Chuckey Depot Museum At Jonesborough

The Chuckey Depot’s original home was just down the road in Chuckey, Tennessee and now sits within WC Rowe Park in Jonesborough. Here you’ll experience the old ways of the railroad. The museum maintains themed exhibits that change every six months. Your kiddos will love the wooden train and working signal light and bell that can be found in the children’s area. The Depot now sits beside the Lost State Scenic Walkway, which makes the Depot the perfect rest stop while enjoying the outdoors.

Originally built by Southern Railway in 1906, the Depot found itself sitting on the railroad’s right of way in Chuckey and was threatened with demolition. Due to railroad policy, the building could not stay in its original location. The depot was privately owned by the Babb family who requested to relocate the building to Jonesborough, and Jonesborough was eager to have the structure.  Jonesborough discussed the possibility of creating a railroad museum because of the Town being instrumental in bringing the railroad into East Tennessee.  The Chuckey Depot created a perfect venue for such a museum

The job of moving the Depot from Chuckey to Jonesborough was a meticulous task undertaken by the Town of Jonesborough and the Heritage Alliance of Northeast TN and Southwest VA, beginning in August 2011.  The Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society also partnered in the project, providing the restoration of a red caboose that sits adjacent to the Depot in addition to numerous artifacts and photos. The Chuckey Depot officially opened in October of 2017.