08/ 23, 2007	Contact:	Patricia Cosgrove, Museum Director
For Immediate Release		(253) 288-7437

White River Valley Museum Celebrates Railroads Shaping Our Area, History

The great U.S. railways significantly contributed to shaping the history of our nation and the Pacific Northwest—fueling trade, jobs, travel and, at times, controversy.

In 1864, President Abraham Lincoln signed an Act of Congress that created the Northern Pacific Railroad Company. The railroad and its divisions stretched from the Great Lakes to the Puget Sound, following the journey Lewis and Clark traveled across the West. Completion of this railroad was met with 20 years of internal power struggles and financial strains within the company, as well as periods of national economic decline.

Today, nearly 145 years after the Northern Pacific Railroad Company was signed into existence many of the numerous resulting major railway companies have since merged to form Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway, the largest railway system in the United States. Recognizing the importance of railways in shaping the City of Auburn and surrounding areas, the White River Valley Museum is celebrating the historical and influential railroads with a series of exhibits, events and lectures.

Abby Williams Hill and the Lure of the West
Although Abby Williams Hill had the means for a comfortable Victorian life, in 1889 when Washington became a state she and her husband, Dr. Frank Hill, arrived in Tacoma to experience the rugged northwest. The first woman to receive a commission to paint northwest scenes for a major railway company, a selection of her works is on loan from the University of Puget Sound through Sept. 23.

On Sept. 15 from 4 to 6 p.m., enjoy a slide show and lecture by Dr. Ronald Fields, Professor Emeritus of art history at the University of Puget Sound and expert on Abby Williams Hill. His interest in Abby Hill spans more than a dozen years and he is the author of a major monograph published on her artistic career, Abby Williams Hill and the Lure of the West.

Railroad Open House, Slide Show and Lecture
For railroad enthusiasts and history buffs alike, this lecture continues the celebration of the railroads that helped shape Auburn and surrounding areas. Situated between the frequently photographed Rocky Mountain and Tacoma Divisions, the Northern Pacific’s line in Eastern Washington was a study in charm and diversity. The equally charming Idaho Division was often largely overlooked by camera-toting rail fans. This presentation of color and black and white photography illustrates the Northern Pacific in its final years, along with early Burlington Northern and Amtrak photos from Ellensburg to Spokane. The Palouse and Lewiston branch line and the 50-mile long Washington, Idaho and Montana railroad will briefly be covered, in addition to a few other surprises.

Join us Oct. 6 for a railroad open house from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., followed by the slide show and lecture from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Presenter Ryan Reed is a railroad historian and scale model builder since childhood, and has a special connection to the Northern Pacific in Eastern Washington. Admission for this event is $5 for adults, $4 for children and seniors, and is free to Train Master, Conductor and Engineer museum membership levels.

About the White River Valley Museum
The White River Valley Museum is open 12 Noon to 4 PM, Wednesdays through Sundays, and by appointment for group tours and research. Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for children and seniors. Wednesdays are free for everyone. For more information call (253) 288-743