DeQuincy Railroad Museum

The town of DeQuincy, Louisiana was founded at the intersection of two major railroad lines in 1895, just 25 miles outside of Lake Charles. Today, artifacts from those two railroads are housed in a century-old train depot that looks refreshingly out of place in the southwest Louisiana landscape.

Most train depots built in the early 20th century were done so in the Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, or standard utilitarian style. When the Missouri Pacific and Kansas City railroads intersected here at the turn of the century, however, this train depot’s architects had something else in mind. Hoping to imbue the new town with a distinct aesthetic character, they looked to the American southwest. They built the depot in the Mission Revival style, replete with stucco walls, red-tile roofs, and rounded archway windows. Today, it’s one of only three such railroad stations remaining in the state of Louisiana. 

Preservationists converted the depot into a museum in 1974, restoring its original architectural features and preserving local rail history with a collection of historic machines like a 1913 steam switch engine, 1947 Pullman coach car, and two vintage cabooses. Other artifacts include historic tools, switch keys, telegraph devices, and dining-car silverware as well as both static and working model train collections. Visitors can peruse the large waiting room, baggage room, and agent’s office while taking in exhibits on how railways shaped the region throughout the early 20th century. 

Those visiting in early April can attend the Louisiana Railroad Days Festival, an event celebrating the town’s railroad heritage with live music, carnival rides, model train displays, food vendors, and the Railroad Days Pageant.