Family-Friendly Activities
Backpack Buddies: Working on the Railroad
Let Penny, an adorable dog, connect your little ones to a fascinating and under-represented story-in a backpack!
Penny’s owners, Pablo and Mary Martinez, and their children experienced this space differently than you might– they were among several families of rail workers that lived in Southern Pacific railroad housing from the 1910s-1950s in what is now the museum’s parking lot.
The houses were torn down many years ago. While an interpretive marker marks the location today, this program offers a new and fun way to explore the lives and experiences of people who lived and worked on the railroad in Salem.
Once you check out this backpack from the front desk, you can learn more about working on the railroad by:
- Listening to Penny’s story
Looking through Penny’s photo book - Following Penny’s map around the site to gather clues and unlock a secret
touchable toolbox and activity - Using a real railroad lantern to play a game of lantern signal red light, green light
- Learning how to identify cargo in railroad cars
- Using the scientific method to test out the reflectiveness of historic railroad signs
Check-Out Details
Two activity backpacks are available to check out with museum admissions on a first-come first-served basis.
Adults over 18 can request a backpack at the orientation center desk, complete a check-out form, and leave a form of ID as collateral. All backpacks and tour keys are due at the orientation center desk at 3:45 pm.
