Lost Railway Museum

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Lost Railway Museum The Lost Railway Museum of Grass Lake, Michigan. Discover Michigan's Interurban Railway Museum. Discover Michigan's InterUrban Railway Museum. Admission is free.

Be a part of making Grass Lake history! We do kindly ask for a $5 donation per person upon entry.

517-522-9502

Before Consumers Energy powered millions of Michigan homes, it got its start with just a dozen streetlights in downtown ...
10/23/2026

Before Consumers Energy powered millions of Michigan homes, it got its start with just a dozen streetlights in downtown Jackson.

A flour mill operator is an unlikely position to launch a career in electricity, but that is exactly what happened when W.A. Foote took an interest in the electric generator upgrades happening at his mill. This spark of curiosity led to a partnership with Samuel Jarvis in 1886 to secure a franchise for a dozen streetlights in the City of Jackson.

Those streetlights were only the beginning. Demand for electricity grew rapidly, and operations expanded by building hydroelectric plants on local rivers. Associations were formed with similar pioneers in other more distant Michigan communities, and those partnerships eventually merged to form today’s Consumers Energy. Along the way, W.A. Foote turned his attention to the interurban. By 1901, electric cars were carrying passengers from Jackson to Grass Lake. (Yes, the same Foote from our Great Foote Race post!)

Did a parent or grandparent work for Consumers Power back in the day? Share their story in the comments because we would love to hear about them.

Costumes ready? 🎃Trick-or-treating comes to downtown Grass Lake on Saturday, October 31, from 6 to 8 p.m., and Lost Rail...
10/19/2026

Costumes ready? 🎃

Trick-or-treating comes to downtown Grass Lake on Saturday, October 31, from 6 to 8 p.m., and Lost Railway Museum is right on the route!

Here’s what’s waiting for you along Main Street:

☕ Hot chocolate at the museum, served up with our friends at the Grass Lake Lions Club
🌭 Hot dogs at the Grass Lake Depot
👻 A hair-raising spooky scene at The Avenue Studio (if you dare)

Community nights like this are when you all get to make a little history yourselves, complete with stories worth retelling for years to come. We hope to see you there!

What was your favorite costume as a kid? Tell us in the comments.

If you've ever left a comment on one of our posts and gotten a reply with more detail than you expected, there's a good ...
10/14/2026

If you've ever left a comment on one of our posts and gotten a reply with more detail than you expected, there's a good chance it came from Rich Willis.

Rich has been part of our restoration crew since we acquired Car 29 back in 2013, and in that time he's put in countless hours of skilled, hands-on work preserving Michigan's interurban history. He's also become one of our most passionate voices — always ready to add a footnote when there's history worth adding.

Thank you, Rich, for your craftsmanship and the enthusiasm for details. Both have left visible traces all over this museum.

Ask him something in the comments. Chances are, he'll answer.

Can you recognize this car from a previous visit? You might not believe this is how Car 47, now one of the most recogniz...
10/09/2026

Can you recognize this car from a previous visit? You might not believe this is how Car 47, now one of the most recognizable features of the museum, got its start.

In May 2017, Car 47 became the very first railcar placed inside the museum, just weeks before our grand opening. Restoration was still underway, with seats, lighting, numbering, and more added as work progressed, and finishing touches on the rear and overhead electrical equipment completed in 2022.

None of that would have happened without the large crew of talented volunteers who dedicated years to this transformative restoration.

Today, you can admire their handiwork as you walk the full length of the car, take a seat to gaze out the window, and ring the bell up front (a favorite of our youngest visitors!)

View our hours to plan your visit: https://www.lostrailwaymuseum.org/

10/07/2026

🍂🍺 What an incredible Oktoberfest! 🥨🇩🇪✨

Phil Willis and his incredible group of board members of volunteers are the magic behind the Lost Railway Museum, which is a really important part of Jackson County history. ❤️🚂

And three years ago, they set out to put together an incredible festival to honor our beautiful Autumn 🍁 in hopes of further financially supporting the museum and thus Oktoberfest was born 🍺🥨

Special thanks to Darlene Scouten, Dana Brown, Mike McKay, MR Builders crew, Phil Willis and The Brokerage House crew as well as so many community members!! 👏🏻❤️

✨ What a beautiful example of what can happen when a community comes together. We were so proud to be part of it and already can’t wait to do it all again! 🍂🍻

If you missed Oktoberfest this year, put this one on your list for 2027. You’re going to want to be there! 😉🥨🍺

What a day! Grass Lake Oktoberfest 2026 is one to remember. From the laughs and hugs, to the "see you next year!" farewe...
10/07/2026

What a day! Grass Lake Oktoberfest 2026 is one to remember. From the laughs and hugs, to the "see you next year!" farewells, this was easily the best year yet, in turnout, in spirit, and in support from this incredible community.

A few important thank-yous are in order:

To our volunteers, who showed up early, stayed late, and kept everything running smoothly all afternoon, we could not do this without you.

To our Lost Railway Museum staff, for working months behind the scenes.

To every one of our sponsors, from our Title sponsors down to Silber, your support is the reason this festival exists at all.

To every vendor and food truck who set up shop and shared their delights with us.

To every musician who shared their talent with us.

And to everyone who came out, danced in the street, and tried something new: thank you for making this the year to top.

We can't wait to see you in October 2027!

In 1900, two companies raced to build an electric railway between Jackson and Ann Arbor.Michigan United Railway pushed e...
10/01/2026

In 1900, two companies raced to build an electric railway between Jackson and Ann Arbor.

Michigan United Railway pushed east from Jackson. Detroit United Railway pushed west from Ann Arbor. Whoever bridged the distance first would win. By the fall of 1901, the Detroit side had nearly reached Jackson. The Jackson side hadn't even made it to Dexter.

Rather than give up, they changed the finish line. Grass Lake became the new end of the line — connecting Jackson, Michigan Center, Wolf Lake, and Grass Lake. The race to Ann Arbor became a win for Grass Lake which grew into a popular getaway destination for anyone looking to get out of the city bustle.

If you didn't see that twist coming, you'll want to hear the rest of the story! Plan your visit to get in touch with the past: https://www.lostrailwaymuseum.org/

Just four days until Grass Lake Oktoberfest!Saturday, October 3rd, 2:00-7:00 PM in downtown Grass Lake: live bands filli...
09/29/2026

Just four days until Grass Lake Oktoberfest!

Saturday, October 3rd, 2:00-7:00 PM in downtown Grass Lake: live bands filling the streets with music and dancing, delicious food from Funky Dawgs LLC, Maison Wurst, and The Great American Food Truck, arts and crafts vendors, and 25+ craft beers, wines, and ciders to sample.

🎟️ Today is the last day to grab general admission at its lowest price:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1986437211172?aff=oddtdtcreator

💛 This event is hosted by the Lost Railway Museum, and all proceeds go directly to support our mission. We thank you in advance!

Last month we welcomed a group that came a long way to be here: Division 1 of the National Model Railroad Association, a...
09/25/2026

Last month we welcomed a group that came a long way to be here: Division 1 of the National Model Railroad Association, all the way from Ohio.

These are folks who know trains inside and out! Spending the day sharing our collection and the story of Michigan's interurban railways with them was a genuine treat.

This is why we love what we do. Swapping stories with people who share the same passion for transportation and history will never grow old.

Who do you want to bring on your next visit? Tag them in the comments.

Did you know Grass Lake's love for a grand gathering goes back over a century? Long before Oktoberfest, interurban trave...
09/23/2026

Did you know Grass Lake's love for a grand gathering goes back over a century? Long before Oktoberfest, interurban travelers packed into this town for dances, concerts, and socials.

Some things about this place never change! We still know how to throw a grand gathering that is worth the trip. But we need your help to pull it off because this isn't just any party — it's one of our biggest fundraisers of the year, and every dollar raised goes straight toward preserving Grass Lake's railway history.

We're halfway there, but 50 of the 100 volunteer spots for Grass Lake Oktoberfest are still open.

Here's what you get for being part of our crew: eight drink tokens, a commemorative glass, and free admission to one of the best afternoons Grass Lake has all year.

Setup, admissions, beverage stations, cleanup — pick your shift, grab a friend, and celebrate with us when it's done. Thank you in advance!

Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0844AFAF29A7FFC07-64411930-grass #/

Must be 21 or older to receive the drink tokens.

Address

142 W. Michigan Avenue
Grass Lake, MI
49240

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+15175229500

Website

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