Mineral Point Railroad Society

06/20/2026

We had some serious railroad royalty in the house recently! The Depot was absolutely thrilled to host part of the Milwaukee Road Historical Association bus tour during their convention in nearby Madison. It was an absolute joy sharing our absolute gem of a museum—packed with rich railroad and community history—with a crowd that appreciates it just as much as we do!

Have you been to the museum lately? Whether you’re a lifelong train enthusiast or just love local history, there’s always something new to discover! Come track us down during our season (May–October). Thursday–Saturday: 10 AM – 4 PM. Sunday: 12 PM – 4 PM

And here is the letter of welcome from the Mayor they heard before they arrived:

June 19, 2026

Welcome Milwaukee Road Historical Association Convention Attendees

On behalf of the City of Mineral Point, it is my pleasure to welcome members and guests of the Milwaukee Road Historical Association as you visit the Mineral Point Railroad Museum during your convention in Wisconsin.

We are honored that you have chosen to include Mineral Point in your travels and are especially grateful that you are enjoying lunch at Soldiers Memorial Park, one of our community's most treasured gathering places. We hope your time here provides an opportunity to experience both our rich railroad heritage and the warm hospitality of our historic city.

Mineral Point's railroad story stretches back more than 170 years. The Mineral Point Railroad was founded in 1852 with the ambitious goal of connecting this important mining community to the growing transportation network of the Midwest. In 1880, the line was acquired by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, bringing Mineral Point into what would become one of America's most recognizable railroad systems.

The depot you are visiting today served the Milwaukee Road and the people of Mineral Point faithfully until 1969. Rail service by the Milwaukee Road continued in Mineral Point until 1980, marking the end of nearly a century of Milwaukee Road operations in our community.

Today, this depot holds a distinction of which we are immensely proud. It is recognized as the oldest surviving railroad depot in Wisconsin and the oldest surviving structure associated with the Milwaukee Road. Its continued existence is a testament to the vision and determination of local citizens who recognized its significance and refused to allow this important piece of history to disappear.

The beautifully restored depot you see today is the result of years of dedicated local leadership, volunteer effort, community support, and strategic investment of federal grant funding. Together, these resources transformed a threatened historic structure into a vibrant museum that preserves and interprets the railroad heritage of Mineral Point and the Milwaukee Road for future generations.

We extend our sincere appreciation to the Milwaukee Road Historical Association for its ongoing commitment to preserving and sharing railroad history. Your passion for the Milwaukee Road's legacy helps ensure that the stories of the railroad, its employees, and the communities it served continue to be remembered and celebrated.

Thank you for visiting Mineral Point. We hope you enjoy your time at the Mineral Point Railroad Museum and that your convention experience creates many lasting memories.

Sincerely,
Danny Clark
Mayor, City of Mineral Point, Wisconsin

06/16/2026

Step back in time to June 1907. The Mineral Point & Northern Railroad is hitting its stride—eight years in the making, and two full years of roaring, regular operations.

While the line was born to tap into the booming zinc mines to the north and feed the massive Mineral Point zinc works (the largest in the entire United States!), it quickly became the lifeblood of the region. It wasn't just about the ore; the MP&N was a bustling artery for local farmers shipping livestock, businesses moving finished goods, and folks traveling from town to town.

When you look at the schedule and see the word "Mixed," don't think confusion—think efficiency. These trains hauled both freight and passengers simultaneously. Picture it: just two of these trains a day, chugging each way along the line, keeping the community connected.

You might notice a curious stop on the schedule called "Highland Junction," sitting just 4.2 miles south of Mineral Point. Why head south just to go north? It all came down to the terrain. The line split from the main tracks of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul at this specific low point because it allowed the trains to follow the natural path of the east branch of the Pecatonica River. Trying to forge a path straight north out of Mineral Point would have been a costly, uphill battle. Following the river was a brilliant engineering shortcut—much easier on the locomotives and a whole lot cheaper to build.

Want to trace the tracks? See exactly where this historic route goes today and explore the path of the old MP&N right here: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1NvinLluYr01qEZKTxV4iTA4ehAvf2ih5

06/13/2026

Museum Spotlight - Mineral Point Railroad Society

Spend a day at the museum. Walk through history and listen to the vast amount of knowledge the volunteers of the railroad society possess.

One incredible highlight rests on the second floor. A replica of the town, meticulously laid out. Watch and listen as the tour guide points out parts of town you likely visited during your visit, or ones you drove past on your way the museum.

Admission is required to anyone over the age of 6. All money collected is used for operational costs, not to pay staff. That's money well spent.

The museum is open from 10-4, Thursday through Saturday and Noon-4 on Sunday. Many months left before the museum shuts down for the winter.

Make a plan, invite a friend, and venture out to learn about the railroad in the Mineral Point area and beyond.

📍 11 Commerce Street, Mineral Point, WI

06/08/2026

One challenge faced by the Mineral Point Depot, home of the Mineral Point Railroad Museum, has always been water. Located in one of the lowest areas of Mineral Point, the depot has endured flooding for as long as records exist. During heavy rains, Brewery Creek has been known to overflow its banks, with water rushing directly toward the building. In fact, decades of flood damage caused the northeast corner of the depot to collapse as restoration efforts began.

When the depot was renovated in the early 2000s, the building was raised, a concrete floor and drainage system was installed. Flood gates were later added to the doorways. These improvements have helped protect the museum, but flooding has remained a concern.

We're excited about the Commerce Street reconstruction project. In addition to improving walkability and drivability, new culverts now direct stormwater into Brewery Creek in a way that moves water away from the depot. We are hopeful these improvements will greatly reduce future flooding risk.

As a nonprofit, the Railroad Museum depends on the support of our community. In return, we work to preserve and share the stories of the railroad and the people who built Mineral Point. If you haven't visited the museum recently—or ever—we'd love to welcome you and help you discover how the railroad shaped our community, and how our community shaped the railroad. May-October, Thursday-Saturday 10-4, Sunday 12-4. See you soon!

06/08/2026

If you have been to the Mineral Point Railroad Museum, we'd love for you to rate and review your visit. You can do this either on Facebook or Google. If you know how, you know how. We hope you do!

06/07/2026

This map is fantastic!

Railroads and related historic features of southwest Wisconsin

06/06/2026

Thanks Hotel Mineral Point for helping solve what for us was a mystery!

One of the major gateways into Mineral Point is the Cheese Country Trail. While trains no longer bring visitors and freight into town, the trail now serves as an important entry point for many people discovering our community.

Just south of the Mineral Point Depot is a substantial stone-and-wood kiosk owned by the T-Riders Snowmobile Club. As we work to tidy up the Depot grounds—especially once the construction project is complete—we have reached out to to partner with them to provide it some attention to be a more valuable source of information for visitors about local attractions, community resources, the Railroad Museum, and everything else that makes Mineral Point special.

05/28/2026

We are thrilled to be featured in The Milwaukee Railroader, published by the Milwaukee Road Historical Association (https://www.mrha.com/). With the MRHA Convention coming to Madison this June, this special issue highlights a number of rail-related stories and locations from our area.

A major highlight for us is a wonderful article "From ruin to Destination: Restoring the 1856 Mineral Point Depot to create an award-winning museum" written by former board member Richmond Powers, sharing his firsthand recollections and a detailed account of the depot restoration effort — back when the future of the building was very much uncertain. It’s an incredible story of determination, preservation, and community effort that helped save an important piece of Mineral Point history before it was lost.

We would love to share the full article online, but copyright restrictions prevent us from doing so at this time. We are hopeful we can work with the MRHA to make copies available for those interested, and we anticipate being able to offer issues for sale through the museum gift shop in the future.

Stay tuned for more information… and for our next post featuring another iconic piece of Mineral Point railroad history!

05/13/2026

When was your last visit to the Mineral Point Railroad Museum?Was it last year? A decade — or two — ago? Or have you never been?

Now is the perfect time to stop in and explore one of Mineral Point’s historic treasures.

Spend an hour — or two — discovering the stories, people, and railroad history that helped shape our community. Step inside the historic depot, reconnect with the past, and experience a fascinating chapter of local history brought to life.

Whether you’re a railroad enthusiast, history lover, photographer, or simply curious about the stories of Mineral Point, the museum is well worth a visit.

Featured in this post is a remarkable 1952 colorized photo by Paul Larsen showing CM&StP Engine 1062 departing the Mineral Point Depot with a combination passenger/freight car and additional freight cars in tow. This Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Model G7 4-6-0 locomotive was originally built by Baldwin Locomotive Works in September 1902 and served for more than 50 years before being scrapped in December 1953.

The image later appeared in the February 1991 issue of Trains Magazine in Dana Bassett’s article “With No Apologies.”

Engine history via “Milwaukee Road Locomotives.” Railroad History, no. 136 (1977): 28–124. http://www.jstor.org/stable/43523968.
Built September 1904 as a Chicago, Miulwaukee & St. Paul B4 No. 410, then No. 1760 (1907), then No. 4360 (1912).
Re-built January 1916 as G7 2910, then No. 2879 (1920) then 1062 (1938) and was retired/scrapped December 1953.

04/30/2026

The Mineral Point Railroad Museum opens for the season on Friday, May 1 and will be welcoming visitors through the end of October. Regular museum hours are:
• Thursday, Friday & Saturday — 10am to 4pm
• Sunday — 12noon to 4pm

Operated entirely by dedicated volunteers, the museum offers a chance to explore the rich history of the Mineral Point community, its people, and its railroading heritage. From fascinating artifacts to our impressive model railroad displays, there is something for visitors of all ages to enjoy.

Please note that road construction in the area may affect direct access via Commerce Street on Thursdays and Fridays through July. Visitors may find it easier to take Highway 23/39 out of town and turn onto Old Darlington Road to access the public parking lot. Visit mprs.org for updates and additional information.

Planning a group visit? We offer reduced admission rates for group tours during regular hours or by special arrangement outside normal operating times. To schedule a tour, contact us at [email protected].

We look forward to seeing you this season at the Mineral Point Railroad Museum!

Photo: The Mineral Point Railroad’s 4-4-0 locomotive “PLATTEVILLE,” photographed in the 1860s or 1870s, helped transport lead ore from the region’s mines. Its distinctive balloon smokestack served as a spark arrester, a common feature on wood-burning American locomotives of the era.