UPCOMING EVENTS

All Aboard Series
The "Friends" meet the last Saturday of each month at 8:30am for coffee and donuts at the Depot, 401 Kentucky Street. (location varies depending on events). For more information, call 270-745-7317. Non-members welcome!

Schedule of Topics and Presenters:

May 29: “To Market, to Market” – join Carl Chaney, Chairman of the Kentucky Agri-tourism Council as he relates the past and present relationship of the railroad to the farming community. 8:30 AM. Historic RailPark & Train Museum, at the L&N Depot, 401 Kentucky St., Bowing Green, KY

June 26: “Home on the Rails” – join Karen Matchus as she explores the feminine side of the railroad on the its impact on cultural and social lifestyles, travel and careers. 8:30 AM. Historic RailPark & Train Museum, at the L&N Depot, 401 Kentucky St., Bowing Green, KY

July 31: “Four-legged Railroaders” – Join Rita Schneider as she tells compelling and humorous stories of the railroad’s dependency on our four-legged friends as work animals and mascots. Listen to the story of Blind Tom as he helped build the Transcontinental Railroad, Owney the Railway Post Office Mascot and more. Support the Warren County Humane society and bring a bag of food for our furry friends. 8:30 AM. Historic RailPark & Train Museum, at the L&N Depot, 401 Kentucky St., Bowing Green, KY

August 28: “Beauty of the Railroad” – Join Historic Preservationist Eileen Starr as she explores the Depot’s critical role in transportation and community visibility through the architectural styles of our nation’s train stations. 8:30 AM. Historic RailPark & Train Museum, at the L&N Depot, 401 Kentucky St., Bowing Green, KY

September 25: “Railroad Music, Part II”. Join musician Dr. Janet Bass Smith as she continues the story of our nation’s connection between the railroad and popular music. 8:30 AM. Historic RailPark & Train Museum, at the L&N Depot, 401 Kentucky St., Bowing Green, KY

October 30: “Railroad Baseball” – What do PeeWee Reese and Roy Acuff have in common? They were former players in the L&N Railroad Baseball League! Join the Hot Rods as they tell the story of the railroad’s involvement in our national sport. 8:30 AM. Historic RailPark & Train Museum, at the L&N Depot, 401 Kentucky St., Bowing Green, KY

November 17: “Advertising, Railroad Style”. Join Chris Gadbois as he shares his collection of railroad advertisements and the history of railroad marketing. 8:30 AM. Historic RailPark & Train Museum, at the L&N Depot, 401 Kentucky St., Bowing Green, KY

December 18: “Hold ‘em Up: Great Train Robberies”. Join Lt. Gary Rich, Bowling Green Police Dept, as he relays stories and antidotes of train robberies across America. 8:30 AM. Historic RailPark & Train Museum, at the L&N Depot, 401 Kentucky St., Bowing Green, KY

MAY EVENTS:

May 1: RailCamp registration opens. Ages 5-6 and 7-8. $15 per child or $25 for 2 or more children in the same family. June 14, 15, 16. Historic RailPark & Train Museum. Call 270-745-7317 for more details. Click here for Registration Form.
 
May 2:  “All Aboard” Mini-series Part I. “The Power, The Might, The Locomotive.” KET, 9:30pm. Featuring Historic RailPark & Train Museum with local residents telling the story of America’s railroad locomotive power through the museum’s E8 engine.
 
May 8: National Train Day. Model train exhibits in the lobby and ½ price museum entrance for Warren County residents to the Historic RailPark & Train Museum. 401 Kentucky St., Bowling Green, KY 42101. 10am-4pm
 
May 8:  National Train Day/ National Tourism Week. Model train exhibit at the Franklin Welcome Center, Franklin, KY. 9am-4pm
 
May 9: “All Aboard” Mini-series Part II. “Fast Mail: Railroad Post Office.” KET, 9:30pm. Featuring Historic RailPark & Train Museum with local residents telling the story of America’s railroad through the museum’s Railway Post Office car.
 
May 11: National Tourism Week. Model train exhibit at the Franklin Welcome Center, Franklin, KY. 9am – 4pm
 
May 16: “All Aboard” Mini-series Part III. “A Pullman Car: The Last Journey of the Towering Pine.” KET. 9:30pm. Featuring the Historic RailPark & Train Museum with local residents telling the story of America’s railroad through the museum’s Towering Pine sleeper car.
 
May 18: Story Time. “Owney; the Mail Pouch Pooch.” Railway Post Office Car. Historic RailPark & Train Museum. 401 Kentucky St., Bowling Green, KY.  6:30PM.
 
May 29:   “To Market, to Market” – join Carl Chaney, Chairman of the Kentucky Agri-tourism Council, as he relates the relationship of the railroad to the farming community. 8:30 AM. Historic RailPark & Train Museum, at the L&N Depot, 401 Kentucky St., Bowling Green, KY

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RECENT EVENTS

Festival of Trains
Operating model railroads in several sizes, museum and railcar tours, photos with Santa and more. Free admission to view the model railroads.
Saturday, 9am-5pm
Sunday, 1pm-4pm
For more information call 270-745-7317
Sponsored by WNKY

Polar Express
December 14-17, 2009
Wait list available for readings. Call 270-745-7317 for more information

March 26, 2009
Lincoln and the Railroad - Exhibit Opening
6:30pm
Peter Hansen, guest lecturer

March 7, 2009
sHOw Club's 8th Annual Train Show and Sale
10am-3pm
Admission is Free; Vendors in all scales of model railroading on site; Depot layout free to view; discounted admission to museum and railcar

November 13, 2008
Murder at the Depot
7-9pm
A fun-filled evening searching for clues through the museum and railcars to solve the crime. Co-sponsored by Fountain Square Players. $55 single ticket; $100 per couple. Light meal and beverage service included with performance. Prizes given to the most successful detective!

March 25, 2008 - 7pm
Depot Lobby
National Medal of Honor Presentation
On January 6, 1969, Don Jenkins, Private First Class, U.S. Army Company A, 2nd Battalion, 39th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division landed in Kien Phong Province with his unit. Under heavy fire he personally took out two North Vietnamese bunkers and saved four of his comrades. After his discharge in 1969, he returned to the coal mines of Kentucky where he remained until his retirement in 1999. On March 3, 1971, President Richard Nixon presented Pvt. Jenkins with the Medal of Honor for his valor. There are only two Medal of Honor recipients in the state of Kentucky.

March 25 has been designated National Medal of Honor Day. It was on March 25, 1863, that the first Army Medal of Honor was presented to six surviving members of Andrew’s Raiders who stole the steam engine “The General”, a famous railroad war event that has become legend. Patty Parks, Executive Director of the National Medal of Honor Museum of Military History, Chattanooga, TN, will act as master of ceremony as we honor Pvt. Jenkins for his bravery.

We invite you and your guests to attend this momentous occasion as we honor a Kentuckian who provided distinguished service to his country. Seating is limited therefore we request an RSVP by March 22, 2008. Please respond by calling 270-745-7317 or email stabor@historicrailpark.com.

Saturday, February 29, 2008
7 pm
Depot Lobby
Black History Celebration
Dr. John Hardin, Associate Professor of African American studies, Western Kentucky University, will speak on the important role of the Pullman Porter in organized labor. A reception and museum tour will follow. Ticket sales for this event will help support the local NAACP chapter.

Saturday, February 16, 2008
7th Annual Train Show and Sale
Historic L&N Depot
10am-3pm
Bruce Baggett (270) 542-8302, edwbbaggett@aol.com or edwbbaggett@logantele.com
The sHOw Modular Model Railroad Club, Inc. presents its 7th Annual Train Show and Sale held at the Historic Railpark and Train Museum at the L&N Depot. Admission is $5 for adults. Children under 12 are free with a paid adult. Family admission is $10. Railpark and Museum tours can be purchased at the Depot. This is also a great opportunity for watching CSX freight trains running through Bowling Green.

Friday, February 1, 2008, 7:00pm
Great Locomotive Chase / Medal of Honor Presentation
L&N Depot Lobby
On April 12, 1862, the “General” locomotive was stolen by 19 Union soldiers outside of Atlanta. Andrew’s Raiders were awarded the Army Medal of Honor because of their participation in this daring mission. This event was the basis for two films, the most famous being Disney’s “The Great Locomotive Chase” staring Fess Parker. This event is re-told in our museum exhibit “The Great Locomotive Chase.”

Mrs. Patty Parks, Director of The National Medal of Honor Museum of Military History in Chattanooga TN will be our guest speaker for this special presentation as her organization places their Civil War Medal of Honor on loan to the Historic Railpark Museum. If you happen to own or have access to ante-bellum costume, please feel free to attend in full regalia! If you are a veteran, we would be honored if you choose to wear your military attire.

December
Festival of Trains
Historic Railpark & Train Museum
Sat. 10am-4pm, Sun. 1-4pm
(270) 745-7317
One of the finest sights below a Christmas tree is undoubtedly a model train! While most children today have never even taken a train ride, the fascination with the toy replica is still there, especially at this time of year. See one of the largest model train displays in the region, tour the new two-story interactive Train Museum and explore authentic vintage railcars outside. There will be great opportunities for pictures with Santa Claus, too!

December
Fourth Annual Polar Express Storytime
Historic L&N Depot
6pm; 6:30pm; 7pm
Free, ticket reservation required.
(270) 782-0252
Participants will enjoy a reading of Chris Van Allsburgh's The Polar Express aboard the Duncan Hines Dining Car. Afterward, cookies and hot chocolate will be served in the library. In the spirit of the book, children are invited to wear their PJ's. Tickets are available free of charge, but reservations are required by calling 270-782-0252.

PAST EVENTS

L&N Convention 10/2007
RailFest 2003 5/10/03
Festival of Trains 12/14/02
RailFEST 2002 5/10/2002 - 5/12/2002