Durand Union Station-Michigan Railroad History Museum

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Durand Union Station-Michigan Railroad History Museum http://www.durandstation.org Railroad History Museum
Historic Train Station built in 1903, burned and rebuilt in 1905.
(250)

Handicapped entry, elevator to second floor.

🍂🎉 Congratulations to our Fall Raffle cash winners! 🎉🍂A huge THANK YOU to everyone who purchased tickets and supported D...
10/17/2026

🍂🎉 Congratulations to our Fall Raffle cash winners! 🎉🍂

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who purchased tickets and supported Durand Union Station! Your support means so much to us ❤️🚂

We appreciate you all! 🧡

Today’s featured depot is the GR&I station in Bay View 🚂Bay View, located in Emmet County, was settled around 1875 by a ...
10/16/2026

Today’s featured depot is the GR&I station in Bay View 🚂

Bay View, located in Emmet County, was settled around 1875 by a group of Methodists who established the Bay View Association as a summer meeting place for religious gatherings and spiritual refreshment. The association still exists today.

Bay View was served by both the Grand Rapids & Indiana and the Pere Marquette railroads, each of which had its own depot in the settlement. Bay View was also a stop on the “Dummy Express,” a local commuter train that connected resort communities around Bay View and Harbor Springs.

The original depot (top photo) in Bay View was torn down in the late 1890s and GR&I replaced it with a new station built in 1898 (bottom photo). Unfortunately, the 1898 depot was eventually torn down in 1950.
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Photos from Northern Mich Mash Preserve website. Full citation in the comments.

Before the game-day traffic and crowded parking lots we know today, railroads helped fans get to the big game with speci...
10/13/2026

Before the game-day traffic and crowded parking lots we know today, railroads helped fans get to the big game with special passenger trains.

In Michigan, the Ann Arbor Railroad played a major role in carrying fans to University of Michigan football games. These “football specials” began around the turn of the 20th century and became especially popular during the 1920s and 1930s.

Trains arrived from cities across the region, including Toledo, Detroit, and even Ohio. They brought fans right to Ann Arbor, where the railroad's Ferry Yard sat next to the University of Michigan's former football stadium, Ferry Field.

The tradition continued for decades. Even in 1968, a Grand Trunk Western train traveled from Durand to Ann Arbor for the Michigan–Michigan State game.

The photo here shows Ferry Field with approximately 41,000 spectators during a 1922 game against Illinois.
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Photo is from the University of Michigan Bentley Historical Library's website. Full citation is listed in the comments below.

There's only FOUR days left until the Fall Raffle. Make sure you get your tickets!
10/11/2026

There's only FOUR days left until the Fall Raffle. Make sure you get your tickets!

Today’s featured depot is the M&NE station in Nessen City 🚂Located in Benzie County, Nessen City was established as a sa...
10/09/2026

Today’s featured depot is the M&NE station in Nessen City 🚂

Located in Benzie County, Nessen City was established as a sawmill town in 1889 and grew along the Manistee & Northeastern Railroad.

Over time, the town’s growth slowed, and today, Nessen City remains a small, unincorporated community. This valuation photo of the depot offers a glimpse into the history of a once-growing railroad town.

Want the chance to turn $50 into $5,000? Purchase a ticket for our Fall Raffle and you might do just that! 💰 $5,000 GRAN...
10/09/2026

Want the chance to turn $50 into $5,000? Purchase a ticket for our Fall Raffle and you might do just that!

💰 $5,000 GRAND PRIZE!
💵 Multiple other cash & gift prizes!

Every 15th ticket drawn wins a prize - gift cards, gift baskets, & MORE!

Check out the flyer for the full prize list and details, then grab your ticket before they're gone! Call the depot (989-288-3561) or stop in today.

Play. Win. Support Durand Union Station. 🚂

As we continue sharing the stories of the people who helped shape and preserve our museum, today we’re highlighting a ma...
10/08/2026

As we continue sharing the stories of the people who helped shape and preserve our museum, today we’re highlighting a man whose impact on Michigan railroading reached far beyond the tracks: Henry Earle Riggs.

Born in 1865, Riggs served as chief engineer of the Ann Arbor Railroad from 1890 to 1895. After leaving the Ann Arbor, Riggs worked as a consulting engineer for many of Michigan’s major railroads and public utility companies. In 1912, he joined the University of Michigan as a professor of civil engineering and eventually became chairman of its engineering program, a position he held until his retirement in 1930. He later operated a private civil engineering practice and, in 1937, received an honorary doctorate in engineering from the University of Michigan.

Riggs died in 1949, but his connection to Michigan railroad history continued through his family.

In 1997, with the support of the Riggs family, the library at the Michigan Railroad History Museum was named the Henry Earle Riggs Research Library, honoring his contributions to Michigan's railroad history and engineering.

Today, his name lives on here at the depot; among the books, documents, photographs, and stories that help us preserve that history for future generations.
Another piece of the story behind the people who helped make our museum what it is today.

Today's featured depot is the Michigan Central station in Kneeland 🚂Kneeland was located about 8 miles northeast of Gray...
10/02/2026

Today's featured depot is the Michigan Central station in Kneeland 🚂

Kneeland was located about 8 miles northeast of Grayling in Crawford County along the Michigan Central’s Lewiston Branch. The community was settled in 1889 and grew as a lumbering town, reaching about 150 residents by 1908.

In 1908, wildfires surrounded the community. A relief train was sent to Kneeland, where railroad cars were loaded with store goods, household belongings, and residents who were prepared to evacuate if the fires reached the town. This was truly proof of the duality of the railroads - a mode of transportation, evacuation, and a road to safety.

This photograph shows the depot in 1918.

Sources listed in the comments.

09/30/2026

It’s getting spooky around here 🕷️ we are ready for some festive fall fun here at the depot. Kids Day is October 23rd from 3-6! 🍬 Come for the candy and games, stay for the history and good vibes. 😎 The Durand Memorial Library will also be at the depot with crafts.

Straight From the Press 🗞️Today we are sharing (word-for-word) a newspaper article from August 9, 1918. This was taken f...
09/30/2026

Straight From the Press 🗞️

Today we are sharing (word-for-word) a newspaper article from August 9, 1918. This was taken from The Flint Journal.

“PICKPOCKET GANG AT DURAND DEPOT HAS BEEN BROKEN
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(From a Journal Correspondant)
Durand, Mich., Aug. 9. - James Sherwood, hailing from Chicago, who was caught a few days ago in the act of picking pockets at the local depot, and taken to jail at Corunna, had a hearing yesterday in Justice Patchel’s court.

Attorney L. Chandler of Owosso appeared for the defendant and Prosecutor Bush of Corunna looked after the interests of the People. Sherwood was arrested on complaint of R. S. Smiley of Shinrock, O., who was the chief witness at the trial.

The defendant was bound over to the circuit court and his trial will come off some time next month. In the meantime Mr. Sherwood will continue his vacation as a guest of Sheriff Griffin at the county bastille in Corunna.

It is said that Sherwood is one of a gang of crooks and confidence men who have been operating in this section for some time. The others made their escape, and in spite of the vigilance of the police, have not yet been apprehended, although other arrests are expected.

Among those to suffer from the operations of the gang was Miss Mabel Harle of Duffield, who was relieved of a hand-bag containing her pocket-book, rings, watch, and money.”

Address

200 S Railroad Street
Durand, MI
48429

Opening Hours

Tuesday 1pm - 5pm
Wednesday 1pm - 5pm
Thursday 1pm - 5pm
Friday 1pm - 5pm
Saturday 11am - 5pm
Sunday 1pm - 5pm

Telephone

+19892883561

Website

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