The Alden Kansas Depot Station Museum

06/21/2025

As harvest gets into full swing take a look back at Harvest in Alden ...... many years ago, As the trucks lined the streets
Wishing all the farmers a safe and profitable 2025 Harvest.

06/03/2025

Wheat harvest will be in Alden before we know it!

05/27/2025

MORE ABOUT DEPOTS – For some reason the Santa Fe depots at both Alden and Sterling were built on the south side of the tracks and were located in the middle of a street. In the case of Sterling the station was in the middle of Seventh Street. At Alden, it was even more of an obstruction. The station was situated in the middle of Pioneer Street, which is the town’s main thoroughfare. The Sterling depot was built in 1872 when the railroad line was laid. In 1903, it was torn down and a new depot was built which is now Scott Bush’s office. At Alden, while they had siding, the did not have a depot until 1884. At some point the Alden depot was picked up and moved about fifty feet to the west to eliminate the obstruction on Pioneer Street. When passenger service was discontinued in 1965, the Alden depot sat idle for several years until it was purchased by Sara Fair Sleeper, at left, in 1970. It was then moved across the tracks north and ½ block east of Pioneer Street to be used as a museum. It had been donated by Sara to the Rice County Historical Society. Alden was named for Alden Nickerson, the son of Thomas Nickerson, president of the railroad. – M.M.

03/26/2025

Published in The Wichita Eagle, Monday, June 15, 1970

08/19/2023

06/06/2023

We have lots going on in Alden!

10/13/2022

https://m.facebook.com/kansashistorical/photos/a.96155485090/10159789588765091/?type=3

School transportation can be traced back to 1886 when horse-drawn carriages delivered children to their respective schools. When automobiles came on the scene, school buses became automated, but provided little protection from the elements. The first school bus purchased by the Alden School District is shown here. The photo was taken in 1929.

09/19/2022

09/19/2022

Progress! It’s coming along nicely! The museum will be open this Saturday, September 24th 9-5 for tours! Come celebrate Alden!