Restored BN Depot & World War II Museum in Red Oak, Iowa
Depot museumFreeWeekday mornings mid-March to mid-December; by appointment other times
The Restored BN Depot & World War II Museum preserves Red Oak's 1903 Chicago, Burlington & Quincy depot, the building that helped make Red Oak a hub of Southwest Iowa, and uses it to tell the town's railroad, wartime and calendar-making stories.
- Depot completed in 1903
- Saved by citizens in the 1990s
- Railroad and WWII exhibits
- Free-will donation admission
- Research library and event venue
- ADA ramp entrance
Restored BN Depot & World War II Museum at a glance
- Hours
- Mid-March to the 2nd week of December: Monday to Friday, 10 am to noon; other times by appointment
- Admission
- Free; visitors are asked for a free-will donation
- Seasonal events
- Holiday parties and private events in the depot
- Plan for
- About 1 hour
- Best for
- History lovers, veterans' families and rail fans
- Best ages
- Ages 6 and up
- Parking
- Free; 12 to 15 cars on the main campus with 2 ADA spaces, plus a lower gravel lot and street parking
- Accessibility
- ADA accessible from the west side via a ramp to the south door; 2 ADA parking spaces by the depot
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- Address305 South Second Street, Red Oak, IA 51566(opens in a new tab)
- Phone(712) 621-2687
- Emailpresident@redoakdepotmuseum.com
- Websiteredoakdepotmuseum.com(opens in a new tab)
Follow Restored BN Depot & World War II Museum
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Restored BN Depot & World War II 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 Red Oak.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $13.99 on Amazon.
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25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
How Save Our Depot kept Red Oak's station standing
When the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad finished Red Oak's depot in 1903, replacing an earlier wooden station, it was a model of modern convenience. The depot linked this prairie county seat to cities and ways of life far beyond Southwest Iowa, and the railroad and the depot became the hub of local travel and commerce. The museum credits the building as foundational to Red Oak's growth and standing in the region.
By the 1990s the depot belonged to the Burlington Northern, which planned to demolish it. A group of Red Oak citizens formed Save Our Depot, Inc. to stop that from happening. Through numerous grants and in-kind donations, they restored and preserved the building, and the depot has since marked its 120th anniversary with a celebration the museum recorded for anyone who could not attend.
The museum's mission has four parts. It celebrates Red Oak's railroad heritage by preserving the depot and the documents and artifacts of Southwest Iowa's railroads. It honors Montgomery County's deep commitment to military service by telling the story of the county's sacrifice during the Second World War. It tells the story of the Murphy Calendar Company, which made Red Oak the birthplace of the promotional art calendar industry. And it offers the community an affordable, historic place to gather.
Rails, wartime stories and calendars under one roof
The railroad exhibits show how the depot once anchored the town's travel and commerce, with documents and artifacts from Red Oak's and Southwest Iowa's railroad history and a hands-on approach the museum describes as first-hand interaction with railroad history. The World War II galleries are written in the spirit of Ernie Pyle's personal, soldier-level reporting, and include an exhibit on the Battle of Kasserine Pass, part of Montgomery County's wartime story. Further sections cover other military history and the Murphy Calendar Company.
Volunteers offer tours, and a research library is available for those digging into local railroad or military history. The depot itself sits on an elevated site above a lower parking lot, and its restored rooms double as an event venue for parties, reunions and meetings.
Don’t miss
- The 1903 depot buildingThe restored CB&Q station is the museum's centerpiece, saved from demolition by local citizens in the 1990s.
- The Kasserine Pass exhibitPart of the World War II galleries that tell Montgomery County's wartime story.
- Murphy Calendar Company storyRed Oak was the birthplace of the promotional art calendar industry, an unexpected chapter in a railroad town.
- The research libraryA resource for anyone researching Red Oak, Southwest Iowa railroads or local veterans.
A quiet depot visit for curious kids
This is a small, hands-on depot museum best suited to school-age kids who like history, trains or stories of soldiers. Short weekday morning hours make it a good fit for homeschool outings, grandparent visits or a stop on a summer road trip, and the museum will open by appointment for families who cannot come during regular hours.
Strollers and wheelchairs can use the accessible ramp on the west side of the depot; the lower parking lot connects by a concrete stairway with a handrail.
Plan your visit: tips for Restored BN Depot & World War II Museum
- Weekday morning hours are short, so arrive early or call ahead to book an appointment.
- From the Hwy 34 and Hwy 48 intersection, take Hwy 48 south to Short Street, go east two blocks to Second Street, then south to the museum driveway.
- The main lot fills quickly; use the lower gravel lot or nearby streets if it is full.
- From the third week of December into early January, the museum is open by appointment only.
Save Our Depot and the volunteers who followed
Red Oak citizens saved this depot through Save Our Depot, Inc., and the museum still depends on free-will donations, volunteers and event rentals to cover its costs. You can donate, volunteer, use the research library, or book the depot for a holiday party, reunion or meeting by contacting museum president Steve Adams.
Train museums within an hour or so of Red Oak
Council Bluffs is about 37 miles northwest, with both the RailsWest Railroad Museum in a Rock Island depot and the Union Pacific Railroad Museum downtown. The Durham Museum in Omaha is about 40 miles away. See more in our guide to train museums in Iowa.
- RailsWest Railroad MuseumCouncil Bluffs, IA · about 37 mi
- Union Pacific Railroad MuseumCouncil Bluffs, IA · about 37 mi
- Durham MuseumOmaha, NE · about 40 mi
- Fremont & Elkhorn Valley RailroadFremont, NE · about 73 mi
- Nebraska Railroad MuseumFremont, NE · about 73 mi
- Atchison Railroad MuseumAtchison, KS · about 100 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
Red Oak's depot sits up high, with a concrete stairway climbing from the lower lot, and I can picture little legs working hard on those steps. Rally has the same trouble in our book: the train stairs are just too big for a corgi, so Dad gives him a boost. My kids think that page is the funniest one. Mom dreamed it up, and you can color it yourself 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
- Train museums in Iowa: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Iowa
- Halloween train rides in Iowa
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Restored BN Depot & World War II 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
- Restored BN Depot & World War II Museum official website(opens in a new tab)
- Restored BN Depot & World War II Museum on Facebook(opens in a new tab)
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Red Oak Depot Museum: 20 questions answered
What is the Burlington Northern Depot and WWII Memorial Museum?
It is the museum in Red Oak, Iowa's restored 1903 railroad depot, now called the Restored BN Depot & World War II Museum. It celebrates Red Oak's railroad heritage, honors Montgomery County's World War II service, tells the Murphy Calendar Company story and serves as a community event venue.
Where is the Red Oak Depot Museum?
The museum is at 305 South Second Street, Red Oak, Iowa 51566. From the Highway 34 and Highway 48 intersection on the north side of town, go south on Highway 48 about 1.5 miles to Short Street, east two blocks to Second Street, then south one long block to the driveway on your right.
What are the Red Oak Depot Museum hours?
As of October 2026, the museum is open Monday through Friday from 10 am to noon from March 16 through the second week of December 2026. All other times are by appointment, and from the third week of December into early 2027 it is open by appointment only. Call (712) 621-2687 to arrange a visit.
How much does the Red Oak Depot Museum cost?
Admission is free as of October 2026. The museum asks all visitors for a free-will donation to support its operating costs, which matters because it relies on donations, volunteers and event rentals to keep the depot open.
Does Burlington Northern still exist?
Not under that name. The Burlington Northern is now part of BNSF, as the museum notes when describing the depot. Red Oak's station was built in 1903 by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, which later became part of the Burlington Northern, and BN was planning to demolish the depot in the 1990s before citizens saved it.
When was the Red Oak depot built?
The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad completed the Red Oak depot in 1903, replacing an earlier wooden structure. At the time it was a model of modern convenience that linked Red Oak to more urban communities. The museum has celebrated the building's 120th anniversary.
Who saved the Red Oak depot?
In the 1990s, a group of Red Oak citizens formed Save Our Depot, Inc. to prevent the Burlington Northern from demolishing the depot. The group restored and preserved the building by securing numerous grants and in-kind donations, and it now operates as a museum.
What World War II exhibits are at the Red Oak Depot Museum?
The World War II galleries tell the story of Montgomery County's sacrifice by service members, families and local residents during the war, in the personal reporting style of Ernie Pyle. One exhibit focuses on the Battle of Kasserine Pass. The museum also has a section on other military history.
What is the Murphy Calendar Company?
The Murphy Calendar Company was a Red Oak business that made the town the birthplace of the promotional art calendar industry, and it mattered greatly to Red Oak's economy and growth. Telling its story is one of the museum's four goals, and an exhibit on the company is part of the museum.
Is there parking at the Red Oak Depot Museum?
Yes, parking is free. The main museum lot holds about 12 to 15 cars because of the depot's elevated site and narrow historic driveway, with two ADA spaces. More free parking is on the lower gravel lot, reached by a concrete stairway with a handrail, and on nearby streets.
Is the Red Oak Depot Museum wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The museum is ADA accessible from the west side of the depot: take the walkway at the south end of the parking area and enter by the accessible ramp through the south door. Two ADA parking spaces sit right by the west side of the depot.
Can I rent the Red Oak Depot Museum for an event?
Yes. The depot is offered as an affordable, historic venue for holiday parties, family reunions, business meetings and other gatherings, informal or fancy. Contact Steve Adams at (712) 621-2687 or president@redoakdepotmuseum.com for details or to reserve a date.
Does the Red Oak Depot Museum offer tours?
Yes, the museum offers tours, and it will open by appointment outside regular hours. To book a tour for a family, club or class, call Steve Adams at (712) 621-2687 or email president@redoakdepotmuseum.com with your preferred date.
Does the Red Oak Depot Museum have a research library?
Yes, the museum has a research library and preserves documents and artifacts on Red Oak's and Southwest Iowa's railroad history, as well as on Montgomery County's World War II story. Contact the museum ahead of time to arrange research visits.
Is the Red Oak Depot Museum good for kids?
It suits school-age kids who are curious about trains, history or soldiers' stories. It is a small museum, so a visit of about an hour works well. Toddlers may enjoy the depot building, but there are no train rides here.
How long does a visit to the Red Oak Depot Museum take?
Plan about an hour to see the railroad, World War II and Murphy Calendar exhibits at a comfortable pace. Since regular hours run only from 10 am to noon on weekdays, arrive early, or book an appointment if you want more time with the research library.
How can I volunteer at the Red Oak Depot Museum?
The museum has a How to Volunteer section on its website and depends on local help to stay open. Call Steve Adams at (712) 621-2687 or email president@redoakdepotmuseum.com to ask about helping with tours, events, collections or the building.
How can I donate to the Red Oak Depot Museum?
You can leave a free-will donation when you visit, or use the Donations page on the museum's website. Support helps cover operating costs for the restored depot and the care of its railroad and World War II collections.
Does the Red Oak Depot Museum have a Facebook page?
Yes, the museum posts news on Facebook, including event venue reminders and depot updates, and its website links to the page. Following it is a good way to catch special events and any changes to the weekday schedule.
What train museums are near Red Oak?
The RailsWest Railroad Museum and the Union Pacific Railroad Museum in Council Bluffs are both about 37 miles away. The Durham Museum in Omaha is about 40 miles off, and the Fremont and Elkhorn Valley Railroad and Nebraska Railroad Museum in Fremont are about 73 miles away.
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