America’s romance with rail travel spanned a century and a half, during which time enjoying a meal in the dining car as the scenery rushed by was the epitome of luxury travel. Many elements made that experience special–food that compared with the finest restaurants and hotels, service without peer, and, not in the least, the elegant table settings that made every traveler feel like royalty. The elaborate and finely crafted silver service that graced the tables, virtually unknown by today’s traveler, was an essential ingredient, found on dining cars throughout the nation. The fundamental characteristics of quality manufacture and design endured until the end of privately owned rail passenger service.
Housing one of the largest collections of railroad china and silver in the nation, the museum has exquisitely set table settings that reflect the elegance of dining on a railcar in the 20th century. Complete with furnishings, the collection is from several railroad companies now on exhibit in the newly restored exhibit hall located adjacent to the Train Depot. Imagine traveling across American on the Burlington, Santa F e, or Amtrak railways, dining while the countryside provides the backdrop for a memorable experience. A living history museum, the Galveston Railroad Museum offers an
abundance of interactive activities where visitors are invited to board trains to immerse themselves in days gone by. A fun educational venue, visitors may enjoy seeing a model train under construction, watch a railroad video in the mini auditorium, or learn about the history of the railroad through one of the informative exhibits – many located in railcars.
