LINDEN — A special Depot Under the Stars event is planned 8-10 p.m. Saturday at the musuem. The event will feature two guest speakers as well as the formal dedication of the now-complete 1837 Norris 4-2-0 Steam Engine, live music and free refreshments/
The speakers include Todd Barton, a graduate of Wabash College graduate who has been the mayor of Crawfordsville since 2012, and Nicholas Schenkel who has been the director of the West Lafayette Public Library since 1981.
Two years ago Gary Vierk, president of the Linden Depot Museum, with the help of many volunteers began construction of the full-sized replica of the 1837 Norris 4-2-0 Steam Engine. They have worked tirelessly towards this goal, and now are pleased to present the finished engine. Though the Norris company built about 150 of these engines, none of the original engines exist today. There are only two other replicas in the United States; one in Pennsylvania and one in Maryland.
This year also marks the first time visitors can see the lighted promenade with its five vintage street lights. The lights shine on the walkway connecting the two buildings and illuminate the steam engine, the 1837 Highball Signal and the CSX caboose.
Live music will be provided by Josie Beach and her father during the outdoor event.
Hours are 8-10 p.m. with the speakers scheduled at 9 p.m.
Admission is $6 for adults and $1 for children 12 and younger. Anyone who visits the museum on the preceding Friday or during the day Saturday will receive a ticket good for free admission to return for the event. Current annual members of the museum may come for free. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all of the annual memberships purchased will be valid for two years. Memberships are $12 for singles and $30 for families.
The Linden Depot Museum is at 520 N. Main St., Linden. It is a non-profit corporation operated by an all-volunteer staff. All donations go directly towards museum maintenance, acquisitions and projects. Regular hours for the museum are noon to 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday through the end of October.
The original Linden Depot building, built in 1909, houses a large display of railroad memorabilia, including artifacts from the Monon and Nickel Plate Railroads for which it was built to serve. The second building on the south side of the property houses a large HO model railroad attraction with four operating trains, a blimp, a hot-air balloon ride, a streetcar, an animated carnival, mountain and tunnel scenery and an animated circus. This building has vintage circus items on display as well as about 1,000 model train cars and engines.
On the grounds are two cabooses, a Nickel Plate one and a CSX one as well as four one-hundred-year-old semaphores. There are also numerous railroad signs and signals, including the recently completed full-sized replica of an 1837 Highball Signal. The tender and coach on display with the Steam Engine were completed in time for last year’s outdoor drama, “All Aboard.”
For more information, visit www.LindenDepotMuseum.org; text or call 765-427-3630 or 765-404-8560; or email LindenDepotMuseum@gmail.com.