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Places, Earth |
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State Parks, Historic Sites, and Museums need your help.Places Earth recently encountered closed state parks in Arizona and California is threatening to close all state parks. The story is similar throughout the country. Places Earth urges everyone to support these vital and important public resources any way you can. Please find a worthy local or distant historic site or museum that is in financial danger and donate your treasure, time, and talent. Write to your governor and other elected officials telling them to find a way to keep these parks open. It will be your loss. Public Service Announcement |
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Laws Railroad Museum and Historic Site
All photographs taken by Kenneth A. Larson. All rights reserved. © 2008 - 2010.| The Laws Railroad Museum and Historic Site occupies the site of the former Carson and Colorado (later Southern Pacific) Railroad yard a few miles northeast of Bishop, California. This once busy yard and station were a vital artery connecting the Owens Valley to the rest of the country. Today, eleven acres of historic buildings, railroad track and facilities, trains, and other artifacts draw visitors to the museum. | ||
| The Carson and Colorado Railroad Company was formed on May 20, 1880 with the grand plan to run the narrow gauge railroad from Mound House, Nevada, and Carson River to the Colorado River. The C&C Railroad never reached the Colorado River but stopped at Keeler, California on the north shore of Owens Lake, about 300 miles total. Eventually the railroad became the | ||
| Keeler Branch of the Southern Pacific and when it closed in 1960, it was the last common carrier narrow gauge railroad in the Far West. It had been affectionately known as the Slim Princess. | ||
| It took 3 years for the rails to be laid from Mound House to Laws which had been settled and the railroad town was ready for the rail connection. The first train arrived in April of 1883. The three main factors that lead to the decline of Laws were local mines closing, trucking replacing rail for hauling freight, and the city of Los Angeles buying most of the Owens Valley for the water rights. The town of Laws was gone by 1959 with only the depot, agent's house, oil and water tanks and the turntable remaining. A year later the railroad shut down with the last train arriving in April 1960. All the other buildings at the site were moved to the museum grounds from the Bishop area. | ||
| Southern Pacific donated the land to the museum in 1964 which is operated by the Bishop Museum Historical Society. Also donated were steam locomotive No. 9 and other rolling stock. The buildings are roughly in two rows on either side of the depot and track where the train sits, each building dedicated to a different exhibit. | ||
| On the west side, begin from the north with the Reception Center and gifts and books shop. Next is the Camera Building with many fine old cameras. The Trading Post has antiques and collectibles for sale. The General Store is a display of what an early western store might have looked like. The Western Display exhibits saddles, tack, brands, and antique hearse. Don't miss the Siamese sheep. Next is the last original Laws Post Office with the Stove House behind filled with antique stoves. The Print Shop is filled with antique printing equipment dating to 1880, next is the Pioneer Building with an eclectic collection of antique bathtubs, guns, radios, telephones, pianos, sewing machines, model aircraft, and military items. The Fire Station contains antique fire equipment and auto related items and the row ends with the Medical building filled with displays of old medical equipment & a barber shop. The last two buildings on the west side are the original 1883 Agent House with displays of a typical home and the Appliance Building with antique appliances. | ||
| On the east side, starting from the north is the Ranch House, a restored circa 1900 ranch house. Next is the Bottle House with an extensive display of beautiful bottles grouped logically. The Wells Fargo Building has many fine displays of rocks and minerals, assay equipment, and Indian artifacts. Continuing south, the Library includes musical instruments. Off to the side is the Bell Rack displaying bells and in front is the Gazebo. Next in line is the original 1909 North Inyo School House with displays of local school history. The Wagon Barn is filled with many interesting wagons and pieces of farm equipment. The Blacksmith Shop demonstrates the art of black smithing which was until recently a very important skill. Continuing are Antique Tools, Gas Station with an old time gas pump, Tractor Garage, Railroad Tie Building, Assay Office, and Minor Shack. | ||
| In the center, beginning at the north end is the original 1883 Depot with displays of railroad memorabilia and model train displays. To the south is Engin #9 and freight cars. At the south end are storage and utility buildings, one containing old passenger cars. This is the location of the remains of the rail yard, original turn table, oil and water tanks, water well and pump, more rolling stock, and a huge pile of old rail and accessories. Two large open areas contain Farming Equipment and Mining Equipment. In the corner is the Mining Display. | ||
| Rolling stock includes the Carson and Colorado Caboose #1 built in 1883 in the V & T shops in Carson City, Old Smokey and the First Aid car which came from the Pine Creek Tungsten Mine (restored to operational in 2008), Death Valley Car a 1927 self-propelled car from the Death Valley Railroad and Box Car Village (which is not open to public). | ||
| From Bishop, take Highway 6 north and east to Silver Canyon Road. The museum is a short distance off Highway 6, about 4 ½ miles from Bishop. | ||
| Operated by the | ||
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Bishop Museum & Historical Society P. O. Box 363 | ||
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Bishop, California 93515 760-873-5950 | ||
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The museum is open year around, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | ||
| Admission by donation. Places Earth asks you to help this wonderful museum. | ||
 The starting end of the site. |
 This is where the adventure begins. |
Center Row
 The Depot now contains exhibits and two model railroads. |
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West Side
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Camera exhibit.
 General Store. |
 General Store. |
 General Store. |
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Post Office
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 Carriage |
These mounted Siamese sheep, born near here, didn't live long.
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 The Stove House is filled with old stoves. |
 Printing presses. |
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South End
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East Side - working back south to north
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| Inyo County Main Page |
This page last updated: Monday, 22-Dec-2008 07:49:20 CST
| Note: This is not the official site for any of the places shown in Places Earth. Places Earth is not responsible for accuracy of the information. Hours of operations, prices, exhibits, and sometimes locations are subject to change without notice. |
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This web site started because of my love for Architecture and interest in History. This web site is for your benefit and I make no profit on it. I don't allow paid advertising. This site is supported primarily from my regular paycheck as a Set Designer and there haven' been many this year. My wife sells Gold Canyon products at www.valleygirlcandles.com and I sell art at www.klimages.com. A non-tax deductable donation to help cover the cost of operating this web site may be made to Kesign Design Consulting through PayPal ... | ||
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This site maintained by Kenneth A. Larson. Copyright © 2004 - 2010, Kenneth A. Larson. All Rights Reserved. Website content including photographic and graphic images may not be redistributed for use on another website. |
| This site is a non-commercial alternative to my commercial design portfolio site. This site's only purpose is for your enjoyment. There is no advertising and I make no profit. If you are in the need of a designer, please check my commercial site www.kesigndesign.com. |
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