Milwaukee Road Historical Association in Statewide, Wisconsin
Rail preservation groupNo public museum site; meets the public at train shows and its annual convention
The Milwaukee Road Historical Association is a nonprofit, chartered in Wisconsin, that studies and preserves the history of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, better known as the Milwaukee Road, from its start in 1850 to its acquisition by the Soo Line in 1985.
- Founded in 1972
- Chartered in Wisconsin
- Publishes The Milwaukee Railroader
- 2027 convention in Aberdeen, SD
- Covers the railroad from 1850 to 1985
Milwaukee Road Historical Association at a glance
- Hours
- No public museum hours; train show hours are generally 9 or 10 am to 4 pm
- Admission
- No admission; membership and convention registration are separate
- Seasonal events
- MRHA Annual Convention, Mad City Train Show, Rock Valley Train Show
- Best for
- Rail historians, modelers and former Milwaukee Road employees
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
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Taking the kids to Milwaukee Road Historical Association? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Statewide.
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Keeping the Milwaukee Road's story on track
The Milwaukee Road, formally the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, ran from its beginnings in 1850 until the Soo Line Railroad acquired it in 1985, and its trains crossed Wisconsin and much of the upper Midwest and West. In 1972 a group of enthusiasts formed the Milwaukee Road Historical Association, a not-for-profit corporation chartered in Wisconsin, to study and preserve that history.
The association works through research, publishing and gatherings rather than a single public building. It publishes The Milwaukee Railroader magazine and an index to it, organizes members by the railroad's old operating divisions, and sells carefully researched books through its Company Store, including a 212-page history of the Milwaukee Road steam locomotive fleet that steam researcher Ted Douglas spent three years compiling, with a definitive roster. A volunteer curator looks after the association's collection, and volunteer officers handle everything from the store to the office. Visitors who want details on archive access should contact the association directly.
Where the public can meet the association
There is no museum to walk through, but the association is easy to find at train shows. It usually sets up at the Mad City Train Show at the Alliant Center in Madison in February and the Rock Valley Train Show in Machesney Park, Illinois in March, and travels to western events such as the Livingston Rail Show in Montana and the Helena Railroad Fair. Its annual convention brings members, families, guests and former Milwaukee Road employees together each summer.
Don’t miss
- The annual conventionThe 2027 Annual Meeting and Convention runs June 17 to 20, 2027 at the Best Western in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
- The steam locomotive bookTed Douglas's 16-chapter history of a century of Milwaukee Road steam, with a definitive roster, sold through the Company Store.
- The Milwaukee RailroaderThe association's magazine, with an online index to back issues for researchers and modelers.
For young rail fans at train shows
This is a research and membership group rather than a family attraction, so there is nothing to climb or ride. Kids who love trains will get the most from meeting the association's members at a winter train show such as the Mad City Train Show in Madison, where model layouts and railroad displays fill the hall.
Plan your visit: tips for Milwaukee Road Historical Association
- Emails to the association need a subject line and your signature or they may be deleted as incomplete.
- For the 2027 convention, reserve hotel rooms by calling the Best Western in Aberdeen at (605) 229-4040.
- Order books through the online Company Store or by check to the Antioch, Illinois PO box.
Volunteer officers and a dedicated curator
The association is run by volunteer officers, including a president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, Company Store manager, curator and office manager. You can support its work by joining as a member, donating, subscribing to The Milwaukee Railroader or buying books from the Company Store.
See Milwaukee Road history in person
To see railroad history up close in southern Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Historical Society railroad collection in Madison is a natural starting point. The Mid-Continent Railway Museum runs real trains near Baraboo, and the Riverside & Great Northern Railway rides an old Milwaukee Road roadbed in Wisconsin Dells. Browse every train museum in Wisconsin.
- Wisconsin Historical Society railroad collectionMadison, WI · about 1 mi
- Little Amerricka / Whiskey River RailwayMarshall, WI · about 17 mi
- Brodhead Historical Society Depot MuseumBrodhead, WI · about 31 mi
- Mid-Continent Railway MuseumNorth Freedom, WI · about 36 mi
- Riverside & Great Northern RailwayWisconsin Dells, WI · about 44 mi
- Wisconsin Automotive Museum railway exhibitsHartford, WI · about 53 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
Groups like this one keep the old photographs that let the rest of us see what passengers saw through the glass decades ago. In our book, Rally's favorite moment is at the arched train window, watching the ocean go by and greeting a white bird. I painted that window the way my mom described it to me. If your little historian wants to color that scene, it's on our coloring pages.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
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- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Wisconsin
- Halloween train rides in Wisconsin
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Milwaukee Road Historical Association?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Milwaukee Road Historical Association: 20 common questions
What is the Milwaukee Road Historical Association?
The Milwaukee Road Historical Association, or MRHA, is a not-for-profit corporation founded in 1972 and chartered in Wisconsin. It studies and preserves the history of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, the Milwaukee Road, from 1850 until the Soo Line acquired it in 1985, through research, publishing and events.
When is the Milwaukee Road Historical Association convention?
The 2027 MRHA Annual Meeting and Convention is June 17 to 20, 2027, at the Best Western in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Members, families, guests and former Milwaukee Road employees are invited. Registration details will be published as plans are finalized, so check the Convention page on mrha.com.
How do I book a hotel for the MRHA convention?
Hotel rooms for the 2027 convention can be reserved by calling the Best Western in Aberdeen at (605) 229-4040. The association notes this is the correct number, since a fax number was printed by mistake in the Hiawathagram. Book early, since convention rooms can fill up.
Does the Milwaukee Road Historical Association have archives?
The association has a curator, Bob Storozuk, who can be reached at museum@mrha.com, and a nonprofit listing describes its work as including archiving materials and supporting museum and library access. A separate website, the Milwaukee Road Archives, also collects documents, maps and photos. Contact the association about research requests.
Is the Milwaukee Road Historical Association the same as a Milwaukee railroad historical society?
People often search for a Milwaukee Road railroad historical society, and the MRHA is that group: the historical society for the Milwaukee Road railroad. It is not a museum about the city of Milwaukee's railroads in general, and it does not run a public museum building.
Does the Milwaukee Road Historical Association have a museum I can visit?
No. The MRHA does not list a public museum with regular hours. The public can meet the association at train shows it attends and at its annual convention, and can explore its publications through the Company Store. Its website also has a Places of Interest section for Milwaukee Road sites.
Where is the Milwaukee Road Historical Association located?
The association's mailing address is PO Box 307, Antioch, Illinois 60002-0307, though it is chartered in Wisconsin and a state filing lists its registered agent in Ixonia, Wisconsin. Its members are spread across the railroad's former territory, and its divisions follow the Milwaukee Road's old operating divisions.
How do I contact the Milwaukee Road Historical Association?
Email the office manager at office@mrha.com, or use the online form on the Contact Us page of mrha.com. Officers, the curator and the Company Store each have their own email listed. Every email must include a subject line and your signature, or it may be deleted as incomplete.
What is The Milwaukee Railroader?
The Milwaukee Railroader, or TMR, is the association's magazine about the Milwaukee Road's history. The MRHA website offers a TMR Index so readers and researchers can find articles in past issues, and the magazine is part of how the association shares its research with members.
What books does the Milwaukee Road Historical Association sell?
The Company Store offers a 212-page history of Milwaukee Road steam locomotives by researcher Ted Douglas, with 16 chapters and a definitive roster, listed at $41 including postage, with a holiday sale price advertised. A Dubuque and Illinois Division book is $35 with postage as of October 2026.
How do I join the Milwaukee Road Historical Association?
Use the Join MRHA page on mrha.com, which explains membership options. Members receive association publications and are invited to the annual convention. You can also email office@mrha.com with questions about membership, or look for the association's members at a train show it attends, such as the Mad City Train Show in Madison, and ask them about joining.
Which train shows does the Milwaukee Road Historical Association attend?
The MRHA usually attends the Mad City Train Show at the Alliant Center in Madison, Wisconsin on the second or third weekend of February, and the Rock Valley Train Show in Machesney Park, Illinois in March. It also lists April shows in Livingston and Helena, Montana. Show hours are generally 9 or 10 am to 4 pm.
What was the Milwaukee Road?
The Milwaukee Road was the common name of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad, which began in 1850 and was acquired by the Soo Line Railroad in 1985. The association's website has a page called What is the Milwaukee Road? for a longer introduction to the railroad.
Does the Milwaukee Road Historical Association help model railroaders?
Yes. The association's website has a Modeling section and a Resources section, and its books and magazine are packed with data and photographs useful for accurate models. Its steam locomotive book includes a definitive roster of the Milwaukee Road's steam fleet.
Can I donate to the Milwaukee Road Historical Association?
Yes. The website has a Donations page, and the association is a not-for-profit corporation. Donations help with publishing, research and preserving historical materials. Email office@mrha.com if you have questions about donating money or Milwaukee Road items.
Is the Milwaukee Road Historical Association on Facebook?
Yes. The MRHA runs a Facebook group where members and fans discuss the railroad, and the website invites visitors to join the discussion there. The group describes the association's founding in 1972 and its mission to preserve Milwaukee Road history.
Does the Milwaukee Road Historical Association own trademarks?
Yes. The association says certain Milwaukee Road service marks and wording are its trademarked and registered property and may not be used without its consent. If you plan to use Milwaukee Road logos or names on a product, contact the association first.
Who runs the Milwaukee Road Historical Association?
Volunteer officers run the association. Its contact page lists Jeff Goutcher as president, along with a vice president, treasurer, secretary, Company Store manager, curator Bob Storozuk and office manager Margie Bahr. Use the role emails on mrha.com to reach the right person.
Is the Milwaukee Road Historical Association good for kids?
It is aimed at adults interested in railroad history and modeling, so there is nothing to ride or climb. Families with young train fans may enjoy meeting members at a public train show such as the Mad City Train Show in Madison, where layouts and displays appeal to all ages.
Where can I see Milwaukee Road history in Wisconsin?
The Wisconsin Historical Society railroad collection in Madison is a good start, and the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom runs historic trains near Baraboo. The Riverside and Great Northern Railway in Wisconsin Dells runs on a roadbed the Milwaukee Road once owned. The MRHA website also lists places of interest.
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