Texas Transportation Museum Inc

TEXAS TRANSPORTATION MUSEUM IS A VOLUNTEER LEAD ORGANIZATION THAT COLLECTS, PRESERVES AND DISPLAYS TRANSPORTATION EQUIPMENT AND RELATED ITEMS. WE OPERATE A WORKING PASSENGER RAILROAD, SEVERAL MODEL TRAIN LAYOUTS AND MANY ROAD VEHICLES. WE PROVIDE AN EDUCATIONAL AND ENTERTAINING EXPERIENCE WHICH INTERPRETS HOW DEVELOPMENTS IN TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY SHAPED AND CONTINUE TO IMPACT DAILY LIFE.

THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION MUSEUM WAS CREATED IN 1964 TO HELP PRESERVE ARTIFACTS AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE VARIED ELEMENTS OF SAN ANTONIO'S FASCINATING TRANSPORTATION HISTORY. WE OPERATE AS MUCH OF OUR COLLECTION AS POSSIBLE. THIS INCLUDES OUR VOLUNTEER BUILT FULL SIZED RAILROAD AND MANY VEHICLES. THE MUSEUM WAS ORIGINALLY LOCATED AT THE PEARL BREWERY NEAR DOWNTOWN AND USED THE TRACKS OF ITS SHORT LINE RAILROAD, THE TEXAS TRANSPORTATION COMPANY. IN 1967 THE MUSEUM WAS GRANTED USE OF APPROXIMATELY FORTY ACRES OF WHAT WAS THEN KNOWN AS THE NORTHEAST PRESERVE, NOWMCALLISTER PARK, JUST NORTH OF THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ON WETMORE ROAD. MUSEUM ATTENDANCE IS GROWING IMPRESSIVELY. AT THE CURRENT RATE OF GROWTH WE WILL BE ATTRACTING 20,000 PEOPLE ANNUALLY WITHIN JUST A FEW YEARS. WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THE ENORMOUS STRIDES WE HAVE MADE AND CONTINUE TO MAKE DESPITE OUR LIMITED RESOURCES. HERE IS A LIST OR OUR MOST RECENT ACHIEVEMENTS:COMPLETED CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECTS:-REFURBISH OUR HISTORIC DEPOT, INSIDE AND OUT.-BUILD MORE ATTRACTIVE, SECURE AND SAFE NEW ENTRANCE GATE COMPLETE WITHFOUR FLAGPOLES.-DESIGN AND INSTALL A HUGE NEW ENTRANCE SIGN.-REPAINT 4035 LOCOMOTIVE.-REPAINT TWO CABOOSES.-CONVERT OLD FLAT RAILROAD CAR TO PASSENGER SERVICE.-UPGRADE INTERIOR HO LAYOUT CONTROL SYSTEM TO STATE OF THE ART DCC (DIGITAL CONTROL).-CREATE HUGE LIONEL SCALE LAYOUT IN MAIN DISPLAY BUILDING.-ADD NEW LAYOUT AT GARDEN RAILROAD FOR SMALLER CHILDREN WHO CAN CONTROL THE TRAINS.-ADD ELEVATED LAYOUT AT GARDEN RAILROAD FOR YEAR ROUND SERVICE IN ANY WEATHER CONDITIONS.-REPLACE MOST WOODEN SIGNS WITH PROFESSIONALLY MADE, HIGHER QUALITY METAL SIGNS.-FULLY RESTORE #7071, OUR 1942 GENERAL ELECTRIC DIESEL-ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE FOR REGULAR PASSENGER SERVICE.-RESTORE PARTY CABOOSE TO SERVICE AFTER A DISASTROUS FIRE.-CREATE A "CAR CORNER" WITH THEMED DISPLAYS OF HIGH QUALITY MODEL CARS, GENEROUSLY LOANED BY A MUSEUM MEMBER.EQUIPMENT IMPROVED, REPLACED OR PURCHASED:-COMPLETELY REPLACE THE 5,000 SQUARE FEET METAL ROOF OVER OUR MAIN DISPLAY BUILDING.-REPLACE OLDER BACK-HOE WITH NEWER MODEL.-REPLACE FORK LIFT TRUCK WITH LARGER MODEL BETTER SUITED TO OUR AS YET UNPAVED ROADS.-BUY NEW RIDING LAWN MOWER, SELF-PROPELLED WALK BEHIND MOWER, AND SEVERAL WEED EATERS.-REPLACE OLDER TRACKAGE AT GARDEN RAILROAD WITH ALL NEW STAINLESS STEEL TRACKS.-UPGRADE ELECTRICS AROUND OUR HUGE SITE, ADD BETTER LIGHTING.-CUSTOM BUILD A WEED SPRAYING UNIT ON A SMALL FLAT CAR PULLED BY A RAIL MOTOR CAR TO HELP KEEP TRACKS LOOKING THEIR BEST.ADA (AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT) IMPROVEMENTS:-UPGRADE RESTROOMS TO ADA STANDARDS WITH NEW DOORS AND COMMODES.-BUILD ADA COMPLIANT PARKING SPACES ADJACENT TO MAIN BUILDING.-IMPROVE ADA ACCESS ACROSS MANY AREAS OF OUR PROPERTY.-BUILD RAMP FOR ADA ACCESS TO RAIL FLAT CAR TO ENABLE EVERYONE TO BE ABLE TO RIDE.PUBLIC RELATIONS IMPROVEMENTS:-CONTINUING GROWTH IN ATTENDANCE.-CREATE A WEB SITE, WITH COMPREHENSIVE INFORMATION ABOUT TTM AND ITS COLLECTIONS, ADD THOROUGH HISTORIES OF REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION DEVELOPMENTS.-WRITTEN AND PUBLISHED TWO LOCAL TRANSPORTATION HISTORY BOOKS.-CREATE A FACEBOOK PAGE FOR THE MUSEUM.-PARTICIPATE IN MANY LOCAL EVENTS SUCH AS PARADES AND HISTORY FAIRES.-PARTNER WITH OTHER CHARITIES IN OUR AREA FOR MUTUAL BENEFIT. THESE INCLUDE THE SAN ANTONIO FOOD BANK AND "STUFF THE BUS" BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLIES DRIVES.