ALL ABOARD!!! It is time for a history lesson second graders in the District won’t soon forget.  On this day it was Camas Elementary second graders stepping off their bus at the Northern Pacific Railway Museum in Toppenish and stepping back in time more than 100 years.  The hands-on lesson includes a tour of the 117 year old depot that houses many of the artifacts. They also get to enjoy a short ride on the rails in a vintage 1946 Day/Night Coach which gives the students a chance to imagine what train travel was like in the mid-1940’s. While on a walking tour of the rail yard the wide-eyed students pass through a 1970’s caboose and then move on to the highlight of the visit, the pump car. The pump car is what you would call the “hands-on” part of their excursion. Four students at a time board the car manned by a museum staff person. Each of them grab a corner of the pump handle and with all their might they get to find out what kind of “kidpower” it takes to propel the car down the tracks.  In addition to all the fun the students have, they also learn very important lessons about preservation and stewardship. Mary Odell with the Yakima Valley Rail and Steam Museum Association says that is part of the goal of the student tours.  When the students step out of the museum and back into present day she hopes they have a better understanding of why it is important to preserve history and share it with future generations.

  The Yakima Valley Rail and Steam Museum Association has been sharing this slice of history with second graders in region for a dozen years.  The tours are made possible by a number of gracious sponsors. This year they include Washington Beef of Toppenish, Growers Supply of Toppenish, Yakama Nation Legends Hotel & Casino, Keith & Peggy Corbett, Washington State Operation LifeSaver and an anonymous donor.