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Exhibits planned on the railroad, agricultural and Native American history

 

LANDRUM—The highly anticipated grand opening of the Landrum Rail and History Museum is set to take place this May. 

The historic rail car that will house the museum was donated to the City of Landrum by Ken Ossting in 2018. Finishing touches, which include positioning an old sleeper unit and adding the museum panels to the interior of the rail car, are currently underway.

“It will be good to see it open,” said Mayor Bob Briggs. “It’s taken a lot longer than expected, but when it’s finished, we can tell our story to the visitors of the area.”

Built in 1949, the Pullman rail car, named “Pacolet River,” made its way through major cities such as New York and New Orleans while under the ownership of Southern Railways. During its years of operation, “Pacolet River” even chugged through Landrum and Tryon.

After a complete transformation, it will now serve as a unique museum where visitors can enter the 800-square-foot rail car and learn about the rich history of the Landrum area. Exhibits will feature the history of the railroad that runs through the city, as well as the agricultural and Native American history of the area.

Mayor Briggs said some of the exhibits will be changed and updated periodically with a board overseeing what exhibits will be featured. The Landrum Rail and History Museum will be operated by the board with help from volunteers.

Originally slated to open September 9, 2023, the exact opening date in May and the hours of operation have not yet been announced. The Landrum Rail and History Museum will be next to the Historic Landrum Depot, located at 211 N. Trade Ave.