Western Mining & Railroad Museum

Western Mining & Railroad Museum Review

The Western Mining & Railroad Museum, which is in the Old Helper Hotel in Helper's National Historic District, is a treasure and doubles as a visitor center. Elaborate model trains make their rounds through a simulated coal tunnel, and exhibits show the history of mining. Rooms depict everyday activities of Helper's past and include a medical room, a children's toy room, a school room, a railroad office, and a beauty salon. One room is dedicated to the more illicit side of Helper, with a jail cell, stills, and early beer bottles. Incredible photographs and paintings put a face on Helper's history, and there's an outdoor exhibit of trains and mining equipment.