Shopping in the decorated Moark Regional Railroad Museum in Downtown Poplar Bluff and a visit by Santa will add to the Christmas season.
The museum, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary, has a train shop which is fully stocked with trains, freight cars, tracks and accessories for model train layouts.
Customers are offered a 10% discount if they become museum members. Annual memberships are still $12 per person or $20 per family. All proceeds from the train shop are used to maintain the 1928 Frisco Depot, which has been the museum’s home since it opened in 1991.
Regular hours are 1-4 p.m. Saturdays, including Thanksgiving weekend. Call 573-785-4539 or 573-686-2241 if you cannot come on Saturday. The only Saturday the museum closes is Christmas weekend.
Santa will arrive at the museum, located across Fifth Street from the Black River Coliseum, at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4. Children may visit with Santa while parents take photos.
After visiting with Santa, everyone can view the historical exhibits and the model train layouts. They also can walk through the newly-painted Missouri Pacific caboose.
Since July 1, the museum has attracted 993 visitors from 26 states and Puerto Rico. This number already exceeds the 965 who toured the museum during the entire fiscal year, beginning July 1, 2020.
Museum board members appreciate everyone who supports the museum, but more volunteers are needed.