Native Land

It is important to acknowledge that long before the Pacific Northwest was colonized, the Nisqually were the first people living in the foothills of Mt. Rainier (Mt. Tahoma) and along the river. The Nisqually Villages Lah-al-thu (Elbe), Meschal (Mashel River), and Squaitz (Skate Creek) existed concurrently with the development of the railroad. In fact, in 1867, surveys for the Northern Pacific Railroad indicated native activity in the area surrounding Elbe, now home to our railway depot. Despite the establishment of the Nisqually Indian Reservation after the Indian War of 1855-1856, many Nisqually would not relocate and remained in their Mountain Villages, particularly the Squaitz village on Skate Creek. As white settlers established the towns of Elbe and Eatonville, they recorded many written histories of Nisqually hunting parties and frequent trade relations (Holter et al.). Nisqually history is intertwined with that of the development of Elbe, Eatonville, and the “taming” of the wilderness, enabled by the growth of the railroad.

The Stories of Many People

As fortunes were made and lost by railroad tycoons and lumber mill owners, working conditions in the logging camps and on the railroad were hard and hazardous. Workers and oftentimes, their families, lived in transient logging camps that were transported by rail and picked up and moved frequently as logging operations continued further into the forested area. Mills paid workers in scrip – only redeemable at company stores; accidents, injury, and death were frequent fixtures of logging camp life. The camp life was hard and a true “wild west” oftentimes full of accidents, alcohol, and the related hazards of each (Holter et al.). WWI began transforming the logging industry, with the creation of the Spruce Production Division - the military recruited experienced loggers and requisitioned privately owned companies to help keep up with increased demand, due to the explosion in airraft construction. Many logging camps remained active until WWII began to change the industrial dynamics of the country. Many loggers enlisted, despite being exempt from the draft. Japanese-American logging camps were shut down as their members were sent to internment camps. At the same time, many prisoners of war that were deemed low risk were offered a choice to work in logging camps to help combat labor shortages (Toivonen). The stories of logging camps and railroads are intimately woven into the fabric of the United States; the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Logging camps were phased out towards the middle of the century as technology and transportation advanced. Western Forest Industries Museum displays a variety of equipment, from the 13-ton Satsop steam engine, built in 1885 by H.K. Porter, to the giant, 90-ton No. 91 Heisler built in 1930, and more recent technological additions, such as the giant mid-1970s Wagner Log Loader.

The Railroad's History

The Tacoma Eastern Railway began construction from Tacoma south into the heavily forested area towards Mt. Rainier in the 1890s. During the late 1880s, Tacoma had become the “City of Destiny” – a home to ambitious settlers who were rampant speculators, rapid and aggressive developers, and those looking to make their fortune – now possible by the new vast and interconnected railway networks popping up across the country. The economic drivers allowing for the quick and aggressive expansion of the west were lumber and railroads (Holter et al.). Western Forest Industries Museum is home to a comprehensive collection of steam-powered logging locomotives – the iron horses that allowed for the expansion of the United States as we know it.

While Western Forest Industries Museum has historically focused on the logging equipment, the feats of engineering, and the ingenuity that helped navigate the challenging terrain of rural West Coast forests, we are committed to telling the story in a wider and more inclusive context.

Our Organization's Roots

The Milwaukee Road closed its railroad operations in 1980. Weyerhaeuser acquired the line and allowed local logging-mogul Tom Murray Jr, to use it, to preserve the historic railroad equipment Tom had started to acquire. Mr. Murray was determined to preserve the logging steam locomotives and logging equipment he grew up with, and saved many steam locomotives and pieces of logging equipment from scrap heaps. With the help of many volunteers, Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad was born – eventually expanding to the repair facility in Mineral to include a museum, featuring all three types of geared engines in operable condition. Over the years, the museum expanded in nature to include a logging camp, a variety of logging equipment, nine steam locomotives, and four diesel-electric locmotives. The railroad and museum were home to many volunteers and employees, talented restorationists who maintained and operated locomotives built a century ago, operating many tourist excursions.

In 2016, American Heritage Railways, operator of the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad purchased Mt. Rainier Scenic Railroad and renamed it Mt. Rainier Railroad & Logging Museum. Under AHR’s management, new events such as The Polar ExpressTM Train Ride were introduced, bringing over 40,000 passengers to the small town of Elbe every year, during the months of November and December, for a holiday train ride. The economic impact of the railroad was significant – the operation contributed jobs, tourist dollars, and significant local purchasing to the area. In 2020, American Heritage Railways made the decision to shut down operations at the Mt. Rainier Railroad & Logging Museum due to operational difficulties with the parent company and the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The towns of Elbe, Eatonville, and Pierce County have become acutely aware of the absence of the railroad. The railroad was enjoyed by families from all over the country, and it’s loss has been noted. The railroad, once a jewel of the heritage railway preservation movement, was lost. In 2022, Western Forest Industries Museum was reborn; spearheaded by Eatonville Mayor David Baublits, and a coalition of small business owners, WFIM has formed a new board of directors and management team. American Heritage Railways has returned all assets to the newly revitalized nonprofit. While the road ahead is long, WFIM intends to reopen the museum, the railroad, and expand operations to the town of Eatonville, creating a significant economic generator for the town, while improving the museum, and highlighting the stories of the people that lived along and worked on the railroad. .