The U.S. state of South Carolina is a state in the southeastern region of the nation that is sandwiched between North Carolina to the north, Georgia to the southwest, and the Atlantic Ocean to the southeast. The state is famous for its beaches and its beach towns of Charleston and Myrtle Beach. It was in this state where at Fort Sumter that the first shot of the American Civil War was fired. Along with its beaches, the state has many great small towns. Among these towns is the town of Aiken. I know. Aiken is not one of those famous towns that millions flock to every year, but it is a town that is worth visiting. Why? There is much history here to include the Battle of Aiken, an American Civil War battle where the Confederate army won the battle led by General Sherman while on his march south. What is another reason to visit? Let us say that the railroad played a role.
The town of Aiken, South Carolina was named after William Aiken. Who is William Aiken? He was the first president of the South Carolina Canal and Railroad Company. The town was erected at the western terminus of the railroad. During the railroad’s heyday, the town had a freight depot and a passenger depot.
Some of you are saying that it is all gone now. It is not.
Welcome to the Aiken Visitor Center and Train Museum. What is special about the Aiken Visitor Center and Train Museum? It is housed in a rebuilt train station after the original 1899 train station after the original train station was demolished. Although trains no longer stop here, you may be fortunate enough to see a passing train.
What is special about the Aiken Visitor Center and Train Museum? Well, of course, it is the town visitor center with information on the local activities in the town. Yes, many towns have their visitor center in an old train station, but it is a train museum. Yes, there are many train museums in old train stations. If you think it is just model trains, be advised that it is much more.
You will see model trains here, but you will also see much more.
As mentioned, the town of Aiken was erected around the railroad. The railroad ran from North Augusta, South Carolina just west of Aiken on the border with the state of Georgia, through Aiken and ran east making its way to the port city of Charleston. The train museum displays each town along the railroad as they were in 1916. At one time, the railroad was the longest railroad in the world.
The original train station was built in 1899 by the Southern Railway. The town was a sporting town and a vacation town for wealthy families like the Vanderbilt’s, the Astor’s, and the Mellon’s. Be advised that you do not need wealth to visit the Aiken Visitor Center and Train Museum, but you will get a wealth of information during your visit here.
The Aiken Visitor Center and Train Museum is located at 406 Park Avenue SE in Aiken, South Carolina. It is open from 10:00am to 3:00pm from Thursday to Saturday. Parking is street parking, and there is plenty of it. Admission is free, and the museum is wheelchair accessible. You can learn more about the visitor center and museum and about the town itself at https://www.visitaikensc.com/whattodo/detail/aiken_railroad_depot.
There are many reasons to visit Aiken, South Carolina. The Aiken Visitor Center and Train Museum is one of them. You do not need lots of wealth to visit.
John Cowgill: Stories of the Railroad 