U.S. leaders celebrated at the depot

The members of the Braidwood Area Historical Society opened the doors of the depot museum for a special exhibit to celebrate President’s Day.

The depot hosted a special open house on Monday, Feb. 18, to mark President’s Day.

The BAHS is also celebrating all the U.S. presidents throughout the month of February, with special displays including photos, magazines, displays, and information on all the presidents, their wives and families, and even their pets. All items will be on display through March 16.

The museum is open on Saturdays from noon until 3 p.m.

Inside the depot’s walls you’ll find treasures that reveal Braidwood’s rich history, from coal mining and the railroad to local schools and churches, and of course, all of the area’s interesting fossils. For more than 125 years, trains rumbling through the city of Braidwood went past the depot, which over the years housed coal-carrying horse buggies, travelers waiting to head to Chicago, and even the occasional vagrant.

The building has literally been painted every color of the rainbow.

The depot was moved to its new home at Main and Center Streets in 2009 and turned into a museum.

The City of Braidwood owns the building, which sits across from City Hall.