The Montague Train Depot Museum, located next to the Montague Community Hall on 11th Street, Montague, CA. The Montague Train Depot Museum, located next to the Montague Hall, is now open for the 2018 summer season. Hours are from 11 a.m.–2 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. There is no entry fee. A corps of community volunteers makes this all possible. The museum contains many fascinating displays and unique artifacts. Rare photographs illumine the history of Montague and Siskiyou County. Out behind the main museum is the Annex, which contains several fascinating items as well, including the original curtain from the Opera House Theater.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF MONTAGUE’S RAILROAD
When the Central Pacific Railroad decided to build its line through the county to connect with the Oregon and California Railroad in Ashland, Montague was chosen to be the next town north of Gazelle. In January of 1887, L.D. Norton was sent to lay out the town site on land that was donated by the Prather Brothers and C.C. Webb, a half section each.
The tracks were completed through Montague on February 8, 1887. As was the tradition of the Pacific Improvement Company, a huge promotional campaign was conducted and an excursion train from Oakland brought up to Montague to auction off lots in the new town.
The depot was built in five weeks and, according to the March 31, 1887 edition of the Yreka Union, it was “a Magnificent structure of redwood, even to the shingles”. In 1906 the platform was enlarged to 40 feet and in 1916 the office and freight house were enlarged, and another waiting room added.
Montague became an important shipping center soon after the cattle corrals were built. In 1888, Yreka built a short line, the Yreka Railroad Company, to connect with Montague. Montague was incorporated January 25th, 1909.
The Southern Pacific Railroad Depot’s last day was officially October 15, 1977, after ninety years of service. The Southern Pacific Transportation Company donated the depot to the City of Montague in 1978 with the provision that it be removed from their property. It was moved to its current site in 1978. The museum had a facelift (new roofing, paint, electricity and more) in 2003 and 2004 and is now set up as closely to the original as possible.
The museum is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm is you wish to visit inside and there is no admission.
After obtainig permission from the Montague Historical Society a small cache has been placed on the outside of the museum so you can make the find even when the museum is closed and it has easy access for everyone