Georgia State Railroad Museum facts for kids
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Central of Georgia Railway: Savannah Shops and Terminal Facilities
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Entrance to the Georgia State Railroad Museum at the former Central of Georgia Railway: Savannah Shops and Terminal Facilities
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 Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
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| Location | West Broad Street and Railroad Avenue Savannah, Georgia |
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| Area | 33.2 acres (13.4 ha) |
| Built | 1853 |
| Architect | Augustus Schwaab; Et al. |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals, Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000970 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 2, 1978 |
| Designated NHLD | June 2, 1978 |
The Georgia State Railroad Museum is a cool place in Savannah, Georgia. It's built on a historic site that used to be a big workshop for the Central of Georgia Railway. This spot is part of a special area called the Central of Georgia Railway: Savannah Shops and Terminal Facilities National Historic Landmark District. It's known as the most complete railroad complex in the United States from before the American Civil War.
The museum is located at 655 Louisville Road. It's part of a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Right across the street is the Central of Georgia Depot and Trainshed, which is also part of this historic area. The whole complex was built in 1853 by the Central of Georgia Railway (CofG). The Savannah Shops and terminal buildings were named a National Historic Landmark in 1976. More buildings were added to this important list in 1978.
At the Georgia State Railroad Museum, you can see many old railroad buildings. These include a part of a roundhouse with a working turntable. There's also a machine shop, a Tender Frame Shop, and a Blacksmith Shop. You can explore the Boiler House, Storehouse & Print Shop, and Lumber and Planing Sheds. There are also Coach and Paint Shops, and a part of the Carpentry Shop. This Carpentry Shop now holds the Savannah Children's Museum. Many of these old buildings are open for you to look around inside!
Contents
Discovering the Historic Railroad Shops
The Historic Railroad Shops complex is a fantastic example of old railroad buildings. It shows how trains were designed and repaired long ago. It's the most complete set of railroad repair buildings in the country from before the Civil War. The National Park Service officially recognized it as a National Historic Landmark.
What You Can See and Do at the Museum
Inside the museum, you'll find many cool things. There are old machines that used to run with turning shafts. You can see real locomotives (train engines) and other railroad cars. There are also model train layouts, which are miniature train worlds. A big, working turntable helps move trains around. You can also see the oldest portable steam engine in the United States! This museum offers a great learning experience for students. It's also a very popular place for tourists to visit in Savannah.
The Georgia State Railroad Museum is managed by the Coastal Heritage Society. This non-profit group works with the City of Savannah to keep the museum running. It's not just about trains; it also shows how industries worked in the past.
The Story of the Railroad Site
The Central of Georgia Railroad started way back in 1833. It was first called the Central Rail Road and Canal Company. Around 1836, they built a passenger station, a freight terminal, and some shops in Savannah. These first buildings are not there anymore.
Building the Railroad Workshops
By the mid-1840s, the railway had grown to about 190 miles of track. So, the Central of Georgia started building new, bigger shops in 1851. The first building finished was the carpenters' shop in 1853. After that, the original roundhouse, machine shop, tender frame shop, and blacksmith shop were built in 1855. Many other buildings were added to the complex all the way up to the 1920s.
In 1923, a big fire damaged the roundhouse and other structures. They were rebuilt in the late 1920s. This also helped them fit larger locomotives and rolling stock (train cars). Passenger trains used the Central of Georgia Depot until 1971.
From Railroad Hub to Museum Fun
The Southern Railway bought the Central of Georgia in 1963. They then closed the Savannah shops. Later, the railway gave the entire complex to the City of Savannah. A non-profit group called the Coastal Heritage Society then opened the museum on the site in 1989.
Museum Attractions and Activities
When you visit the museum, you can enjoy many exciting things:
- A huge roundhouse with a working turntable that is 85 feet long.
- Lots of historic railroad buildings to explore.
- Old machines and stationary steam engines that show how things used to work.
- Real steam and diesel engines.
- Special office cars and cabooses.
- Daily tours and activities, sometimes including a short train ride around the site!
- Cool model train displays.
Images for kids
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CG locomotive no. 223 in front of the roundhouse. This locomotive was built in 1907 and stopped service in 1952.
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EMD GP35 diesel locomotive #2715, a former S&A locomotive on display at the Historic Railroad Shops, November 26, 2003
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Central of Georgia Railway Museum
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The roundhouse in 2015
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River Street Streetcar being housed at the Central of Georgia RR Museum
See also
