The Midland Valley Railroad Company was incorporated in 1903 and headquartered in Muskogee. This passenger station was built in 1916 and during the 1920’s as many as 9,000 passengers per day traveled to Tulsa from this point. Regular service was also provided to Ft. Smith, Arkansas, Denison, Texas and Wichita, Kansas. Nearby, the railroad built locomotive and car repair shops with facilities and roundhouse to maintain 16 steam engines. At one time, coal, crude oil and farm products made up a sizeable portion of the freight carried by this railroad. In the 1930’s, as passenger traffic declined, this depot was used primarily as a light freight station. In 1964, the Midland Valley, with other short line railroads, were acquired by the Texas and Pacific, then the Missouri Pacific Company, and in 1983 merged into the Union Pacific Railroad. Currently this site on Elgin between Second and Third Streets with the Three Rivers Museum located inside.
Our History
Three Rivers Museum was established in 1989 as the dream of local historian Dorothy Ball, who was then chairman of the Muskogee Historic Preservation Commission.
The Museum board searched for a number of years for a suitable building to house a museum that would tell the fascinating story of the development of the Three Rivers region of Oklahoma. As one of the earliest areas west of the Mississippi to be settled, this region has a long and colorful past. In 1998,with federal grant funds, the city of Muskogee purchased the derelict Midland Valley Railroad Depot, a mission-style structure built in 1916 that had been abandoned for a number of years.
These same grant funds enabled the city to restore the Depot to its original beauty. Today, exhibits on local heritage fill the passenger and freight areas of the renovated Midland Valley Railroad Depot and a charming gift shop is housed in the old ticket booth.
In 2002, Georgia Pacific donated a 1940s-era diesel switch engine to the museum, and it is open for visitors to view. Come visit us in the Depot District of downtown Muskogee.
The Museum board searched for a number of years for a suitable building to house a museum that would tell the fascinating story of the development of the Three Rivers region of Oklahoma. As one of the earliest areas west of the Mississippi to be settled, this region has a long and colorful past. In 1998,with federal grant funds, the city of Muskogee purchased the derelict Midland Valley Railroad Depot, a mission-style structure built in 1916 that had been abandoned for a number of years.
These same grant funds enabled the city to restore the Depot to its original beauty. Today, exhibits on local heritage fill the passenger and freight areas of the renovated Midland Valley Railroad Depot and a charming gift shop is housed in the old ticket booth.
In 2002, Georgia Pacific donated a 1940s-era diesel switch engine to the museum, and it is open for visitors to view. Come visit us in the Depot District of downtown Muskogee.
Our Vision
A regional museum dedicated to providing an education center that reflects the past heritage of the Three Rivers area of Eastern Oklahoma and to establish a respect for the region’s past and to contribute value and quality to its future.
Our Mission
Three Rivers Museum is a regional museum dedicated to providing and education center that reflects the past heritage of the Three Rivers area of Eastern Oklahoma and to establish a respect for the region's past and contribute value and quality to its future.
Three Rivers Museum was created in 1989, to collect, preserve, research, exhibit, and interpret objects that best serve to illustrate the heritage of the Three Rivers area of Eastern Oklahoma from 1800 to the present day. The Three Rivers area includes Muskogee, Wagoner, Cherokee, McIntosh, Okmulgee, Haskell, Southern Mayes and Western Sequoyah counties.
Three Rivers Museum was created in 1989, to collect, preserve, research, exhibit, and interpret objects that best serve to illustrate the heritage of the Three Rivers area of Eastern Oklahoma from 1800 to the present day. The Three Rivers area includes Muskogee, Wagoner, Cherokee, McIntosh, Okmulgee, Haskell, Southern Mayes and Western Sequoyah counties.
