Historical Museum

The Wakarusa Historical Society, Inc. was organized on September 9, 1975, by Larry Smith, Floyd Drake, Robert Ehert, Helen Klien, and Jack Hess. The first meeting was held at the Lienhart Funeral Home with the goal of obtaining and restoring the Old Wakarusa Depot.

The first train passed through Wakarusa in 1873. The depot was built in 1892 and was initially used for passenger service and freight. However, passenger service ceased in 1930.

In 1964, Norfolk & Western Railroad acquired the Wabash Railroad and closed operations in May 1975. In September 1976, the depot was donated to the Wakarusa Historical Society.

Today, the property includes the depot, a doctor/veterinary office, railroad cars, a small red caboose, grandma’s house, Dean’s tool shed, a little red school, a blacksmith shop, and a firehouse with two fire trucks. The property also hosts the Vintage Power Show every third weekend in August.