Timeline
The Galveston Railroad Museum has an important story to tell -- the birth of railroading in
Texas.
1913
1913
Galveston Union Station
The south half of this building was constructed in 1913 to serve as a central passenger station for Galveston’s railway system and to house the general offices of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad’s Gulf lines.1964
1964
Last Passenger Train
In 1964 the Galveston office of the Santa Fe Railroad closed, and the company’s last passenger train stopped here three years later1982
1982
Shearn Moody Plaza
Formerly Galveston Union Station, The Center for Transportation and Commerce, aka Galveston Railroad Museum, was established by a Moody Foundation grant in 1972 initiated by Mary Moody Northen. The grant funded the restoration and repurposing of the Santa Fe Building, now known as Shearn Moody Plaza. Situated on 5 acres of railyard, the station was once a thriving, operating depot that served major railroad companies including Union Pacific, Santa Fe Railroad, and Southern Pacific Railroad, who transported merchandise to and from the Galveston Wharves to various locations across the United States. Opening to the public in 1982 as the Galveston Railroad Museum, the 501 c(3) non-profit organization offers educational exhibits and the opportunity for the public to immerse themselves in the rich history of the railroad both locally and nationally.2008
2008
Hurricane Ike
The museum continued to thrive until Hurricane Ike devastated Galveston Island and flooded the entire museum including the railcars.2024
2024