The Sioux City Railroad Museum has been a growing draw for tourists and metro residents and schoolchildren to learn about the bygone era when railroads were a key piece of the transportation puzzle.
Back in the early-mid 20th century there were lots of trains bringing products and people to and through the city. To supplement that, the riverside area of Sioux City was home to railroad repair shop. At one point, 565 workers were employed there.
Once the repairs shop went away as transportation modes changed, the are fell into disrepair.
But more than 30 years ago, Larry Obermeyer and Siouxland people began the quest to set up a museum type of set up to clean up the grounds and have exhibits about the railroad shops.
Obermeyer worked with the city of Sioux City to bring back the grounds from a decrepit state in the 1980's.
That resulted in the Sioux City Railroad Museum being created at 3400 Sioux River Road, .
Now, A large archeological investigation will be carried out in the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District at the Sioux City Railroad Museum grounds in Sioux City within the next few days.
The study will be conducted in partnership with the Office of the State Archaeologist from September 24 to October 2.
The timing of this archaeological study holds special historical significance, coinciding with the 110th anniversary of the September 1916 groundbreaking that marked the beginning of construction of the Milwaukee Railroad Repair Shops terminal.
Also, this will not be the first such dig at the Sioux City Railroad Museum grounds.
A prior archeological dig at the railroad museum grounds took place a few years ago, with some people from the University of Iowa taking part.
Show guest Obermeyer weighs in on all those topics, plus also discuses a $1.9 million National Park Service that the museum received earlier this year.
*Click on the audio link above to hear the entire show.
What's The Frequency, Episode 120.
