Now, step back in time to the days of the Twin City Rapid Transit Company. Today, we are standing in front of the Minnesota Streetcar Museum, a place where the past comes alive in the form of lovingly restored streetcars. This museum is not just about collecting old vehicles, but about keeping the spirit of Minnesota’s streetcar system alive for future generations.
The Minnesota Streetcar Museum has its roots in the Minnesota Transportation Museum, founded in 1962. The original purpose of the museum was to save a single streetcar called Twin City Rapid Transit No. 1300. This streetcar was built back in 1905 when streetcars were the primary mode of transportation. At the time, they were all over the Twin Cities, but they were eventually replaced by buses.
The Minnesota Transportation Museum was determined to keep the spirit of the streetcars alive. They restored the old streetcar, and in 1971 they built a replica station near Lake Harriet. This replica station stands today in front of the Minnesota Streetcar Museum, reminding us of a time when people rode streetcars.
Today, the Minnesota Streetcar Museum runs two historic lines: The Como-Harriet Line and the Excelsior Line. The Como-Harriet Line is a mile long and takes you past Lake Harriet and Bde Maka Ska (Lake Calhoun). The Excelsior Line takes you on an eight-minute ride through the south side of Excelsior.
The museum has five operable streetcars, three from the Twin City Rapid Transit Company and two from the Duluth Street Railway Company. In addition, the museum is restoring other streetcars: a Winona streetcar and a Fargo-Moorhead Birney streetcar.
If you step inside the Minnesota Streetcar Museum, you’ll be transported back in time. You’ll see original streetcar interiors, as well as interactive exhibits and historical displays. You’ll learn all about the history of streetcars in Minnesota, and you’ll be able to see these wonderful pieces of history up close. So, next time you’re looking for a unique museum experience right here in Minneapolis, make sure to visit the Minnesota Streetcar Museum.