Welcome to the Saluda Depot Museum

Preserving History. Educating the Public. Supporting Community.

The Saluda Depot Museum is more than a railway museum — it’s a community hub, an educational center, and a beloved tourist destination. Located at the crest of the steepest standard-gauge mainline railway grade in the eastern United States, we tell the story of the legendary Saluda Grade and the people, trains, and towns it connected.

What We Do

We’re open to the public four days a week and always free of charge. Visitors of all ages enjoy:

  • Interactive displays including a large-scale diorama, historic telegraph and photo kiosks, Southern Railway dinnerware, and other rare railway artifacts.

  • A play area with a full-size Thomas the Tank Engine, a children’s play table, and a real locomotive bell to ring.

  • Regular private group tours (led by our dedicated volunteers, David and Nita), scheduled at your convenience.

  • Monthly “Train Tales” events, where guest speakers share captivating stories of railroad history. Speakers are honored with gift cards in thanks for their time.

Taking the Story on the Road

We don’t just stay in Saluda — we take our Saluda Grade Presentation on the road! Past venues include:

  • Community libraries in Saluda, Landrum, Brevard, and Lake Lure

  • The Apple Valley Model Railroad Club

  • Residential communities like Tryon Estates, Arden Woods, and Lake Point Landing

  • The Hub City Railroad Museum and the Carolina Railroad Heritage Association

Supporting Our Community

We are proud to participate in many local and regional events, including:

  • Saluda Arts Festival (sponsor)

  • Coon Dog Day in Tryon

  • “Train Days” in South Carolina

  • Blue Ridge Community College History Fair

  • Night at the Museum – an original evening program with food, music, and storytelling

  • Saluda Historic Home Tour (ticket support)

Our commitment also extends to area schools and nonprofits:

  • We support Saluda School through the After School Program, “Champions for Wildlife,” and by sponsoring clothing bins for students.

  • We host programs and presentations for organizations like Meals on Wheels and offer our space at no charge to other nonprofits.

  • We share our equipment and resources — even our chairs were on loan for over a year to a local artist series.

Why It Matters

We welcome over 10,000 visitors each year, helping to fuel the town’s economy and cultural vibrancy. Our efforts support Saluda’s identity, small businesses, and heritage tourism — all while building community through storytelling, preservation, and service.

But we do this without public funding. Unlike many local festivals and events funded by umbrella nonprofits, we own our building, and we bear the full cost of:

  • Mortgage payments

  • Insurance

  • Utilities

  • Maintenance and repairs (including ongoing Hurricane Helene repairs)

All our programs are supported by donations, memberships, and volunteer time. We do a great deal with modest resources — and we do it all for the benefit of our visitors, neighbors, and the future of Saluda.

Please donate by clicking the PayPal link below to contribute to this important part of Saluda History.