Eldon Depot Museum

Eldon Depot Museum Eldon Depot Museum is a non-profit railroad museum located in Eldon, Iowa. Hours of operation Satu

Thank You Everyone who helped make our Anniversary Celebration special!!!! So many new faces, local faces, former Rock I...
08/30/2026

Thank You Everyone who helped make our Anniversary Celebration special!!!! So many new faces, local faces, former Rock Island employees and families to visit with. It was a great day! Here’s to 25 more years!

John Lee is Playing!!! 🎶
08/29/2026

John Lee is Playing!!! 🎶

It’s Free Watermelon Time!!!!Thank You Jim’s Garden -Montrose, IAFor These Beautiful Watermelons!!!🍉
08/29/2026

It’s Free Watermelon Time!!!!
Thank You Jim’s Garden -Montrose, IA
For These Beautiful Watermelons!!!🍉

Goodies for tomorrow!!Thank You Kodie’s Kreations for the beautiful watermelon cookies!
08/28/2026

Goodies for tomorrow!!
Thank You Kodie’s Kreations for the beautiful watermelon cookies!

Eldon Depot 25th Anniversary Celebration!Saturday August 29th - 10:00 AM to 4:00 PMSchedule of EventsPresentations will ...
08/25/2026

Eldon Depot 25th Anniversary Celebration!
Saturday August 29th - 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Schedule of Events
Presentations will be in the Model RR Building
10:00 AM Train Slide Presentation-Model RR
11:00 AM Live Presentation-History of
Des Moines River Valley RR (KD)
1:00-4:00 PM Train Slide Presentations
Free Watermelon Slices
Live Music by John Lee Boyer
The Depot Museum, Engine, Caboose and Model Railroad Building will be open to visitors from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Come celebrate with us 🎉 👏

The Model Railroad Once the second building was purchased, plans were made to house a model railroad layout. We were for...
08/22/2026

The Model Railroad
Once the second building was purchased, plans were made to house a model railroad layout. We were fortunate to connect with Glenn Plewa who offered to construct it for us. Glenn designed and constructed the entire layout. He used rural Iowa and Eldon as inspiration. He spent countless hours working on the project. A model railroad takes years, not months. Thank You Glenn! We also received a donation of a smaller stand alone layout made by Randy Reihm. Thanks Randy!

Jane Buck is one of the depot’s earliest Facebook followers. Her father, Martin Johnson and brother Marty both worked fo...
08/18/2026

Jane Buck is one of the depot’s earliest Facebook followers. Her father, Martin Johnson and brother Marty both worked for the Rock Island Railroad. Her father started working on the rails and finished his career as Roadmaster 33 years later. He worked out of Des Moines, Altoona, and managed the rails that came through Eldon. In 2017, Jane donated funds to purchase a motor car in honor of her father. She also donated his RI pin and other items. The motor car is displayed in the Model RR building and the other items in the depot museum. She also shared her story of staying in a bunk car/Rock Island box car at Marengo, IA the summer of 1937. Her fascinating story, along with photos of that time, are also on display at the museum. Thank you Jane for being a good friend to the Eldon Depot Museum!

Photo from Steve Snook May 2026Piers from the Rock Island RR bridge
08/15/2026

Photo from Steve Snook May 2026
Piers from the Rock Island RR bridge

The Engine!
08/15/2026

The Engine!

Curating the Depot MuseumOnce the depot renovations made it habitable, donated Rock Island items came in almost immediat...
08/09/2026

Curating the Depot Museum
Once the depot renovations made it habitable, donated Rock Island items came in almost immediately. Many were donated by local railroaders. Over the years, items have now come from around the state and across the country. We are proud to say, that every thing on display was either donated or purchased with donated funds. A big “Thank You” to all for these donations. You made it possible. The displays have been and currently are a work in progress. Steve Roe and Fred Thomas did many of the early displays. As the responsibilities fell to the next generation, it became apparent we needed information. Sherri Beattie spearheaded the process and she and Becky Taylor researched every item. We used knowledge from our remaining railroaders, as well as online, libraries, etc. Everything was labeled and many now include valuable information regarding use and history. This made it easier for visitors, as well as educated us as volunteers. Thank you Sherri for your vision!

Address

405 KD Avenue
Eldon, IA
52554

Telephone

+16603499843

Website

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