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Interactive Railroad Fun Defines Future Museum Exhibits

KENNESAW, GA – Soon you can fulfill your dream of being a train engineer at the Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History, thanks to $100,000 in project funding from the North American Railway Foundation (NARF).

“This funding will help us develop a variety of highly interactive exhibits including a locomotive cab simulator, where you can learn to drive a train, and an area that promotes railroad safety. We will also develop a hands-on program for pre-kindergarteners and a merit badge program for Boy and Girl Scouts,” explained Museum Executive Director Jeff Drobney.

The North American Railway Foundation is a nonprofit organization that explores, nurtures and supports railway safety, efficiency and technology and educates and preserves the history of railroads in the United States and Canada by providing financial support to deserving non-profit institutions and projects.

NARF Executive Director Philip Sullivan says his organization is proud to be part of the Southern Museum’s expansion.

“Railroads are important to everyday life. Children love trains but don’t understand what they do. At the Museum, they will be able to learn more about trains and have fun, as well. The program will be very positive because it is something the whole family can do together,” Sullivan said.

The Museum, a Smithsonian Affiliate, will enlist the community’s help in planning the exhibits, Drobney said. “We are putting together an advisory board of teachers to ensure the exhibits meet the educational needs of area children. Once we’ve identified the needs, we’ll begin designing the exhibits.”

Added to the new Southern Railway Historical Association archives, the General locomotive, the Glover locomotives, and the emphasis on railroads during the Civil War, these new exhibits will illustrate the Museum’s continuing commitment to educating the public about the importance of railroads.

The interactive exhibits will require a significant amount of space, and the Museum is considering expanding its facilities to accommodate them. “Any new facility we might build would also include classroom space to support the exhibits and our education program,” Drobney said.

The Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History is located 20 miles north of Atlanta, just off I-75 at exit 273, Wade Green Road. Open Monday – Saturday, 9:30 – 5:00 PM, Sunday noon – 5:00 PM. For more information, visit www.southernmuseum.org or call (770) 427-2117.