The Fort Sedgwick Museum and the Depot Museum in the little north-eastern town of Julesburg, Colorado share the history of Fort Sedgwick. They contain artifacts from the Union Pacific Railroad, the Pony Express, Native Americans, and early American pioneers.
The Depot Museum in particular focuses on housing artifacts that document early pioneer life, while the Fort Sedgwick Museum contains interpretive displays, a research room, and offices for the Fort Sedgwick Historical Society. The Depot Museum was originally an actual working Union Pacific Railroad Depot, established by the company in 1930.
On July 12, 1975, the seven-hundred-ton depot was decommissioned and moved a hundred feet to a new location, where it was turned into the museum it is today. The town of Julesburg itself relocated three times in order to better position itself along the railroad, and for a brief time was known as “the wickedest town in the West.”
The museum is open from Labor Day to Memorial Day Tuesdays through Fridays from 9 am to 1 pm, and Memorial Day to Labor Day Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm, and on Sundays from 1 pm to 4 pm. Making an appointment in advance is recommended in order to ensure availability, as the museums are staffed by volunteers.
Details
Address: 114 E 1st St, Julesburg, CO 80737 (Fort Sedgwick Museum)
Address: 201 West 1st Street, Julesburg, CO 80737 (Depot Museum)
Phone: 970-474-2061 (Fort Sedgwick Museum) | 970-474-2264 (Depot Museum)
Season: Year-round