History and Restoration of the Operating Display:

The Hennepin-Overland Railway Historical Society, Inc. is a nonprofit exempt organization under §501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code.  Its goals include providing entertainment and education for those interested in the history and operations of railroads.  It is the successor to an unincorporated association of railroad hobbyists formed in 1976 in Richfield.  In 1985, the Hennepin-Overland (then 1,600 square feet) was moved and reassembled in 1987 at Lexington and University in St. Paul.  In 1996, enlarged to 4,000 square feet, Hennepin-Overland began looking for its own facility and settled in 1997 on the current building in Minneapolis.  The display was then taken apart again and stored.  In July, 1999, the display was opened in time for the National Model Railroad Association Convention in St. Paul.

The 4,000 square foot railroad display of the Hennepin-Overland Museum currently consists of eastbound and westbound mainlines, a branchline serving the ficticious towns of New Bergin and Summit, a logging line featuring a breathtaking hand made trestle bridge and a logging camp, multiple upper level storage yards and industrial spurs, and lower-level storage/staging yards.  We are operating 60% of the mainlines, connected by a temporary “shoo-fly” while the remainder of the mainlines and access to the lower level ("the helix") are under reconstruction.  

The Museum Shop ("Station 2501"):

We have a variety of model railroad equipment and accessories for sale at our museum shop, including detail parts, scenery materials, paints, glues, lubricants, track cleaners, couplers, wheels, books, new and used locomotives and rolling stock, buildings, and magazines.  In addition, we special order anything that’s available from model railroad wholesalers or manufacturers.

The Museum Shop also has available limited run Hennepin-Overland boxcar and hopper car kits.  These models were custom painted using the Hennepin-Overland logo and paint scheme and are not available elsewhere.  Both are also available fully assembled.  We also have for sale some limited run kits and assembled rolling stock from other h-o scale model organizations.  These cars make great gifts or souvenirs and are a must have for any Twin Cities model railroader!!!