We were joined Thursday by Katie Orlando, Executive Director of the Seashore Trolley Museum, who shared with us what is going on at this local treasure.
The Trolley Museum also operates the National Streetcar Museum in Lowell, MA and is now partnered with the National Park Service, offering even more exposure. With 14 staff members plus a host of volunteers, the Trolley Museum is the first and largest electric railroad museum. In 2022, the museum drew 30,975 visitors and expects to attract 50K in 2023 and 100K by 2024. The museum houses 150 transit artifacts with some like the Orange/Yellow Lines from West Virginia taking as long as 30 years to fully restore.
The most exciting development at the museum is the model railroad building that is currently under construction across from the Visitor Center which will house the museum-quality, handcrafted model created by Helen and Buzz Beale of Lubec, Maine. This 40 year labor of love features 300 buildings and 500 cars, where are all the Maine industries are represented and the cities of Bangor, Lubec and Thomaston were lovingly and painstakingly recreated with the most incredible detail. The model was carefully dismantled, labeled and carefully packed up and will be on display for all the public to enjoy in this new building. The ribbon cutting is expected this winter.
The museum is currently fundraising for 20 different projects including The Narcissus, a Portland-Lewiston car with connections to Teddy Roosevelt. This weekend, they were hosting Daniel The Tiger from Mr. Rogers and on August 12th and 13th the Dino Trolley, a 'Where's Waldo' type dinosaur hunt, with dinosaurs hidden all over the campus for kiddos to find. This event sold out last year within 4 hours. And each Wednesday through the summer, the museum hosts an Ice Cream Social from 5-7. One of the newest attractions is the pump cart, where one can ride the rails on their own little cart and explore the campus. The Seashore Trolley Museum is also a great event space for corporate events and weddings. What an incredible gem in our own backyard!!