Top of the evening,
The RR museum in my community is working to improve visitor attendance. Some “events” have been a good draw, others less so.
What has drawn you to visit or re-visit a rail museum?
Any suggestions of things that you think would be a draw would be much appreciated.
Thanks in advance - Dbstack [:D]
Looks like I blew away my text w/ my bullet points. Sorry about that…
The question was…
*Have you re-visited a museum in your area? If so, why did you go back?
Any help is much appreciated,
Thx,
Stack
I visit mostly based on proximity to my home. That also means I sometimes visit the same museum repeatedly, such as Mid Continent in North Freedom WI.
Sometimes I have found RR museums totally by accident. I was driving through Fennimore Wisconsin on my way to railfan the Burlington Northern along the Mississippi River when I noticed a water tank, and below it a narrow gauge 2-6-0. Turns out there is a small museum there dedicated to the Chicago & North Western’s narrow gauge operation that closed in the 1920s. It was very interesting.
One museum that is not much remarked but is well worth visiting is the transportation museum in Duluth MN. They have an excellent collection of cars and locomotives, most of them under cover. Since the railfanning in Duluth/Superior is also excellent it is worth the trip.
Dave Nelson
My visits are almost always targets of opportunity. I visited museums in the Rochester, NY area last fall during a day trip to the area with my daughter (we also visited Eastman House). About the only museum I’ve visited more than once is the Henry Ford in Dearborn, MI. Early visits were school field trips and an occasional family outing, both when we lived in the area. The last trip there was really an aside to my last visit to the area, but a welcome one. The C&O Allegheny there was a big draw, but I enjoy the entire museum. Wish I’d had time to visit Greenfield Village while I was there.
That said, I’d offer that several things are going to get my attention, and a visit to a museum. You may already be doing them, but a review never hurt anyone. One is knowing about it - If there is any publicity about the area (guides to local attractions, etc) be a part of them. Your Chamber of Commerce (join!) is a good place to start. Those little brown signs that point out historical points of interest are handy, too. Work with your local and state highway people. You might have to negotiate with a property owner to put up a sign of your own, but the highway people will put up those brown signs for you, and they’ll be where people can see them.
A second is special events that will draw me to the area. While a railroad event is certainly going to draw rail enthusiasts, a general interest event (like a local festival) will draw in a larger, more varied crowd. Be a part of those events. Get yourself into their publicity, and put on the really big show during the event - plenty of staff, special general interest presentations, etc. If you have something special to offer that will contribute to the overall event, so much the better. If you can fit into the theme of the event (like a community yard sale - let your volunteers use the space in front of the museum, or maybe clean some of the clutter out of the back room), so much the better. The event organizers will likely be happy to ha
Have an updated web site,with an equipment roster,and current and upcoming activities.Have ample parking,including parking for trucks.(A lot of truckers are railfans,too).Have knowledgable staff and volunteers.If weather (and finances) permits,stay open longer than Memorial Day-Labor Day.Maintain good relations with the community,as they will be quick to protest “all that old junk sitting around”.And above all, always have coffee and doughnuts!
Advertiseing,advertiseing,advertising. And do it in publications (and other media) that reach your target audience.
Advertising
Thomas Days
Advertising
NMRA Division Open House/Meet
Advertising
An active excursion program
Whistlestop weekend at the Adventure Science Center
new painted Nashville Music City Star coaches
I’ve been to the museum in Duluth 5 times, and will go back next year as well. I’ve always wondered about going to the Mid Continent Museum. What can you tell me about it?
Thanks
Been to Illinois State Railway Museum in Niles ( a long, but worthwhile drive from Chicago) based on advertising
2x to Steamtown to see how it’s developing and in conjunction with a Marklin enthusiasts Assn swapmeet
Savannah has an old roundhouse, backshop and collection- attracted by a local advertising for BBQ and Jazz concert- roundhouses have excellent acoustics
1x to Roaring Camp narrow gauge in Felton CA
1x to Kansas City Union Station: Nice science museum for kids and trainspotting on the BN mainline
1x to Omaha Station: neat model RR layout and old equipment
1x to NYC Subway Museum - advertising on the system and easy access
1x Field Museum in Chicago
Want to go to B&O Museum, Cal museum in Sacramento and Museum in SanDiego
You’ve got to advertise, havea website and have events: could be music, cultural, educational, lectures, photography, swapmeets, etc. Railroad interest could be peripheral but it gets the people there to see what you’ve got. Develop a volunteer program and support from local business community.