The brand-new Johnson City Railroad Experience is holding its grand opening on Oct. 3. The experience will cater to families with numerous educational exhibits and programs. The museum hopes to be a centerpiece of the community and give ETSU students professional opportunities.
“The Johnson City Railroad Experience is going to be an immersive and interactive museum for all ages that explores the history of Johnson City through the lens of the railroad,” said Exhibits and Program Director Carson Sailor.
Previously located on the ETSU campus as the George L. Carter Railroad Museum, the space hopes to be a fixture of downtown Johnson City. Sailor shared that the museum will be open 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday starting Oct. 3. The new building is located at 207 North Boone St., Johnson City, Tennessee.
The grand opening will be open to the public, with live music and a ribbon-cutting ceremony. It will be the first chance for the public to see the new space and exhibits.
The exhibits include a locomotive that guests can drive, a switching layout where guests can drive model trains, an observation station with six monitors and a radio scanner with live feeds of trains all over the country. It will also cater to children with a kid’s room with touch tables and scavenger hunts. “We have a whole hobo language feature where you decode hobo signs as you run through the museum,” said Carson.
Aside from the physical museum, the Johnson City Railroad Experience will host special programs for Christmas and Halloween. Summer camps are currently being planned along with railroad excursions. An upcoming railroad excursion is on Nov. 2 to Bryson City, North Carolina, where attendees can ride the Great Smoky Mountains railroad.
Carson shared that ETSU students will be eligible for a student membership rate. The museum is working with ETSU to be a place for professional development and work experience. The Johnson City Railroad experience has a working relationship with ETSU as the university has provided financial and infrastructure support. “We’re grateful for the support that the university has given us,” said Carson. “We’re thrilled to have a working relationship so that we can provide these services to students.”
