90. Laws Railroad Museum and Historical Site, Bishop, CA

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Laws Railroad Museum Historic Site

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Laws museum is located 4 1/2 miles north of Bishop on Silver Canyon Road, just past the Owens River, where U.S. 6 makes a sharp turn to the north. Prominent signs at the intersection note the location of the museum. GPS coordinates Lat. 37.401, Long. 118.346.

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The Laws Railroad Museum and Historic Site are located on land donated to Inyo County and the City of Bishop by the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1964. The museum is operated by the Bishop Museum and Historical Society under contract with those two agencies.

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By 1959, the small town of Laws was almost all but gone except for the depot, oil and water tanks, and the turntable. As you explore the historical site, you can still see these historic buildings and a vast collection of mining artifacts. The gift deed from the Southern Pacific Company to the county and city reads as follows:

“In appreciation of the interest of Inyo County and the City of Bishop in preserving the memory of the Far West’s last common carrier narrow gauge railroad, the Keeler Branch, Southern Pacific Company is pleased to donate steam locomotive No. 9 together with other rolling stock, and the Laws Station building and surrounding installations for safekeeping in behalf of generations to come.”

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Laws Railroad Museum is a fascinating place to visit while traveling through the Owens Valley. There are hundreds of railroad and mining artifacts covering the 11-acre historic site—plan on spending at least a couple of hours exploring the museum and grounds.

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In 1964 the Bishop Museum and Historical Society was formed to preserve what remained of the Laws Depot and the Slim Princess. It was then that people began donating relevant artifacts, photographs, equipment and even whole structures. The area and its antiquities have been restored and are maintained to depict life as it was 135 years ago.

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In addition to the extensive museum exhibits, the site offers train rides on the authentic, restored railroad cars and hosts many family-fun events including, the Laws Good Old Days, the Laws Museum Picnic Concert, and the holiday Railroad Express.

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The Laws Museum and Historical Site is officially California Historical Land Mark No. 953 listed on the National Registry of Historic Places under the Department of the Interior. It safeguards the memories and experiences of a not-so-long-ago era of railway magnates, miners, farmers, fortune seekers, high Sierra adventurers, and travelers who rode the Slim Princess.

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“Our aim is to discover, procure, and preserve whatever may relate to the natural, civic, literary and ecclesiastical history of our area, and to establish and maintain collections.” — Bishop Museum and Historical Society.

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WHO IS GOING TO LOVE IT

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The museum is a window to the past that can be enjoyed by folks of all ages and all walks of life. Train buffs will be enchanted by it. Historians will relish it. Kids will love it. Families will rejoice in a shared experience of hands-on learning and fun activities.

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The annual Railroad Express is a holiday themed event that happens every second Saturday in December at Laws. It is a day filled with joyful activities and live entertainment. There’s caroling and storytelling, crafts and refreshments, and best of all, Santa and Mrs. Claus come to share the holiday spirit and give the gift of seasons past. It is a marvelous journey back in time that can be experienced nowhere else.

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