By Andy Diffenderfer
Correspondent
CHICKAMAUGA, Ga. — A restored train depot is bringing history to life for visitors to Chickamauga.
Among its many exhibits, the Walker County Regional Heritage and Model Train Museum offers Civil War collectables, American Indian artifacts and Cherokee arrowheads, military and regional artifacts, antique guns, and a working display of Lionel model trains that date to 1947.
The museum, at 200 Gordon St. downtown along the railroad tracks, has attracted about 3,500 visitors in the last 18 months, said manager Alan McGill, and has meant a “shot in the arm” to a district featuring more shops and restaurants.
“Because of the military park, we get a lot of re-enactors and Civil War enthusiasts,” he said. “We have a lot of artifacts here that are gifted and a lot that are on loan.
“I’ve had visitors from nine countries and 38 states,” said Mr. McGill, including a recent visitor from Thailand.
“It’s our visitors’ center, and it has played a vital role in the revitalization of Chickamauga,” City Manager John Culpepper said. “It’s certainly an asset to Walker County as far as tourism is concerned.”
A train rolling from Chattanooga will stop at the depot 31 times this year, bringing passengers on excursions and day trips, said Mr. McGill, a Chickamauga native and retired salesman. The museum, he said, also is a popular spot for school field trips.
Sometime around 1888-89, the first railroad was built into the small town of Crawfish Springs, later renamed Chickamauga. The depot was constructed by the Central of Georgia Railroad, and trains made round trips twice a day between Chattanooga and Cedartown, Ga., stopping in Chickamauga. Passenger service stopped in the early 1950s, and the depot was locked in the late 1960s.
IF YOU GOWhat: Walker County Regional Heritage and Model Train MuseumWhere: 200 Gordon St., Chickamauga, Ga.Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-SaturdayAdmission: $2Information: 706-375-4488
Over the years, the depot was used for classrooms, as a public library and as a meeting place for civic organizations. The museum came to fruition in the mid-1990s, according to Mr. Culpepper.
“This place is just oozing with history,” Mr. McGill said. “I’ve learned quite a bit here, and I’ve learned a lot from the people that have come here.”
Andy Diffenderfer is based in LaFayette, Ga. Contact him at andydiff97@comcast.net.
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