South Coast Railroad Museum facts for kids
Goleta Depot, part of the museum
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| Location | 300 North Los Carneros Road Goleta, California |
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| Type | Railroad museum |
The South Coast Railroad Museum in Goleta, California is a fun place to learn about trains. It features the Goleta Depot, which is a very old train station from 1901. This station was once part of the Southern Pacific Railroad.
At the museum, you can also ride the Goleta Short Line. This is a cool 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) miniature railway! You can also see a real Southern Pacific caboose. There's even a model train set that shows the cities of Goleta and Santa Barbara, California.
The Goleta Depot is a very important building. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also on the California Register of Historical Resources. This means it's a special part of history.
The Story of the Goleta Depot
The original Goleta passenger train station closed in October 1973. People wanted to save this historic building. So, in November 1981, the depot was carefully moved. It went to its new home at Lake Los Carneros County Park.
After the move, the depot needed a lot of work. It took 11 months to fix it up. On October 10, 1982, the Goleta Depot was officially recognized. It became a landmark for Santa Barbara County.
In 1983, a group called the Institute for American Research took over the depot. Their goal was to turn it into a living museum. This means a place where history comes alive!
A new train station opened nearby in 1998. This station has a concrete platform and an open-air shelter. It is used by Amtrak trains today.
What's Near the Museum?
The South Coast Railroad Museum is in a great spot. It is right next to Lake Los Carneros. This lake has walking trails. It's also a wonderful place for bird watching.
You can also find the historic Stow House nearby. This house is part of Rancho La Patera. There are other interesting places to explore in the area too.
Learn More
- History of Santa Barbara, California
- List of museums in the California Central Coast
- National Register of Historic Places, List of Properties in Santa Barbara County, California
