Place to see: Northwest Railway Museum, Snoqualmie, Washington, United States

About this place:

For much of America’s early history, if you wanted to get anywhere you needed a boat. The few roads that existed were usually fairly rough at best and, for much of the year, were impassable due to mud or snow. It wasn’t until the early 19th century that railroads began to revolutionize the way Americans traveled. Travel by rail made moving people and goods easier and less expensive. In many ways it was our trains that made our country and our economy what it is today. But any revolution is only good until the next revolution comes along. And as cars grew in popularity so too did trains decline.

Of course we still use trains today though their number is a fraction of they were at their peak. And their design is much different, and perhaps less romantic, than in the old days. Much of the old locomotives and rolling stock have been relegated to rust in junkyards. But there are still places to see examples from trains during the time when steam power was considered high tech. Just outside of Seattle, the Northwest Railway Museum is one such place.