The Addis Train Museum in West Baton Rouge Parish tells the story of how this small Louisiana town, once known as Baton Rouge Junction, grew from a vital transportation hub into a community rooted in railroad history. For over a century, trains have rolled through Addis, leaving a lasting imprint on its identity.
a glimpse of train history in the addis museum
The town of Addis owes its very existence to the railroad. Originally called Baton Rouge Junction, the town served as a key stop for passengers traveling west. “It was because to go west, the people from Baton Rouge had to come here to catch the trains,” explained Jocelyn Myhand Gauthreaux, one of the museum’s dedicated volunteers. In 1915, the town was renamed Addis to avoid confusion with Baton Rouge across the Mississippi River. The name honors John Wesley Addis, a superintendent of the Texas and Pacific Railroad.
addis train museum featured on tv
a museum with a story
Housed in a century-old bank building, the Addis Train Museum showcases the town’s deep connection to its railroad roots. The bank itself has a history, having closed after just seven years due to the Great Depression and a railroad strike. Over the years, the building also served as a post office and a grocery store.
Inside, the museum displays an array of artifacts from Addis’s railroad past. Visitors can see a conductor’s hat, train tickets, a ticket puncher, and even the pocket watches that supervisors synchronized daily. “Every morning they had to synchronize that watch with the clock at the depot,” said volunteer Ella Thibodaux, whose father worked on the railroad. “That was so they would know when these trains were coming through—they had to get off that track.”
beyond trains – a community collection
While the railroad remains the centerpiece, the museum also features exhibits on local military veterans, historic schools, and family life. Radios, old telephones, and clothing offer a glimpse into life in early Addis. Outside, a retired caboose sits in the town park, reminding visitors of a bygone era.
“You might not have a lot of interest now, but down the road, somebody’s going to want to know something about their grandparents that they didn’t know,” Thibodaux said. “And we wanna preserve all those memories here.”
visiting the addis train museum
Today, the railroad still runs in front of the museum, symbolizing the importance of Addis’s past to its future. The museum is open by appointment only; visitors can schedule a tour by calling the town hall at (225) 687-4844. The museum is located at 7821 Harris Ave, Addis, Louisiana.
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