Old Depot Museum in Ottawa, Kansas

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Ottawa, Kansas · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Depot museumCheck current hours with the museum before you go

The Old Depot Museum fills Ottawa's 1888 limestone passenger depot with the story of Franklin County and the railroads that built its small towns, from an HO model railroad of the 1950s county to a caboose that honors Kansas railroad workers.

  • Limestone depot built in 1888
  • Museum opened July 4, 1963
  • HO model railroad of 1950s county
  • 1940s caboose outside
  • Prairie Spirit Trail starts here
  • On the National Register

Old Depot Museum at a glance

Hours
Check the museum's website or call (785) 242-1250 for current hours
Admission
See the museum's website for current rates
Seasonal events
Historic Downtown Ottawa Walking Tours (summer Saturdays), History Trivia Night, Annual meeting program
Plan for
About 1 to 2 hours
Best for
Model train fans, school groups and local history lovers
Best ages
Ages 4 to 12
Parking
Free parking in the lot on the west side of the museum

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Old Depot Museum? 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 Ottawa.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

From the LL&G to a county museum

Ottawa's railroad story begins with the Leavenworth, Lawrence and Galveston, the first railroad in Kansas built south of the Union Pacific at Lawrence. Its 30 miles of track linking Lawrence and Ottawa were laid in 1867 and 1868, largely by Chinese railroad workers. The LL&G failed in 1873 and was sold to the Kansas City, Lawrence and Southern Kansas Railroad, which built this depot on the north side of Ottawa in 1888. Ottawa architect George Washburn designed it, using limestone from Cowley County, and the Santa Fe bought it in 1895 and kept it through the decades when trains carried the town.

When passenger service faded, the building found a second life. In 1962 it was donated to the Franklin County Historical Society, and volunteers turned it into a museum that opened on July 4, 1963. A federal ISTEA grant in 1996 paid for a major renovation that closed the museum for three years. In 2001 a marker went up on the outside wall at 9.8 feet, the high water line of the Marais des Cygnes River during the Great Flood of 1951.

Today the depot is on the National Register of Historic Places and sits at the northern trailhead of the Prairie Spirit Trail, Kansas' first rail-trail, which follows 53 miles of old railroad grade that started at this very depot. The historical society keeps it busy with exhibits, walking tours and programs that tie the railroad to the wider story of Franklin County.

Model trains, a soda fountain and a caboose

Rail fans should head first to the room given over to an HO scale model railroad, which runs steam and diesel trains through a version of Franklin County as it looked in the 1950s, complete with structures that still stand around the county. Elsewhere, recreated Victorian-era rooms show a parlor, a general store, a dentist's office, a one-room schoolhouse and a soda fountain modeled on Ottawa's Bennett Creamery.

A permanent Bleeding Kansas exhibit tells the story of John Brown and the Pottawatomie Massacre through voices in a darkened room, and other galleries cover local Native American history and county industries. Outside, look for the 1940s caboose donated by Ron and Deanna Kimes and dedicated in 2013 during an event honoring Kansas railroad workers, and for the 1951 flood marker on the depot wall.

Don’t miss

  1. The HO model railroadSteam and diesel trains run through a 1950s Franklin County, with models of buildings you can still find around the county.
  2. The 1940s cabooseDonated by Ron and Deanna Kimes and dedicated in April 2013 at an event focused on Kansas railroad workers.
  3. The 1951 flood markerMounted at 9.8 feet on the outside of the depot, it shows how high the Marais des Cygnes rose during the Great Flood.
  4. The one-room schoolhouseA recreated classroom where field trip students dress in pinafores and suspenders and try a day of old-time school.
  5. The Bennett Creamery soda fountainA recreated soda fountain based on a real downtown Ottawa shop.
  6. The Prairie Spirit Trail trailheadThe depot marks the start of a 53-mile rail-trail that follows the old railroad grade, the first rail-trail in Kansas.

Trains to watch and a school day to try

The model railroad room is the easy favorite for young train fans, with steam and diesel trains running through a miniature Franklin County. Outside, the 1940s caboose gives kids a real piece of railroad equipment to see up close.

School groups can book the one-room schoolhouse for field trips, where children dress in pinafores and suspenders and experience a lesson from another century. The Bleeding Kansas room is dark and features recorded accounts of a massacre, so it is better suited to older children. Free parking is in the lot on the west side of the museum.

Plan your visit: tips for Old Depot Museum

  • Call (785) 242-1250 to confirm hours before you go.
  • From I-35, take exit 187 onto K-68 and drive about three miles to US-59 (Main Street) in Ottawa.
  • Arriving by bike? The museum is the northern trailhead of the Prairie Spirit Trail.
  • Summer walking tours start at the depot and require tickets ($15 in 2026); children carried or in strollers are free.
  • Researchers should book ahead at the Archives and Research Center, 2011 E Logan St.

Run by the Franklin County Historical Society

The Franklin County Historical Society has owned and run the depot museum since the building was donated in 1962. The society also runs an Archives and Research Center, hosts fundraisers such as History Trivia Night, and sends a monthly newsletter. Membership, donations and tickets to its programs all help keep the depot open.

Follow the old rail lines from Ottawa

The Midland Railway in Baldwin City, which bought the old Santa Fe line toward Ottawa, is about 12 miles north. The Historic Santa Fe Depot in Lawrence is about 24 miles away, and the Kansas Museum of History in Topeka about 37 miles. Browse every train museum in Kansas.

Every train museum in Kansas

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor view from inside a dark tunnel looking out at a sunny beach and cliffs
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Model railroads always seem to have a tunnel, and I love imagining kids at this one in Ottawa, leaning in to watch a little train disappear into the dark and pop back out. That is my favorite moment in our book: Rally's train goes into a dark tunnel, then a big bright light and happy cheers. My kids cheer every single time. Find Rally's tunnel and more 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
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

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

Work or volunteer at Old Depot Museum?

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.

Old Depot Museum in Ottawa: 20 questions families ask

Where is the Old Depot Museum in Ottawa, KS?

The Old Depot Museum is at 135 West Tecumseh Street, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. From I-35, take exit 187 onto K-68 and drive about three miles to US-59, which is Main Street in Ottawa. Free parking is in the lot on the west side of the museum, and the phone is (785) 242-1250.

What are the Old Depot Museum hours?

The museum posts its hours and admission rates on its website at olddepotmuseum.org, and they can change by season. Call (785) 242-1250 to confirm before you go. The Franklin County Historical Society's Archives and Research Center keeps separate weekday hours, with appointments preferred.

How much are Old Depot Museum tickets?

The Old Depot Museum lists its admission rates on its website, so check olddepotmuseum.org for current prices before you visit. Special programs are priced separately: as of October 2026, the summer Historic Downtown Ottawa Walking Tours were $15 per person, with children carried or in strollers free.

Is the Old Depot Museum in Ottawa the same as the ones in Vicksburg or Selma?

No. Several museums share the name Old Depot Museum, including ones in Vicksburg and Selma. The Old Depot Museum in Ottawa, Kansas is run by the Franklin County Historical Society in an 1888 limestone depot at 135 West Tecumseh Street. Double check the state before you book travel.

When was the Ottawa Old Depot built?

The depot was built in 1888 by the Kansas City, Lawrence and Southern Kansas Railroad. It was designed by Ottawa architect George Washburn and built of limestone from Cowley County. The Santa Fe bought it in 1895 and used it for decades as Ottawa's passenger depot.

When did the Old Depot Museum open?

The depot was donated to the Franklin County Historical Society in 1962, and the museum opened on July 4, 1963. A federal transportation grant in 1996 funded a major renovation that closed the museum for three years. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Does the Old Depot Museum have a model train?

Yes. One room is dedicated to an HO scale model railroad with both steam and diesel trains. It shows the railroad and Franklin County as they looked in the 1950s and includes models of structures that still exist around the county, which makes it a favorite with young visitors.

Is there a caboose at the Old Depot Museum?

Yes. A caboose from the 1940s stands outside the museum. It was donated by Ron and Deanna Kimes and dedicated on April 28, 2013, during an event focused on the history of Kansas railroad workers. It is a good photo stop on the way in.

What else is on display at the Old Depot Museum?

Beyond the railroad displays, the museum has recreated Victorian-era rooms including a parlor, general store, dentist's office, soda fountain and one-room schoolhouse, plus exhibits on local Native American history, county industries and a Bleeding Kansas room about John Brown and the Pottawatomie Massacre.

Is the Old Depot Museum good for kids?

Yes, especially for kids who love trains. The model railroad and the caboose outside are the big draws, and the recreated general store and soda fountain are fun to explore. The Bleeding Kansas exhibit is a dark room with recorded accounts of violence, so preview it before taking young children inside.

Can schools book field trips to the Old Depot Museum?

Yes. The museum's one-room schoolhouse can be booked for field trips, and visiting children wear pinafores and suspenders to experience a school day from the era. Teachers can call (785) 242-1250 or email director@olddepotmuseum.org to plan a class visit. Contact the museum well before your preferred date.

Is the Old Depot Museum on the Prairie Spirit Trail?

Yes. The museum is the northernmost trailhead of the Prairie Spirit Trail, a 53-mile rail-trail that follows old railroad grade that began at the Santa Fe depot. It was Kansas' first rail-trail, and the museum can also serve as a trailhead for the Flint Hills Nature Trail.

What is the flood marker on the Ottawa depot?

In 2001 a high water marker was placed on the outside of the depot to remember the Great Flood of 1951. It stands 9.8 feet high, the level the Marais des Cygnes River reached at the depot. It is a striking reminder of how the river has shaped Ottawa.

Where can I see Old Depot Museum photos?

The museum shares photos of exhibits, the depot and events on its Facebook page, which has more than 5,700 followers, and on Instagram and Pinterest. Visitors often photograph the limestone depot, the caboose and the model railroad, and the museum's website has images of its historic sites.

What do Old Depot Museum reviews say?

Visitors often mention the HO model railroad, the recreated historic rooms such as the general store and soda fountain, and the handsome limestone building. Some rail fans note that the museum covers broad Franklin County history rather than railroads alone, which suits families looking for a mix.

Did the Ottawa depot have a Harvey House?

No. Ottawa's depot never had its own Harvey House restaurant, but it did have a Harvey cart that served coffee and sandwiches to travelers. The museum told that story in a 2015 exhibit on Fred Harvey's railroad restaurants and the women who worked in them.

Does the Old Depot Museum host events?

Yes. The Franklin County Historical Society runs summer Historic Downtown Ottawa Walking Tours that start at the depot, a History Trivia Night fundraiser, an annual members' meeting with a history program, and talks at its Archives and Research Center. Check olddepotmuseum.org for the current calendar.

Who runs the Old Depot Museum?

The Franklin County Historical Society owns and runs the Old Depot Museum, along with an Archives and Research Center at 2011 East Logan Street, (785) 242-1232. The society has held annual meetings for more than 85 years and sends a monthly newsletter about exhibits and events.

How can I support the Old Depot Museum?

You can join the Franklin County Historical Society as a member, donate, attend fundraisers like History Trivia Night, or buy tickets to programs and walking tours. Sign up for the monthly newsletter on the museum's contact page, or email director@olddepotmuseum.org to ask about volunteering.

What train museums are near the Old Depot Museum in Ottawa?

The Midland Railway in Baldwin City is about 12 miles away, and Lawrence's Historic Santa Fe Depot about 24 miles. The Kansas Museum of History in Topeka, with its 1880 Santa Fe locomotive, is about 37 miles, and the Belton, Grandview and Kansas City Railroad in Missouri is about 42 miles.

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