Museum History

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About the Museum

The Museum occupies the L&N Milton combination freight and passenger depot that was built in 1907-09 on the site of the original 1882 P&A depot. The station was closed in 1973, bought by the Santa Rosa Historical Society, and partially restored with a 1976 Bicentennial grant. The Museum moved into the building in 1989 and completed the restoration.

The Milton depot, on the National Register of Historic Places, is owned by the Santa Rosa Historical Society and operated by the West Florida Railroad Museum, Inc. The Museum is staffed by volunteer members and it and the model railroad gift shop are open Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and other times by appointment for group tours The garden railroad area and HO model trains operate on Fridays and Saturdays only. The L&N Dining Car 2722 is available for private parties.

The Museum receives limited public funding, therefore, your donation is respectfully requested. We are recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)3 corporation which may make your donations tax deductible. We also invite donations of items from the railroad industry, especially from the Louisville and Nashville Railroad and the Saint Louis-San Francisco Railway.

PAST EVENTS

A History of West Florida Railroad Service

Early Days
1851 - 1880



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Black and white photo of the Pensacola & Mobile Railroad & Manufacturing Company
The P&A
1881 - 1909



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Black and white photo of the Pensacola & Atlantic Railroad
The Frisco
1911 - 1966



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Black and white photo of the Gulf, Florida, and Alabama Railroad
The Milton Depot Closes
1967 - 1982



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Black and white photo of the old Milton Depot
Today's Scene
1986 - present



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Black and white photo of the Milton Depot undergoing restoration
Early Days
1851 - 1880
The P&A
1881 - 1909
The Frisco
1911 - 1966
The Milton Depot
Closes
1967 - 1982
Today's Scene
1986 - present

WHY WE DO IT

The mission of the museum

The railroad played an integral part in opening up the Panhandle to the rest of the country. Our mission is to not only preserve history, but to educate and entertain in order to get our community excited about the history of the railroad.