Museum Exhibits and Collections

Rail Collection

Replica of the Pere Marquette Railroad Depot

The Museum is housed in a replica of the original Pere Marquette Depot that existed near the site in the 1920s. The original plans were discovered by lifelong New Buffalo area residents Nadra and Al Kissman and Ron and Rol Oselka and the building was built from those original blueprints.

C&O Boxcar

Acquired in 1990, this C&O rail car has been refurbished and is now the home of our newest exhibits.

Pullman WWII Troop Sleeper Car

The reconditioned Pullman Troop Sleeper features photographs, posters, and artifacts depicting the contributions made by America’s “Fighting Railroads.”

We pay tribute to the men and women who have served in the uniformed services and have a connection to New Buffalo, Michigan – living, working, or attending New Buffalo Area Schools.

This newly created exhibit borrows from the original veterans’ honor roll listing prepared by the late Shirley Paloucek, Janet Hayes, the late George Slechta, and Nadra and Al Kissman. Additional names were added by Marg Zientarski Putzke and Jim Smitchger. Jim, a 30-year military veteran designed and built the exhibit with the assistance of his oldest son, Minas.

In addition to extensive and detailed listings of New Buffalo area veterans, there are military artifacts, personal stories, and uniform items on display.

C&O Chessie Caboose

Acquiring a Caboose has long been a goal of the Museum. Our authentic bright yellow C&O Caboose is the cap on our collection. Most individuals never have the opportunity to actually go inside a railroad car other than a passenger train or mass transit.

New Buffalo Area Military Veterans (1861 – Present)

Hundreds of Histories, One Shared Community

We pay tribute to the men and women who have served in the uniformed services and have a connection to New Buffalo, Michigan – living, working, or attending New Buffalo Area Schools.

This newly created exhibit borrows from the original veterans’ honor roll listing prepared by the late Shirley Paloucek, Janet Hayes, the late George Slechta, and Nadra and Al Kissman. Additional names were added by Marg Zientarski Putzke and Jim Smitchger. Jim, a 30-year military veteran designed and built the exhibit with the assistance of his oldest son, Minas.

In addition to extensive and detailed listings of New Buffalo area veterans, there are military artifacts, personal stories, and uniform items on display.

Greater New Buffalo Area Collection

“New Buffalo: Founded by Chance – Built on a Dream” takes visitors on a journey through time, showcasing how the landscape and life in the community have changed over the past 189 years.

We pay tribute to the men and women who have served in the uniformed services and have a connection to New Buffalo, Michigan – living, working, or attending New Buffalo Area Schools.

This newly created exhibit borrows from the original veterans’ honor roll listing prepared by the late Shirley Paloucek, Janet Hayes, the late George Slechta, and Nadra and Al Kissman. Additional names were added by Marg Zientarski Putzke and Jim Smitchger. Jim, a 30-year military veteran designed and built the exhibit with the assistance of his oldest son, Minas.

In addition to extensive and detailed listings of New Buffalo area veterans, there are military artifacts, personal stories, and uniform items on display.

New Buffalo High School Collection

“New Buffalo High School, established in 1875” is dedicated to student life at New Buffalo High School. The exhibit highlights athletics, academics, music, and drama, as well as alumni who have made their mark on the national stage. School memorabilia and artifacts dating back to 1905 are displayed. There are Band, athletic, and cheerleader uniforms and a varsity Letterman sweater on display as well as trophies, plaques, newspaper pages, and photos.

We pay tribute to the men and women who have served in the uniformed services and have a connection to New Buffalo, Michigan – living, working, or attending New Buffalo Area Schools.

This newly created exhibit borrows from the original veterans’ honor roll listing prepared by the late Shirley Paloucek, Janet Hayes, the late George Slechta, and Nadra and Al Kissman. Additional names were added by Marg Zientarski Putzke and Jim Smitchger. Jim, a 30-year military veteran designed and built the exhibit with the assistance of his oldest son, Minas.

In addition to extensive and detailed listings of New Buffalo area veterans, there are military artifacts, personal stories, and uniform items on display.

HO Scale Model Train Layout

Located center-stage in the Depot is an interactive display that features an HO-scale train layout that shows visitors how the village of New Buffalo may have appeared in the 1920s. Depicted are the train yard, roundhouse, turntable locomotive facility, Hobo Village, the Pelican Pond into which boiler wash was disposed of, the Quonset Hut, which is now Oink’s Ice Cream, Whittaker Street (not to scale), and the surrounding neighborhood. Maintained by the Dunes Model Railroad Club, it demonstrates how important the Railroad was, not only to New Buffalo but to the entire region.