The idea to create the Rosenberg Railroad Museum began in 1992 when a group of citizens formed a committee to establish a museum designed to preserve the railroad history of Fort Bend County.
By 1993, committee chairman Judge Larry Wagenbach convinced the Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe Railway Company to donate 1.47 acres of land on the west side of 3rd Street and north of Avenue F in downtown Rosenberg which became home to the Rosenberg Railroad Museum.
In July of that year, the railroad museum acquired its first artifacts from an auction at the George Ranch – the largest being the 1879 business car “Quebec”. In November, 1993, the museum held its first fundraiser at the former Rosenberg State Bank Building on the corner of Avenue G and 2nd Street in downtown Rosenberg. The Harvey House themed event was attended by actor James Drury, best known as “The Virginian”.
In the summer of 1994, the museum prepared a foundation for the rail car and the Quebec arrived at the site in the summer of 1995, ready for restoration to begin.
None of Rosenberg’s original railroad buildings had survived, except for Tower 17, and that one was still in service, so there was a need to construct a gallery that would house the exhibits. By the end of 1998, construction began on the reproduction of the Rosenberg Union Depot for use as a museum gallery. The museum building was completed in 2002, and on June 6-8 of that year, a Grand Opening was held, attracting thousands of people from across Fort Bend County.
In 2006, the Houston Children’s Museum was undergoing renovations when they decided to sell their railroad caboose. It was purchased that same year and arrived on the RRM campus in 2007. A former Missouri Pacific Caboose, its exterior was repainted in 2018 and the interior was renovated in 2022 to match its original design.
The Houston Area G Gaugers and RRM began planning a Garden Railroad exhibit to depict Fort Bend County in the 1950s. The layout broke ground in the summer of 2014 and the first trains were up and running by Christmas of that year.
Today, the Rosenberg Railroad Museum has grown and improved its grounds and building to over 1.5 acres, 3 buildings, 6 model train layouts and six rail cars.
The Museum continues with its mission of education and preservation of Fort Bend County’s rich railroad history. We could not have come this far without the dedication of many members, volunteers, and sponsors throughout the years, and the continued support of our membership and the public at large. THANK YOU!
