Here’s another in my series of places you might want to stop at on your way to either the Laurapalooza conference or any other Laura trip.
Tracy, MN. Photo by Rebecca Brammer.
I must admit I haven’t made it yet to either of the museums I’m going to talk about today, but they are high on my must see soon list.
Wheels Across the Prairie is located in Tracy, Minnesota. Remember the chapter long train ride near the beginning of By the Shores of Silver Lake? It really was only as far as the next town down the line which was Tracy. The train depot they used and what they think is the very bench they would have waited on is on display there. The museum doesn’t have an Ingalls focus, but instead looks at different types of transportation in the prairie, with a focus on trains.
http://www.wheelsacrosstheprairie.org
Another train museum is End of the Line Museum located at Currie, Minnesota just a little ways off of Highway 38 and southwest of Walnut Grove. This train museum even has a hand cranked turn table. While I haven’t gotten the chance to stop, I have driven by and I really was impressed. Warning: their website includes a train whistle. Stop the whistle first if you’re someplace you can’t listen.
http://www.endoline.com/site/index.php
Sarah S. Uthoff http://www.trundlebedtales.com
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I have been to both train museums and my favorite by far is the End-of-the-Line. It has a wonderful setting and ‘village’ to see all kinds of buildings of the era. The Tracy museum is conveniently located on Hwy 14 west of Walnut Grove and is easy to stop in. Train museums are always a great stop for families and Laura-lovers.
I’ve been to both too and also prefer the end-o-the-line museum. The turn table is really neat — it’s literally where the railroad line ended and the train would stop there so they could crank it and turn it in the other direction. The staff told us a story of the key being saved over the years but I can’t remember the details now (I think perhaps some of the oldtimers know where it is and sneak on to turn it in the dark of night still?). It has lots of little miniature trains and kids can ride a little train (if they still do that, it’s been a few years).
That museum is near Lake Shetek, which is a great place to stop and enjoy nature. It’s a state park and requires a parking permit, but it is lovely and large, with walking trails that go out onto a little island and sand beaches, wooded trails, a beautiful lake, tons of deer (we counted nearly a hundred one day last spring) and all types of birds, historic buildings, a nice playground, campgrounds and friendly staff.
There is also a darling little ice cream shop in the same town (also on the main drag that the museum is on) which is worth a stop!