Railroad museum offering preview
ELKINS — The West Virginia Railroad Museum will open for a preview of its season today through Sunday. The exhibit for this year is a comparison of railroading in the Mountain State from 1920 to 2020 and will showcase images and artifacts from the last 100 years.
Of particular interest this year will be dozens of color images of acclaimed American railroad photographer Frederick Ripley. Over the years, Ripley has created over 50,000 images of American railroads, and has written articles and published his photography in many magazines and books. Supported by historical material such as timetables, maps, and schedules, he creates pictures that give viewers a walk through historic, economic, and geographic content.
The museum is appreciative that Mr. Ripley will be present for the opening of exhibit. Over the last 30 years Ripley has amassed quite an impressive catalog of dramatic, colorful 20” x 30″ prints which will be for sale at the museum.
Mr. Ripley’s color prints will be displayed alongside black and white photographs provided to the Museum from collections of various railroad historical societies including the Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society, Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Historical Society, and the Western Maryland Railway Historical Society.
The museum had been closed by executive order of the Governor due to the COVID-19 pandemic and with our opening the museum will be practicing social distancing for the patrons attending the exhibit. We will expect those coming to the exhibit to wear masks for both their protection and that of our staff.
The exhibit preview will last Thursday through Sunday. The hours each day will be from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Regular season dates and hours will be announced at a later date.
Admission fees are waived for this preview, but donations are kindly accepted.
For more information about the upcoming show be sure to check out West Virginia Railroad Museum on Facebook.