The South Dakota State Railroad Museum is closing this fall after the owner of the building decided not to renew the museum’s lease. Located alongside the Black Hills Central Railroad in Hill City, S.D., the museum has preserved the state’s railroad history since the 1990s. 

The museum features a former Chicago & North Western caboose, as well as several exhibits and a paper archive. While the museum has occupied the space for years, the new owner of the Black Hills Central, World Choice Investments, has different plans for it. Museum officials said they are not disbanding and that their artifacts and exhibits will hopefully be displayed elsewhere. The museum is expected to close on October 16 and vacate the space by February 1, 2027. 

—Justin Franz