Donate to WVRHS&M
Steam whistles don't come back to the mountains by accident. They come back because people decide they matter.
The Watauga Valley Railroad Historical Society & Museum has spent decades preserving authentic passenger cars, restoring historic equipment, and keeping rail history alive in Northeast Tennessee. From the restoration of Historic Clinchfield 100 to maintaining our fleet of vintage coaches, every bolt tightened and every mile traveled takes real resources.
When you donate, you are not just giving money. You are helping maintain operating vintage railcars so they can continue to travel on excursion trips. You are supporting preservation work by our dedicated Mechanical Staff. You are helping fund museum exhibits, archival preservation, educational programs, and public events at the Chuckey Depot in Jonesborough. You are helping ensure that future generations can experience railroad history not as a photograph, but as something that moves, whistles, and breathes.
Restoration materials, mechanical inspections, insurance, transportation logistics, and facility upkeep are ongoing costs. Vintage rail equipment is not decorative - it is operational, and that means careful stewardship. Your contribution directly supports that mission.
Every donation, whether large or small, keeps history on the rails.
If you believe railroad heritage should remain a living experience instead of a forgotten chapter, we invite you to support our work. Together, we can make sure the sound of a steam whistle continues to echo through our mountains for years to come.