For rail and history buffs young and old
The Depot Museum presents history exhibits from around mid-May to mid-September each year (see the calendar on this website). The region has a rich history in Yellowstone Park travel and the rails that originally carried people there starting in the 1880s. A variety of both regular and special exhibits are on display including these:
|
Rails Across the Rockies: A Century of People and Places
The Depot's main exhibit introduces visitors to the railroads' key role in the growth of the American West and modern Montana, including the Northern Pacific and Yellowstone, track construction, telegraphy, wrecks, and more. Three of the nation's five transcontinental railroads ran through just Montana. After the Civil War, interest in the sparsely populated West grew as railroads, the newest technology in transportation, inched toward the Pacific. In 1869, the first transcontinental railroad crossed the nation through its center, and the journey from East to West became a relatively safe and comfortable trip of a few days instead of the once arduous cross-country horse trek or lengthy and dangerous voyage around South America. |
|
In 1883, the Northern Pacific Railroad connected its eastern and western divisions west of Livingston, forever binding Montana to the population centers in the Midwest and on the west coast. Between 1883 and 1909, two more transcontinental rail links crossed Montana. The railroads needed to fill both their passenger and freight trains and thus came to place a high priority on convincing settlers to move west, as well as on finding and promoting tourist destinations. Livingston was a key center for the Northern Pacific, not only because it lay midway between the NP's endpoints at Seattle and St. Paul, as well as at the beginning of the Rocky Mountain passes its workers paid so dearly to cross, but also because the NP promoted it heavily as the first railroad gateway to Yellowstone National Park.
Once the railroad entered the mountains, the problem of steep grades, tunnels, and snowbound passes replaced the relative ease of crossing the Great Plains, both in construction and in operations. As you visit, you can begin to appreciate the extraordinary people who by skill, brawn, and often sheer will power created one of the greatest engineering feats in human history, -- the rails across the Rockies.
In addition to fascinating subdisplays ranging from regional dude ranches to railroad diningware, and even railroad pulp magazines, our presentations also include these:
Once the railroad entered the mountains, the problem of steep grades, tunnels, and snowbound passes replaced the relative ease of crossing the Great Plains, both in construction and in operations. As you visit, you can begin to appreciate the extraordinary people who by skill, brawn, and often sheer will power created one of the greatest engineering feats in human history, -- the rails across the Rockies.
In addition to fascinating subdisplays ranging from regional dude ranches to railroad diningware, and even railroad pulp magazines, our presentations also include these:
Film in Montana
The natural beauty of Montana, and the Livingston/Park County area in particular, have made it a natural draw for filmmakers since the earliest days of even the silent movies. From early murder mysteries set in Yellowstone to contemporary cutting-edge dramas, it has always been a "stage of dramatic proportions." This exhibit gives visitors a basic introduction to the screen magic that has told many stories.
The natural beauty of Montana, and the Livingston/Park County area in particular, have made it a natural draw for filmmakers since the earliest days of even the silent movies. From early murder mysteries set in Yellowstone to contemporary cutting-edge dramas, it has always been a "stage of dramatic proportions." This exhibit gives visitors a basic introduction to the screen magic that has told many stories.
The Livingston Depot in History and Architecture
Besides being a lively hub of visitors passing back and forth to Yellowstone, the Depot was an unusually elaborate piece of architecture. Learn why the NP wanted to make it a showcase station worthy of important high-end clientele, how it was constructed in a phenomenally short period of time, and how it helped shape the history of the area.
Besides being a lively hub of visitors passing back and forth to Yellowstone, the Depot was an unusually elaborate piece of architecture. Learn why the NP wanted to make it a showcase station worthy of important high-end clientele, how it was constructed in a phenomenally short period of time, and how it helped shape the history of the area.
Rotating Special Exhibits
In addition, we try to vary in every year at least one new exhibit of special interest.
Reappearing in 2020: "On Track:
The Railroad Photographs of Warren McGee"
Curated by the Montana Historical Society in 2008, this exhibit traveled to several museums before returning to McGee's home town of Livingston in 2014. Revisiting in 2020, this collection assembles iconic train images spanning the many decades that he spent recording an otherwise irreplaceable history in detail.
Warren was a rich storyteller, a keen wit, a friend to the museum, and a great asset to railfans around the world. The Depot takes pride in bringing this small MHS treasure to the public for a second appearance this year and hopes you get a chance to see it. On Track will remain on display alongside the Depot's main exhibits through at least September 13, 2020.
The Railroad Photographs of Warren McGee"
Curated by the Montana Historical Society in 2008, this exhibit traveled to several museums before returning to McGee's home town of Livingston in 2014. Revisiting in 2020, this collection assembles iconic train images spanning the many decades that he spent recording an otherwise irreplaceable history in detail.
Warren was a rich storyteller, a keen wit, a friend to the museum, and a great asset to railfans around the world. The Depot takes pride in bringing this small MHS treasure to the public for a second appearance this year and hopes you get a chance to see it. On Track will remain on display alongside the Depot's main exhibits through at least September 13, 2020.
If you'd like to read about some of our past special museum exhibits too, just click here.