Old Depot Museum

The Old Depot Museum, situated in Ottawa, Kansas, is an educational hub located within a historically significant 1888 Santa Fe Depot. It serves as a vital resource for homeschooling families, offering various hands-on and immersive learning experiences. The museum is dedicated to showcasing the rich local history of Franklin County, Kansas, with an emphasis on the impact of trains in small-town development. Among its key offerings is the acclaimed One-Room School Program. This unique program allows students to experience history firsthand by participating in a recreation of a typical early 20th-century school day, complete with period costumes and traditional lessons in reading, mathematics, and penmanship—ideal for engaging homeschoolers in an interactive learning environment. Open from Tuesday to Saturday, the museum provides free admissions and regularly organizes specialized tours and programs for schools, clubs, and various educational groups. Its exhibitions delve into the history of Native Americans and other stories pertinent to the area's historical evolution.