Laws Railroad Museum: A Hidden Gem in Bishop, California

The Laws Railroad Museum in Bishop, California, is a delightful slice of Americana where you can return to the days when steam locomotives ruled the rails. The museum preserves the Owens Valley railroad town of Laws. The original Carson & Colorado Railway Depot and other historic buildings provide a fascinating look into the history of Owens Valley. Landmark buildings, mining and farming equipment in and around Owens Valley, and railroad artifacts are displayed, along with the museum’s signature piece, the Slim Princess steam locomotive.

Laws Railroad Museum What To See

Slim Princess Old Number Nine

The old number 9, The Slim Princess, is parked on a few feet of narrow-gauge track next to the original train depot. This steam engine was built by the Baldwin Locomotive Works in 1911 and was originally used on the Nevada-California-Oregon Railway. Later, it became the property of the Southern Pacific Railroad. The Slim Princess was the last narrow-gauge steam locomotive to pull a passenger train on the Southern Pacific narrow-gauge line. Its final run was on August 25, 1959.

Death Valley Railroad Brill Car

The Death Valley Brill Car, a self-propelled railcar that once transported tourists from Death Valley Junction to the mining town of Ryan, covering 22 miles, is fully restored and operational. Visitors to the Laws Railroad Museum can embark on a unique journey by riding this historic train on select weekends during the summer. It’s a thrilling opportunity to step back in time and experience a piece of railroad history. Well-behaved dogs are permitted to ride in the Brill Car.

Laws Station Building

The town of Laws, California, originally named Bishop Station, was renamed Laws in honor of Southern Pacific superintendent R.J. Laws. The train depot was constructed to serve the Carson & Colorado Railroad, and the first train chugged into town in 1883. The last train left the station in 1960, ending a 77-year run that had seen the town rise and fall with the railroad’s fortunes. Today, the station building serves as the museum office, a gift shop, and the main entrance to the grounds. Admission requires a ten-dollar donation, while children under 12 get in for free.

Laws Railroad Museum Historic Site

The Laws Railroad Museum and Historic Site, located on land donated to Inyo County and the City of Bishop by the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1964, offers a unique opportunity to explore an extensive collection of railroad and mining relics spread across the area. Visitors can view several buildings from the original town of Laws and historic buildings from the surrounding Owens Valley. Also on site is an 1880s Armstrong Turntable, water tower, and oil tank used for Southern Pacific narrow-gauge trains as they traveled through California’s Owens Valley.

Getting To Laws Railroad Museum

Check out the Laws Railroad Museum if you ever pass through the Owens Valley. This captivating destination is worth spending a few hours exploring. The museum is 4 1/2 miles north of Bishop on Silver Canyon Road, just past the Owens River, where U.S. 6 makes a sharp turn to the north. Look for prominent signs at the intersection that will guide you to the museum. The museum is wheelchair accessible and open all year, 10 AM to 4 PM.

Interesting Points of Interest Along Highway 395

Keough Hot Springs Resort

Keough’s Hot Springs Resort is near Bishop in California’s Owens Valley. It was established in 1919 by Phillip Keough as a health spa. The resort has changed owners several times over the years. The current owners have tried to maintain Keough Hot Springs Resort’s popularity, aiming to recreate the charm it held in the 1920s and ’30s. The resort features two hot spring-fed pools, perfect for relaxation. Hot Springs website.

Ghost Town of Little Lake, California

The only structure still standing in Little Lake is the post office, although it could be in a better state of decay. There are also a few foundations and graffiti on the rocks where the hotel once stood. Little Lake is located in Inyo County, California, along Highway 395. The Southern Pacific Railroad’s Narrow Gauge Railroad passed through Little Lake, and the “Slim Princess” stopped here to fill up its water tank on its journey through the Owens Valley.

Dirty Socks Hot Spring Olancha, California

Dirty Socks Hot Spring is located on the southeast side of Owens Lake near Olancha, California. The spring consists of a sizable concrete-lined pool fed by an underground spring. The natural hot spring water gives off a distinct odor that smells like dirty socks. While it is unclear how the springs got their name, legend has it that miners from the Cerro Gordo mine and prospectors used the thermal pool for their annual baths and to wash their dirty clothes.

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