MUSEUMS
Blackhawk has provided historical information, financial support, and awareness to numerous railroad museums and preservation projects throughout our service area.
Symerton Depot - Lockport, IL
In 2025, Backhawk made a donation to the Will County Historical Society as part of our ongoing support for the restoration and upkeep of the Symerton, Illinois Wabash Depot located at the Will County Heritage Village Open-Air Museum.
Joliet Railroad Museum (UD Tower) - Joliet, IL
Blackhawk helped prepare signage for the Joliet Area Historical Museum explaining the purpose of the tower and the history of Joliet's railroads for visitors to the Joliet Railroad Museum, located in UD Tower, which opened in 2024. Mills Tower - Iowa City, IA
Blackhawk helped the Iowa Chapter of the NRHS with their project turning the former interlocking tower into a viewing platform and railroad-watching park. You can watch the live action there on Steel Highway's live YouTube feed.
On October 5, 2021, the Iowa Chapter held an open house at Mills Tower, and we provided our donation. Read their "Thank You" letter. Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum - North Judson, IN
Blackhawk made a donation to the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum to help cover damages caused by vandals in July of 2020.
Blackhawk also provided financial support to save Grasselli Tower (shown above) which was one of the last working interlocking towers in Northwest Indiana. The tower was moved from East Chicago to North Judson in April of 2009. Fox River Trolley Museum - South Elgin, IL
Blackhawk Railway Historical Society president Bill Molony presents a check to Laura, one of the volunteers at the Fox River Trolley Museum where vandals caused over $100,000 in damage to their historic fleet in July of 2018.
Blackhawk also has provided financial support for repairs to AURORA, ELGIN & FOX RIVER ELECTRIC #304, one of the last remaining cars that ran on this line until its almost total abandonment in 1935.
Wabash #573 - Kirkwood, MO
Will County Historical Society - Lockport, ILBlackhawk was the primary contributor to the Will County Historical Society's exhibit “Trains, Trains, Trains” which ran from November 6 to 24, 2007 at their museum in downtown Lockport, Illinois. This popular exhibit featured displays of model trains, operating layouts, historic railroad photos, and timetables provided by Blackhawk members, as well as a collection of dining car china and important railroad items from the Society's archives.
Blackhawk president Bill Molony has also helped the WCHS catalog its vast archives of railroad papers and photographs, including many unique and priceless items from the 19th century.
Scott Special 100th Anniversary Display - Joliet, IL
On July 9, the "Scott Special" left Los Angeles for Chicago, consisting of an engine, a baggage car, a sleeper, and a diner, with only Scott, his wife, and a couple of others, including a newspaper writer, as passengers, along with the Santa Fe crew.
On Tuesday, July 11, 1905, a three-car passenger train chartered by noted charlatan and showman Walter “Death Valley” Scott passed through Joliet, Illinois at 11:02 a.m. en route to Chicago. Crowds lined the tracks to see the train charge through town. The train finally came to a stop in Chicago, having made the run of 2,265 miles from Los Angeles in 44 hours and 54 minutes, breaking the previous record of just under 53 hours. 
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of “The Scott Special,” Blackhawk produced an exhibit displayed during July and August of 2005 at the Joliet Area Historical Museum, incorporating historical accounts, promotional items, and a model of “The Scott Special” as it approached Joliet at Santa Fe's Lorenzo station. Books and maps rounded out the exhibit, with railroad-related activities for both adults and children.
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