Tourist Guide for Ohio: Dennison Depot Railroad Museum in Dennison, Ohio

The location of the Dennison Depot is not by chance. Situated exactly one hundred miles between the cities of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Columbus, Ohio, in Dennison, Ohio, the train station was built as a mid-way stopping point for steam engines that could only make it a hundred miles along before having to stop to refuel with coal and water, and load up a new crew. The town was founded solely as a stop for the Pennsylvania Railroad.

Situated, as it was, on the most direct line between the thriving cities of New York City and St. Louis, it didn't take long before the railroad gave Dennison the means to build up fast, until it was one of the leading stops. Soon, Dennison turned into a terminal for both freight and passenger trains, and was made the headquarters of the Panhandle Division of the Pennsylvania. Over twenty freight and twenty passenger trains rode through the depot each day.

Today, the Dennison Depot Railroad Museum is open to visitors all year long, allowing them to walk through the original building, built in 1873, and experience the depot and the town's splendid history. You can take a guided tour or wander through the museum and shop on your own. Exhibits, highlighting the history of the yards and "Dennison's Golden era" are housed in the Women's Waiting Room and the Railway Express Agency building. Inside the depot, visitors will also find The Trax Diner and The Whistle Stop Railroad Shop, a souvenir store with railroad and World War II themed gifts. Children and adults can use binoculars to bring the town and trains of the Model Train Room to full-sized life, and there is an archival research library with pictures, railroad timecards and timetables, maps, computers and microfilms for those who would like to research the area in greater depth. The library requires an additional fee, and is open only on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The Archival Research Library is housed in the new addition to the Dennison Depot, which consists of five railroad cars. The cars also house the Children's Interactive Railroad Experience Car, the WWII Hospital Car, the Local History Car, and a car that will feature changing special exhibits.

To really make it a special trip, the Dennison Railroad Museum holds several steam and diesel train rides throughout the year, where passengers can climb aboard and take a journey back through history.

If you would like to plan a visit, get all of the information you'll need at http://www.dennisondepot.org/