Oswego Railroad Museum Hosts the Freedom Train

July 13, 2009 Contributor
<br />The Oswego Railroad Museum on West First Street in Oswego hosts the American Freedom Train display which features train layouts, photos and souvenirs from the original exhibit.
The Oswego Railroad Museum on West First Street in Oswego hosts the American Freedom Train display which features train layouts, photos and souvenirs from the original exhibit.

OSWEGO – The Oswego Railroad Museum is showing an exhibit dedicated to the Freedom Train tours of 1947 and 1975. The display is open to the public Saturday and Sunday, July 18 and 19.

The exhibit includes an “O Scale” model of the Freedom Train that toured America from September 1947 to January 1949.

“More than 3.5 million people boarded the train to view displays commemorating our freedom,” said Bill Nickolas, secretary of the Oswego Railroad Museum and the Oswego Valley Railroad Association, Inc. “They included the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights and a replica of the Liberty Bell.” The museum’s exhibit also features “O Scale” models of the steam locomotives that pulled the American Freedom Train across the country from April 1975 to December 1976.

Nickolas continued, “Over 30 years ago, the traveling display celebrated America’s Bicentennial with historical documents and artifacts as well as memorabilia from pop culture. It was visited by over seven million people and considered one of the greatest events in rail history.”

Along with photos, videos and souvenirs from these original trains, the museum’s exhibit also features items from the New York State Freedom Train that toured the state in 1949 and 1950 and included a stop in Oswego.

The Oswego Railroad Museum is dedicated to the preservation of Oswego County’s railroad history. Visitors can learn more with a guided tour of its extensive operating layout, model displays and a toy train layout for the young and young-at-heart.

Upcoming exhibits include: “Railroads and the Seas” during Oswego’s Harborfest and “New York Central Month” during the month of August.

The museum is located at 56 West First Street in Oswego and is open from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays through Labor Day. Admission is $2 for those age 12 and over, $1 for children age 6 to 11 and free for those age 5 and younger.

To learn more about the Oswego Railroad Museum, visit their Web site at ttp://www.co.oswego.ny.us/oswegorailroadmuseum.html.

For other events, call the Oswego County Promotion and Tourism Office at 1-800-248-4FUN (4386) or go to www.visitoswegocounty.com. missing or outdated ad config

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