Train-lovers’ double delight:
Two July Birthday Parties invite all ages to celebrate Minnesota Transportation Museum’s 50th year

Festivities planned for St. Paul (Saturday, July 20) and Osceola (Sunday, July 21)

St. Paul, Minn. (March 2013) – Anyone who has ever hummed along to Chattanooga Choo Choo, thought about leaving on the Midnight Train to Georgia, or even claimed to have been Workin’ on the Railroad will be pleased to hear that the Minnesota Transportation Museum – the region’s leading museum for vintage trains and buses – is hosting two public celebrations of its 50th anniversary. On Saturday, July 20, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the Minnesota Transportation Museum will hold a 50th Birthday Celebration at its Jackson Street Roundhouse location in St. Paul.
“It’s hard to believe that it’s been 50 years since the Minnesota Transportation Museum started preserving vintage rail lines, trains, and buses, and making the magic of that historic travel available for the public to enjoy,” says Dave Hartje, Executive Director. “We have been so honored by our region’s support for our mission these past 50 years, and we are thrilled to invite people of all ages to help us celebrate the museum’s history and its future with our two Birthday Celebrations.”

The 50th Birthday Celebration at the Jackson Street Roundhouse on Saturday, July 20, will feature family activities throughout the train museum, train rides, entertainment, food, and special appearances by local celebrities. The Jackson Street Roundhouse is located at 193 Pennsylvania Avenue East, St. Paul, MN 55130. The Great Northern Railway’s historic Jackson Street Roundhouse, a former steam engine maintenance facility built in 1907, includes one of the last remaining genuine, operating train turntables in the nation. Its exhibits and hands-on displays provide a unique opportunity for kids of all ages to experience railroading in the Twin Cities and Upper Midwest. The 50th Birthday admission is $10 per adult, $8 per student (age 5-15), and $5 per youth (age 2-4).

The 50th Birthday Celebration at the Transportation Museum’s Osceola location on Sunday, July 21, will feature fun family activities, special appearances by local celebrities, entertainment, food, and train rides in authentic, vintage trains running on the Osceola and St. Croix Valley Railway lines along the St. Croix River. The Osceola Railway site is located at 114 Depot Road in Osceola, WI 54020. Train fares are $18.00 per adult, $8.00 children (2-15), or $45.00 family.

About Minnesota Transportation Museum (MTM):

MTM is a non-profit organization that collects, preserves, educates, interprets, and operates historic railroad and bus equipment and artifacts in order to tell the story of transportation history through unique attractions and engaging experiences. MTM operates the Jackson Street Roundhouse, Osceola & St Croix Valley Railway, Classic Buses, and Minnehaha Depot.
Since 1963, the Minnesota Transportation Museum has been a thriving railroading organization that attracts visitors, donors, community partners, members, and volunteers with its authentic passion for railroading and enjoyable educational experiences. For more information, visit http://www.trainride.org

--Ryan Heath
Social Media Team
Minnesota Transportation Museum
St. Paul, MN