A TOWN BUILT BY THE RAILROAD
In the mid 1800’s the Santa Fe Railroad set out to incorporate borders for Marceline to become a town. On March 6th, 1888 an election was held and from those election results the Linn County Court incorporated the City of Marceline.
Marceline was founded by the Santa Fe Railway as a division point on its Kansas City-Chicago route. The name, Marceline, came at the request of a director of the new railway whose wife had the Spanish name of “Marcelina.”
The railroad has seen many changes in Marceline since its founding. Trains no longer stop in town, although 70 pass through a day, but Marceline has never forgotten the importance the railroad had in its history.
Marceline Railroad Story
This intimate gallery space tells the history of railroading and coal mining in Marceline. Exhibits begin with early settlers homesteading in the area called Buck Snort to the arrival of the AT&SF and the founding of Marceline. The story ends with the last BNSF crew change in Marceline.
Located in the old Santa Fe Lunchroom, admission is included with the purchase of a Walt Disney Hometown Museum ticket.
E.P. Ripley Park
In 1898, the Santa Fe donated land in the center of the town for a park. Walt played in this park as a child and would later name the first steam engine at Disneyland the E.P. Ripley. The park features both a steam engine and caboose.