Lost Railway Museum

Lost Railway Museum The Lost Railway Museum of Grass Lake, Michigan. Discover Michigan's Interurban Railway Museum. Discover Michigan's InterUrban Railway Museum. Admission is free.

Be a part of making Grass Lake history! We do kindly ask for a $5 donation per person upon entry.

517-522-9502

Did you know the beautifully restored horse-drawn streetcar at Lost Railway museum appeared in the 1969 film "Hello, Dol...
09/02/2026

Did you know the beautifully restored horse-drawn streetcar at Lost Railway museum appeared in the 1969 film "Hello, Dolly!"?

Jackson's public transportation story began in 1891 when Hiram Smith's Jackson Street Railway Company introduced horse-drawn streetcars. The cars traveled on wooden rails topped with iron straps, and passengers could ride between residential areas, factories, and businesses.

Within a few years, the system was electrified, although its first day of operation was memorable for the wrong reasons, a trolley pole snagged a telephone wire, knocking out service across town and even frightening a horse pulling a nearby wagon.

That chapter of history ended in 1936. But the streetcar didn't disappear, it's parked right here in Grass Lake where you can walk right up and climb aboard.

Plan your visit to get in touch with history: https://www.lostrailwaymuseum.org/

We had some incredibly colorful visitors last month. A local chapter of the Red Hat Society came through in their finest...
08/28/2026

We had some incredibly colorful visitors last month.

A local chapter of the Red Hat Society came through in their finest, 14 members strong complete with purple outfits, red hats, and all the matching energy you'd imagine. They posed for photos on the staircase to the Boland Express, and some climbed aboard the Velocipede for a spin.

This is exactly why we love what we do — experiencing history with friends creates a memory that you will never forget.

Tag a group of friends who can make a grand entrance just like this one.

Remember when we asked you to guess the project?Meet Replica Horsecar #14. It is one of the newest treasures at the mus...
08/26/2026

Remember when we asked you to guess the project?

Meet Replica Horsecar #14. It is one of the newest treasures at the museum, and it comes with an unusual backstory.

Built for the Daniel Boone Railroad theme park in North Carolina, the piece was inspired by the horse-drawn streetcars that carried passengers through American cities in the 1880s. It's not an exact historical reproduction, but it's full of authentic touches: a Victorian paint scheme, decorative side awnings, and details straight out of the earliest streetcar era.

This fascinating bridge between recreation and railroad preservation has finally found a permanent home at Lost Railway Museum. Our volunteer restoration crew has been carefully preserving it for future generations — cleaning, stabilizing, repairing, and researching it — turning it into an exhibit that helps visitors experience travel before interurbans and automobiles took over.

If you appreciate the dedication of these skilled volunteers, share a word of admiration in the comments below.

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Ever wonder why a small Michigan farm town throws an Oktoberfest?It goes back further than you'd think. Starting in the ...
08/21/2026

Ever wonder why a small Michigan farm town throws an Oktoberfest?

It goes back further than you'd think. Starting in the 1830s, German farming families settled in the countryside west of Ann Arbor, not far from Grass Lake. They brought traditions of farming, brewing, music, food, and community celebration with them — traditions that became woven into southeastern Michigan's culture over the generations that followed.

Grass Lake Oktoberfest honors that shared regional heritage, alongside the area's agricultural roots and fall traditions. So when you're standing in the crowd with a drink in hand this October, you're actually taking part in something with almost 200 years of local history behind it.

(Bonus read: the Ann Arbor Observer put together a genuinely interesting piece on the region's cider history — link in comments.)

Do you have family roots tied to this area's German or farming history? We'd love to hear the story in the comments.

Mark your calendar to be part of the tradition: Saturday, October 3rd.

Summer's winding down, and so are our internships — but before they do, we'd like you to meet the crew who showed up to ...
08/19/2026

Summer's winding down, and so are our internships — but before they do, we'd like you to meet the crew who showed up to learn about museum operations.

Ben, Cruz and Andrew enthusiastically chipped in behind the scenes, answered questions about exhibits, and brought countless smiles to visitors who stopped by. We are so grateful to them.

If you crossed paths with these bright young men, drop a thank you in the comments.

Ben, we wish you the best of luck as you continue your journey at Albion College!

What a day. ⛳❤️The Lost Railway Museum's 6th Annual Golf Outing at the picturesque Calderone Golf Club is in the books —...
08/16/2026

What a day. ⛳❤️

The Lost Railway Museum's 6th Annual Golf Outing at the picturesque Calderone Golf Club is in the books — and we are still smiling.

To every golfer who came out, every sponsor who believed in us, and every person who has ever shown up for this museum in any way — thank you. Days like that are possible because of you.

This community continues to prove that preserving local history isn't just our mission. It's yours too.

We are proud and grateful to recognize the incredible sponsors who made this day possible:

Main Event & Dinner Sponsors
Rave Associates, M-R Builder, Inc., Midbrook Manufacturing & Fabrication, Frank's Shop-Rite, Holiday RV Campground, Grass Lake, MI, Axtion Builders, LLC, Sawd’s VI-Missy’s II, Ross Design & Engineering and Lowe Construction Co.

Beverage Sponsors
BC Landworks LLC, County National Bank, and Huntington National Bank

Corporate Sponsors
The Country Club of Jackson, Christoff & Sons Floor Covering Inc., Ghostrider DJ Services, M.A.N Mechanical, Klavon's Pizzeria & Pub, Bailey Excavating Inc., McKernan Realty Group, Willis & Jurasek CPS and Consultants, Comerica Bank, BJ's Restaurant Brewhouse, Phil & Pat Willis, The Copper Nail Community Resale Shop, Lloyd Ganton Retirement Centers Inc., and West Point Bar Lounge

Additional Sponsors
Hammond Propane, Sherwood Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Willis & Machnik Financial Services, Seymour Ford, JTV.TV, Jones Construction, Community Uplift, Pound & Pound Family Dentistry, Lomar Machine & Tool, Kelly Express Mart, Chelsea State Bank

For more group photos taken by Joe Deboe, head over to www.ghostriderdj.com.

See you next year. 🏌️

08/11/2026

You're still sunburned from this weekend, aren't you? Before summer fools you into thinking it will never end, mark your calendar for October 3rd.

Grass Lake Oktoberfest will be here before you know it.

What you can look forward to:
🥨 Bavarian comfort food and food trucks
🎺 Live music that gets everyone dancing
🍺 Wide selection of breweries, wineries and cideries
🎨 Arts and crafts vendors

Get your tickets early so you're all set when fall rolls around:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/grass-lake-oktoberfest-tickets-1986437211172?

Who should be on your Oktoberfest crew? Tag them below so they save the date too!

08/07/2026

We're in good company on this list! Grass Lake has a way of surprising people who usually pass by on I-94.

Huge thanks to Experience Jackson and Awesome Mitten for including us alongside some other favorites we're proud to share the neighborhood with.

Already planning a stop? Bookmark this reel so you don't lose the list — then tag the friend you're bringing along.

Heads up, friends! 🚃We will be closed to the public on the following dates:📅 Friday, August 7th📅 Saturday, August 8thWe ...
08/05/2026

Heads up, friends! 🚃

We will be closed to the public on the following dates:

📅 Friday, August 7th
📅 Saturday, August 8th

We will resume normal hours on Wednesday, August 12th.

See you then!

Eight drink tokens. A commemorative glass. Free admission to one of the best afternoons Grass Lake has all year.That's w...
08/05/2026

Eight drink tokens. A commemorative glass. Free admission to one of the best afternoons Grass Lake has all year.

That's what you get for volunteering at Grass Lake Oktoberfest on October 3rd — and we still need a few good people.

Setup, admissions, beverage stations, cleanup — pick your shift, grab a friend, and celebrate with us when it's done.

Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0844AFAF29A7FFC07-64411930-grass #/

Prost! 🍺

Address

142 W. Michigan Avenue
Grass Lake, MI
49240

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+15175229500

Website

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