The Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum serves as both a rail station and living museum.
“The railroad made temple made temple what it is today. Without the railroad the city of temple as we know it would be different,” museum director Michael Hicks said.
Hicks is happy to share the railroad's history with anyone who walks through it's doors.
"We have an excellent collection of rolling stock outside and the history of the city of Temple," Hicks said.
Half museum, half functioning railroad station, the Temple railroad depot is still in operation today serving Amtrak passengers while also giving visitors a glimpse at the city's historic past.
“We owe our growth and development to them and the city we are today here at the museum we try to carry on that heritage both here, the santa fe plaza, and we promote the railroad history of this community," Hicks said.
Originally built as a Santa Fe train station, it eventually was vacated in 1985 and destined for demolition before the city of Temple bought the property and brought it back to life.
A decision that saved an important part of Temple's history.
"It's a great time for families to come and bring their children and let the kids especially be creative and learn a little bit of history about the city of Temple," Hicks said.
