Category: Museum News - SDSRM

Memorable Memorial Day Weekend at SDSRM

5/29/2013

The family of Tracy Dobbs visited the Museum on May 26th, and had a great time! The Dobbs Memorial Fund has allowed much to be completed in the Dakota Junction Learning Layout and in the Depot Days display area – not to mention providing funds for interpretive signage throughout the Museum. Thanks to you all – I believe TD would approve.

135 Boy Scouts, Leaders, and family members from Troup 444 in Littleton, Colorado toured the Museum on May 26th – what a fun and well behaved group of young men! We hope you all enjoyed your time here.

2013 Commemorative Car Announcement

3/4/2013

In cooperation with the South Dakota Wheat Growers Association, the SDSRM is proud to announce our 2013 HO commemorative car kit is ready to roll. It is a great way to support and promote not only the Museum but South Dakota’s agricultural economy and producers.

SOLD OUT – THANK YOU!

Full Steam Ahead for Summer 2012!

5/8/2012

WE ARE NOW OPEN DAILY
10:00AM to 4:30PM

Adults $5.00*
12 AND UNDER – FREE
*20% off ($1.00) with 1880 TRAIN ticket or use your Black Hills Coupon Book

SDSRM’s HO layout and its creator featured on SDPB

8/23/2011

Thanks to SD Public Radio’s Victoria Wicks for an outstanding profile of our Gene Jackson and his incomparable HO layout creation that resides at the SDSRM! Take a listen to the audio file at the link:

http://www.sdpb.org/tv/shows.aspx?MediaID=59933&Parm&ParmAccessLevel=sdpb-all

Grain Elevator installed at Museum

4/28/2011

The first phase of a joint exhibit between the Wheat Growers Association and the Museum has been installed – the 16 foot facade of a wooden grain elevator looks imposing, and is the first side of a display which will depict modern WG facilities around the state later this year.

Founders Campaign begins February 1

2/1/2011

Railroad Museum Announces $150,000 Founders Campaign Drive

The Board of Directors of the South Dakota State Railroad Museum in Hill City is thrilled to announce its Founders’ Club campaign.

The goals of this campaign are twofold. The non-profit Museum’s 10-member Board from across the state and membership are announcing the Museum’s 2011 Founders’ Club campaign, a one time, six-week effort to raise $150,000 for projects that will allow the expansion and educational programming for the Museum including planned traveling exhibits that will appear at schools and community events, new interactive displays inside the Museum, library and research enhancements, promotion of the Museum, and other statewide outreach initiatives. Donors to the Founders’ Club will be recognized with their names, corporate names, names in memorial, or names “in honor of” designations placed on the Museum’s website, as well on a permanent display inside the Museum.

Secondly, according to SDSRM Board president James Grimes of Custer, “We want to encourage kids, well, kids from 1 to 101, that have not visited the new facility in Hill City since its opening last May to stop in and learn about railroading and history in South Dakota, but also to enjoy the facility – to have fun.”

Rick Mills, the Museum’s Executive Director said, “We see that after the Museum’s attendance in 2010 that this facility is a necessity in South Dakota. It complements educational activities throughout the year for our students, residents, and visitors alike, while promoting family togetherness and educational opportunities in cooperation with the venerable 1880 TRAIN and other learning facilities and museums in Hill City and across the state. People, Places, and Trains is our motto, and those four words define our mission and facility quite nicely.”

But, as Board member Ann McKay-Thompson of Sioux Falls added, “A great vision, a common goal, and hard work are all important in the creation of a Museum, but without financial support and the public’s input that important legacy to the railroaders, their families, and what the railroads helped to develop in South Dakota just won’t happen – it is like putting down the rails and ties but then not having the train to run on track.”

Individuals and businesses interested in becoming a Founder for the SDSRM may call 574-9000 or 605-877-6629 for information on the Founders’ Campaign, as well as for the dates and hours of operation.

Jackson’s masterpiece at home in SDSRM

1/2/2011

Gene Jackson puts some final touches on his
magnificent HO layout which he donated to the SDSRM in 2010

Come on up to Hill City and help us plan for our model layout’s future, as well as for our 2011 programming and exhibits on Saturday, January 8th!

Saturday, January 8 – Museum Closed for Board Meetings
10am – Model/HO Layout and Displays meeting for Board and volunteers (OPEN TO INTERESTED MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS)
11am – Education/programs meeting for Board and volunteers (OPEN TO INTERESTED MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS)
1pm – Quarterly Board meeting (OPEN TO INTERESTED MEMBERS AND VOLUNTEERS)

Sunday, January 9 – Museum Closed
Monday, January 10 – Museum Closed

Tuesday, January 11 – 10am to 4pm (Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down)
Wednesday, January 12 – 10am to 4pm (Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down)
Thursday, January 13 – 10am to 4pm (Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down)
Friday, January 14 – 10am to 4pm (Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down)
Saturday, January 15 – Museum Closed

Sunday, January 16 – Museum Closed
Monday, January 17 – Museum Closed

Tuesday, January 18 – Museum Closed (SD Tourism Conference – Pierre; Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down)
Wednesday, January 19 – Museum Closed (SD Tourism Conference – Pierre; Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down)
Thursday, January 20 – Museum Closed (SD Tourism Conference – Pierre; Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down)
Friday, January 21 – Museum Closed (Rick in Nebraska; Museum closed to public – Trees exhibit tear down)

Saturday, January 22 – Museum Closed (Rick in Nebraska; Museum closed to public – new exhibit construction)
Sunday, January 23 – Museum Closed
Monday, January 24 – Museum Closed

Tuesday, January 25 – 10am to 4pm (new exhibit construction)
Wednesday, January 26 – 10am to 4pm (new exhibit construction)
Thursday, January 27 – 10am to 4pm (new exhibit construction)
Friday, January 28 – 10am to 4pm (new exhibit construction)
Saturday, January 29 – 10am to 4pm (new exhibit construction)

Sunday, January 30 – Museum Closed
Monday, January 31- Museum Closed

February days and hours:
Sunday and Monday: CLOSED
Tuesday through Saturday: 10am-4pm daily

Saturday, February 5 – 11-3pm Special Program – “Antiques Railroad Show” – railroad and related antiques appraisal day at the SDSRM

Trees & Trains Exhibit Begins November 26th

11/9/2010

Thanksgiving Weekend
Friday, November 26 – Noon to 8pm*
Saturday, November 27 – Noon to 8pm*
Sunday, November 28 – Noon to 4pm

Wednesday, December 1 – 10am to 4pm
Thursday, December 2 – 10am to 4pm
Friday, December 3 – 10am to 4pm
Saturday, December 4 – Noon to 5pm
Sunday, December 5 – Noon to 4pm

Wednesday, December 8 – 10am to 4pm
Thursday, December 9 – 10am to 4pm
Friday, December 10 – 10am to 4pm
Saturday, December 11 – Noon to 8pm*
Sunday, December 12 – Noon to 4pm

Wednesday, December 15 – 10am to 4pm
Thursday, December 16 – 10am to 4pm
Friday, December 17 – 10am to 4pm
Saturday, December 18 – Noon to 8pm*
Sunday, December 19 – Noon to 4pm

Wednesday, December 22 – 10am to 8pm*
Thursday, December 23 – 10am to 8pm*
Friday, December 24 – CLOSED
Saturday, December 25 – CLOSED
Sunday, December 26 – Noon to 4pm

Wednesday, December 29 – 10am to 4pm
Thursday, December 30– 10am to 4pm
Friday, December 31 – CLOSED
Saturday, January 1 – CLOSED

* Holiday Train operates on the 1880 TRAIN (call 605-574-2222 for reservations)

SDSRM Gala a Success!

10/1/2010

A great success! This special evening of dining, dancing, art, and antiques was held at the spectacular Sylvan Lake Lodge in the central Black Hills – thanks to our generous hosts at Custer State Park Resort Company, and all of our donors and sponsors. Thank you all!

TimeRail is making History

8/4/2010

We are very pleased with the response that we are hearing about TimeRail, our dramatic and educational 8 by 70 foot mural/timeline! Some of the comments:

“The mural is BEAUTIFUL”
“Super Timeline presentation!”
“What a wonderful tour of railroad history”

TimeRail, combined with our other rail and South Dakota history exhibits, is making history! Come in and see it for yourself.

Photo by Sarah Mills