Year-long celebration of first train arrival in Elkhart

ELKHART, Ind. -- Friday morning, the National New York Central Railroad Museum officially unveiled ElkartRail175.

ElkhartRail175 is a year-long slate of programs and events celebrating the 175 years since the first train arrived in Elkhart on Oct. 3, 1851.

Some programs would consist of celebratory events titled "175 Series", which will include presentations, tours, museum walk, local school art contest/exhibition, local employee stories, and a Day of Celebration on Oct. 3, 2026.

"These community events are another way of just bringing everyone together and celebrating the history that they are now a part of." Said Brent Holaway, Director of National New York Central Railroad Museum. "In fact, they're part of the present, but in another so many years, they will also be a part of the history as well. And for them to take part of the past history links them to the future and then what then becomes history after that."