Laws Railroad Museum

Old railroad cars, historic buildings, authentic artifacts from a bygone era…and so much more. This is what we found at the Laws Railroad Museum located right here in Bishop.

The 11-acre museum is housed on a historic site where the Laws Station and rail yard of the Carson & Colorado Railroad once operated. The Carson & Colorado was the longest narrow gauge railroad to operate in the west. Its 300-mile route traveled from Mound House, Nevada to Keeler, California and climbed up to an altitude of 7,100 feet as it crossed the Montgomery Pass. The last steam engine to operate on the railway is on display at the museum. Named the “Slim Princess”, this locomotive, along with most of the other train cars on display, are more than 100 years old and still in amazing condition.

The Laws Railroad Museum is about far more than just trains and railroads. The Bishop Historical society runs the museum and has done an amazing job of re-creating an historical village from the 1880s complete with a pharmacy, general store, school, library, saloon, post office, blacksmith and much, much more.

The village was created by moving old historic buildings from around the Owens Valley. Each building is stuffed full of fascinating artifacts alongside informative signs and plaques.

There is also an impressive collection of old farm equipment & wagons, a replica mining mill, old time fire trucks, and a 60 year old mine train.

In short, this museum offers a fascinating look into a life in the 1880s. For a mere $5 donation per person in our opinion this is a very worthwhile addition to any visit to the Bishop area.