East Ely Railroad Depot Museum near Las Vegas, NV

The railroad is long gone now. Operations ceased here in 1983, but the East Ely Railroad Depot near Las Vegas, Nevada, has found new meaning as a museum. Since 1992, this, the youngest of this state's museums, is a worthy visit for researchers, train lovers and museum goers. It is living history in operation, yet it is also a vast reservoir of archival material.
You can locate the East Ely Railroad Depot within a complex of some 24 historic structures. These include a smithy, carpenter shop, electrical workshop and pipefitters' shop. The depot, itself, looks back to its glory days in the early 1900s. Inside, all is restored. The furniture in the waiting room, the baggage area and the offices are as they would have been for the period. All together, the buildings in the East Ely Railroad Depot and those of the nearby Nevada Northern Railroad Museum comprise one of the most intact and notable railway yards.
A visit to the East Ely Railroad Depot is to be taken back into the golden days of Nevada's mining days. This was a time when copper was king and the railroads acted as the central means of transportation.  The Depot acts as an interpreter, telling the story of the age of copper and the development of  this state's railway system, particularly the Nevada Northern Railway.
The Railway Depot is open during the week, subject to holiday closures. Try to attend during special events. On these occasions, you may have the pleasure of riding the rails on a steam- operated train. Easily accessible by car, the East Ely Railroad Depot continues to operate due to a donation at the door.