The Interurban Railway Museum is a small museum in Haggard Park that is in the old train station building that was used on the old electric railway that ran between Dallas and Denison from 1908 until 1948, after cars became the primary mode of travel. The City of Plano restored and converted the building into the museum in 1990. You can't miss the restored
train car outside next to the museum.
The museum contains lots of railroad artifacts from the Interurban Line, and information on the history of Plano, all in the original brick and wood frame train station.
There are exhibits of antique maps of the train routes and train schedules. They also have antique phones and morse code terminals used to communicate. There are old photos of the trains and all the train stations on the old Dallas to Denison route. There are separate exhibits of old railway uniforms and equipment used in the station, including an old mechanical adding machine.
Haggard Park is a nice city park that provides a nice setting for the museum and the surrounding area. One focal point of Haggard Park is an old country-style gazebo that is popular for picnics and weddings (by reservation through the City). Another highpoint is a sparkling pond with a fountain in front of the park. Additionally, the park has a large plaything for kids to climb on, and swings, grills, picnic tables, and public restrooms.
In the adjacent historical downtown area, there are many galleries, stores, boutiques, and antique shops to visit nearby. The downtown area is currently enjoying a rennaissance of new businesses, new urban housing and a mass transit light rail station.
The Interurban Railway Museum is located in Haggard Park in downtown Plano at 901 East 15th Street. To get there by car, take US 75 to Plano (north of Dallas), exit at 15th Street, and go east. Haggard Park will be on the left in about 4-5 blocks. Look for the large gazebo and outdoor antique railway exhibit. Free parking is available east of the museum and across 15th Street in City Parking lots. Museum hours are 1pm-to-5pm on Saturday, and from 10am-to-2pm Monday through Friday. There is no admission fee, but donations are appreciated. Their phone number is 972-941-2117.