U.S.O.-style Canteen, patriotic music, special exhibits and more. Additional Information The Durham Museum Contact: Lauritzen Gardens Contact: Union Pacific Railroad Museum, General Dodge House and RailsWest Railroad Museum Contact:
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