Bishop CA, Part 3 - Laws Railroad Museum

Just north of Bishop (4.5 miles to be exact) on Hwy. 6, is the Laws Railroad Museum.  The Laws railway station was the home of the Slim Princess, Engine Number 9, the last of the common carrier railway lines.  In 1880, this railway was intended to run from Mound House, Nevada to the Colorado River.  It never made it past Keeler, CA.  As word got out of the new railway, people began to arrive in what is now called Laws, CA.   The first train arrived in 1883.  The railroad ceased operation in 1959.  You can read more about the history of this railway here: http://www.lawsmuseum.org/index.htm

Visiting the Laws Railroad Museum is a must do every time we are in the Bishop area.  Just head north on 395 and when you get just past the K-Mart and Von's, turn right onto Hwy. 6. This highway is the second longest in the US.  The photo on the right is a view of the Owens River from the road.



Owens River

On arrival at the Laws Museum, you enter the visitor's center to pay your admission.  It is by donation.  There is plenty of parking across the street.  We have never been there in the summer, but in the fall and the spring, we have never seen more than two or three other visitors at the same time. 

There are many glass case displays inside the visitor's center as well as a wealth of books and photos to explore.  When we were there in April 2010, I spoke with the person working in the center and told them I was looking for old photos from the late 50s or early 60s.  She graciously allowed me to look through their archives and even made copies for me, and later sent me jpeg files.  Nice people.  Leaving the visitor's center, you are on a self guided tour of the property.  There are many restored period buildings with an authentic boardwalk in front.

If you recognize these you must

be as old as I am!!

                    Some Paiute handwork

Here you see the apothecary and the doctor's tools - YIKES!

The agent’s house was built in 1883.  This house and the depot were about all that was left when the railroad donated the entire 11 acre site to the Laws Historical Society in 1964.  The house has been restored and you can walk through all the rooms.  There are even some things you can pick up and examine such as an old stereoscope.

 

There are old barns filled with wagons of all kinds, including old hearses.   You can't climb on these like you can the trains but it is fun to look and take pictures.

The main attraction is old Engine Number 9.  At first I thought the sign said "Keep off train" and I was admonishing Russ to stay off.  Then I saw that the sign REALLY said, "Keep off TOP of train."  We stayed off the top and we were fine.

This is a restored house filled with interesting things from the time period.

The buildings and displays are interesting and the scenery is beyond beautiful.  What a way to spend a day.





One of the best things about the Laws Railroad Museum is the peace and quiet.  It’s out in the country and there is nothing much else around.  There is a particular bench under a particular tree that Russ likes to sit on and just listen to the birds. 
I had more pictures to share, but if you already read my blog for the day, you know I am a bit frustrated with Blogger today.  I am writing the end of this blog with Live Writer and we will see how I do with that.  I am too tired to do more!!  If you want to see more photos you can go to my Picassa album here: https://picasaweb.google.com/117721361905951490931/TravelsInTherapy?authkey=Gv1sRgCO2q1_i1k9WoXw#
The album has more than just today’s photos in it, and a lot I had not planned to use, but just go near the end and you will see the relevant photos.  I really don’t want to shortchange the Laws Railroad Museum, so I hope I have at least piqued your interest in this beautiful and historical site.