The museum includes a webcam allowing viewers to watch trains passing the tower on the Northeast Corridor; it has been noted for its popularity among railfans online. Yale University Collection of Musical Instruments, 85. Youll like it if: You can climb three steep flights of stairs See on map. Operated by the Western Connecticut 3 floors to explore. Pease Museum of Natural History, 154. It was only fitting I took the train to So Norwalk train station to visit SoNo Switch Tower Museum. Tourist Railroads, Train Rides & Museums: New England - RailServe.com Leave a donation to keep these railfans' dreams alive. Part of a given pathway cant physically be set and signals given to show the way is clear unless a complete path is set. Theyd give instructions to the switch towers as to where they were heading so they knew which switches to throw. Its a fun little place and one that used to be rather crappy and run down. These towers were staffed by operators who would manually operate the switching of the tracks by throwing giant levers in the tower. The SoNo Switch Tower Museum restoration has saved this important part of our country's industrial heritage, and is a fascinating look-back to the Country's transportation and communications before jetliners and computers. National Natural Landmarks, Trails, et. Mystic Seaport; Museum of America and the Sea, 28. Hall of Fame, 187. Arts Council of Gr. No entrance fee but they appreciate any donations for the upkeep of the museum. The SoNo Switch Tower Museum is a unique and curious item. This large former New Haven Railroad signal tower has been wonderfully restored. The SoNo Switch Tower Museum is one such museum. Middletown Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, 97. 3 floors to explore. We left the aquarium to get some real food when we walked past the switch tower museum. Everything from throwing switches to how they communicated with trains, and more. A very quick tour but worth the few minutes if you can spare it. Yale University Art & Architecture Galleries, 84. The area hosts a variety of shopping, dining, and entertainment for all ages. EN Sono Switchtower Museum Science & Technology History & Anthropology #2 History & Anthropology in Norwalk #9 Free museums in Connecticut #9 History & Anthropology in Connecticut #5 Science & Technology in Connecticut Sono Switch Tower Museum Washington Street 77 CT 06854 Norwalk With its detailed exhibits, visitors can explore every aspect of it, from the early days of locomotives to modern-day trains. [2], New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. More Links Here Nevertheless, if you're in the area and have an interest in trains, drop by - it is interesting, and the volunteers are very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. Whether youre a passionate historian or just looking for a unique way to spend an afternoon, the SoNo Switch Tower Museum is worth a visit! When youre nearing the end of a day-long CTMQ day of museuming, what could be better than a decidedly quirky little museum to put that pep back in your step? It is three stories high, but only about 20 feet wide. Computer-assisted dispatchers manage 700 trains per day up and down the line near Grand Central Terminal. What hotels are near SoNo Switch Tower Museum? Staff on each floor explain the in and outs how the switch tower works. Welcome to the SONO Switch Tower Museum! - westctnrhs.org Chapter, National Railway Historical Society, 77 Washington The following two paragraphs (railway interlocking are the same as the museums switches) are from the foreward to , The Classic Railway Signal Tower, written by Bill Withuhn from the Smithsonian: You have done more than any man living to save human life. So said King Edward VII, when he was the Prince of Wales, to one of the key inventors in the story of the railway interlocking, John Saxby. It's small but very interesting facts! It was very interesting as well as intimidating. They also housed the mechanism for You get to try out throwing the switches (hooked up to display tracks, not the actual railroad), so you can see the level of effort needed to align a train's route (and learn why these were called "Armstrong" switches). Well, aside from a bite of the worlds most expensive chocolate across the street or perhaps a wooden shoe fitting next door? Well, aside from a bite of the worlds most expensive chocolate across the street or perhaps a wooden shoe fitting next door? It has been preserved as a museum. I took my two young kids up and the guide at the top of the tower did a great job explaining what it used to do. This small beach is by the urban area and very well connected. The Museum is furnished as it was during active service in the 1950s. UConn Greenhouses and EEB Collections, 91. Copyright 2006-2014 Connecticut Museum Quest. Welcome to the SONO Switch Tower Museum! - westctnrhs.org only open on weekends. Fairfield Academy and Old Barn Exhibit, 122. I speak from experience living with one! SONO Switch Tower Museum is located in the fully restored 1896-built A DAY AT THE SONO SWITCH TOWER MUSEUM - YouTube Cemeteries, Monuments, Unique Statuary & Greens, PT Barnum Monument & Grave (Bonus: Tom Thumb), X. SoNo Collection SoNo Switch Tower Museum Eco Evolution North Water Street Park Sheffield Island Ferry Other amenities: Dining nearby, gift shop, Copyright 2023 Connecticut Office of Tourism. SoNo Switch Tower is a preserved switch tower in Norwalk, Connecticut, in the United States. I cant think of anything more Yuppie than this, right across the street from the Switch Tower Museum: Seriously. Highland Package Store Beer Can Museum, Defunct 1: The Museum of American Political Life, Defunct 4: National Shaving and Barbershop Museum, Defunct 5: The Frank Chiarenza Museum of Glass, Defunct 8: Somers Mtn Museum of Natural History and Primitive Technology, Defunct 9: The Winchester Center Kerosene Lamp Museum, Defunct 11: Menczer Museum of Medicine & Dentistry, Defunct 13. this mechanism by throwing levers that were connected to the tracks, Most switch towers have been torn down in the name of progress and really, the term progress is apt here so these remaining reminders provide a glimpse into the not-too-distant past. They gladly take donations to help preserve and maintain the property. While not as well known as other cutesy nicknames like WeHo, SoHo or TriBeCa (West Hollywood, South of Houston St. in Manhattan and the Triangle Below Canal Street Sheesh, you people need to get out more), SoNo certainly has its charms. Take cash to buy something or make a donation. Incredible and knowledgeable team of train educators! Soon, this page will be updated to include information about visiting South Norwalk, CT and the Museum. As part of our walk through the SoNo Arts Festival we visited this small museum and listened to a talk about how trains were operated as recently as the 1970s. Its one of those semi-success stories of downtown revitalization through an infusion of cash, credit and yuppie-ism. The museum has a webcam that allows visitors to watch trains pass by the tower on the Northeast Corridor; its popular among online railfans. Because it's totally lame. While we were up there we watched a few trains go by. Step back in time and see railroading of yesterday. Whether you prefer boutique style or larger, more traditional lodging options, Norwalk has a few options nearby. Free to visit but gave a donation! They were extremely thorough (but fun) explaining the incredible complexity of the process and yet how elegant the solution to some of the problems were. SoNo Switch Tower Museum Historic 1890s New Haven Railroad switch tower, museum features the only "Armstrong" switch lever machine in Connecticut. Theyd give instructions to the switch towers as to where they were heading so they knew which switches to throw. Staff was very friendly and helpful. While there commuter trains past by. Some model switch towers. Wallace Barnes and Barbara Hackman Franklin Art Gallery, 98. You go to the 3rd floor where all the switch levers are that controlled all the train switchesamazingour guide was passionate and actually operated the switches in the summers in his youth. SoNo Switch Tower is a preserved switch tower in Norwalk, Connecticut, in the United States. SoNo Switchtower Museum Destroying the myth that there is nothing to do here, Magazine/Book Editors, Please enjoy the entire site, aside from a bite of the worlds most expensive chocolate, II. Historic 1890s New Haven Railroad switch tower, features the only Armstrong switch lever machine in Connecticut. I think the opening hours are Sat & Sun 12-5pm, but check their website or drop them an email if you're really keen. (Yvonne stuck with the non-museum Patrick Baker & Sons religious store instead.). The SONO Switch Tower Museum. You will not spend much time in the museum but when in South Norwalk (SONO) it is worth a visit. Hours: May-October, Saturday and Sunday 12pm-5pm Directions. Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, 192. Address: 509 Westport Ave, Norwalk, CT 06851 3. The volunteers love their jobs and share their extensive knowledge of the early and current rail lines. Welcome to the SONO Switch Tower Museum! [1] [2] Often referred to as SoNo, [3] [4] [5] the neighborhood was originally settled as Old Well, then chartered as the city of South Norwalk on August 18, 1870. read more. Choo-choo. Las Arenas Beach is located in Bizkaia's town of Getxo, very close to the Churruca quay and the Bizkaia Hanging Bridge, which has the World Heritage status. 2nd floor and other wonderful guide with great insight to 1896 when the tower was built and the amazing equipment we were looking at. They also housed the mechanism for changing trains from one track to another. My wife used to have a stroller fetish, and my oh my, MacLaren was way WAY too pedestrian. May-October, Saturday and Sunday 12pm-4pm. The Norwalk Museum (CTMQ visit here), the Maritime Center (CTMQ Visit here) And great restaurants as well. The SoNo Switch Tower Museum offers a unique look into the history of the railroad industry, but its just the start of a, Calf Pasture Beach: Where to Experience Summer Bliss in Norwalk, Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum: A Glimpse into Gilded Age Luxury, The Norwalk Historical Society Museum: Norwalks Hidden Gem, South Norwalk CT: Where History Meets Modernity, line of towers from Grand Central Terminal, ferry to see the Sheffield Island Lighthouse, things to do in Norwalk, CT then take a look at our guide with all of the top activities curated just for you, Ice Cream in Greenwich: Top Spots to Scoop Up Happiness, Directions to Greenwich, CT, and Stanton House Inn. Welcome to the SONO Switch Tower Museum! Sono Switch Tower Museum is a museum in Norwalk in United States. It was no exaggeration. Mattatuck Museum Arts & History Center, 138. Impossible? Berlin Historical Museum at the Berlin Fair, 194. Vernon Railroad Depot Outdoor Museum, 204. Welcome to the SONO Switch Tower Museum! How this fail-safe arrangement works is brilliant in its conception. 77 Washington Street, South Norwalk, CT The SONO Switch Tower Museum tells the great history of the railroad switch tower. Cost: Free (Donations encouraged) Read our. Nearby Destinations. It is located on the Amtrak Northeast Corridor and many different types of trains are passing every hour. (We did visit later.). THE 10 BEST Indoor Things to Do in Norwalk (Updated 2023) - Tripadvisor Street, South Norwalk, CT. the SONO Switch Tower and more information about railroads. Website Accessibility Policy | Privacy Policy, https://stantonhouseinn.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/logo.jpg, The museum offers a unique look at the railroad industry, Things to do nearby to the SoNo Switch Tower Museum, This 1868 house is a great place to check out. Take them to this museum. Wherever you decide to stay, youll be sure to find excellent accommodation for your trip! One must climb up the steep stairs on the back of the building to reach the switch tower, but once up there, an important piece of railroading history is right there totally accessible. Massive switches were manually thrown by each tower along the train tracks that handled a section. And it has been restored and filled with beautiful artifacts that were popular at the time, making for a truly immersive experience! 40 Things to Do in Connecticut this August, 12 Summer Experiences You Just Can't Have in the City, Guide to Summer Seafood Shacks in Connecticut, Outdoor Summer Concert Series & Festivals 2023, Connecticut Summer at the Museum 2023 - Free Admission for Kids. Reviewed August 21, 2021. christopherbO9687MP, Acton, Massachusetts. Food & Drink? Called Station 44 because it was the 44th on the line out of New York City, the tower also controlled all movements on the former Wilson Point Branch, the original terminus of the Danbury and Norwalk railroad. Review of SoNo Switch Tower Museum, Norwalk, CT - Tripadvisor ArtPlace at Yale Physicians Building, 178. Might be 5 miles, might be 500 feet, I dont know). The tower also featured a model board that showed the exact location of each train. We had just parked in Sono and we wanted to do something memorable with the boys related to what they were into at the time. Peter Greenwood Glass Blowing Studio, 153. Staff was very friendly and helpful. The following two paragraphs (railway interlocking are the same as the museums switches) are from the foreward to , The Classic Railway Signal Tower, written by Bill Withuhn from the Smithsonian: You have done more than any man living to save human life. So said King Edward VII, when he was the Prince of Wales, to one of the key inventors in the story of the railway interlocking, John Saxby. Okay, okay Here goes: This switch tower was a vital part of our industrial and railroading history. SoNo Switch Tower Museum 4.5 43 reviews #8 of 29 things to do in Norwalk Speciality Museums Visit website Call Write a review What people are saying " Closed until May " Mar. What restaurants are near SoNo Switch Tower Museum? The sentinel of the railroad, the speeding trains watchman, and the railroaders guardian angel when danger lurks the interlocking signal tower has been called all of those things, and with justification. A Porsche-like showroom for MacLaren baby strollers. CT Audubon Society Center at Pomfret, 112. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. The. 88 years on the job without a vacation! Probably doesn't take longer than 20 minutes but everyone we take here loves it. Explore our hotel and hospitality jobs. The Childrens Garbage Museum, Defunct 16. SoNo Switch Tower finds internet fan base - The Hour by Stephen A. McEvoy (Author), Smithsonian Institution William L. Withuhn (Contributor), Smithsonian Institution Welcome to the best book, bar none, ever written about railroad signal towers and their skillful staffs. Its within walking distance of the SoNo Switch Tower Museum. Western Connecticut Chapter, National Railway Historical Society. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. One must climb up the steep stairs on the back of the building to reach the switch tower, but once up there, an important piece of railroading history is right there totally accessible. It has been preserved as a museum. Small (it's entirely in the switch tower), but enthusiastically run - it's so good to see places like this making the effort to open up to the public, when in reality there's a very small number of people who are actually interested - ie you do have to be at least a train enthusiast, if not a signalling nutter to truly appreciate this. Bottom line there is more than enough to do within easy walking distance for one and all. The Classic Railway Signal Tower - amazon.com The Maritime Aquarium Source: Miro Vrlik Photography / shutterstock The Maritime Aquarium An aquarium done properly, the Maritime Aquarium has 75 live exhibits, with more than 2,700 marine animals from 300 different species. In fact, part of the allure of the museum is that visitors can pull the very same Armstrong levers that moved switches and signals on the Main Line for 88 years and its not easy. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. By the 1860s and 70s, trains were running both in the United Kingdom and in the U.S. on growing networks of track, with increasing numbers of rail junctions and crossings of one rail line by another. top of page. the mechanism of switching trains from one track to another. We wanted to visit since the website says it is open on Sundays, but the gate is locked and there is a sign indicating the facility doesn't open until May 2022. Rent a whole home for your next weekend or holiday. Karpn Fauna, Biscay,Basque Country, Spain. 2022 We wanted to visit since the website says it is open on Sundays, but the gate is locked and there is a sign indicating the facility doesn't open until May 2022. And its really pretty cool. This little museum is an enthusiasts mecca. This prevented trains from crashing. The tour guides are great. Operated by the Western Connecticut Staff on each floor explain the in and outs how the switch tower works. Copyright 2006-2015 Connecticut Museum Quest. I took my 2 little nieces there this past summer thinking that they would have enjoyed it..big mistake..while I & my husband found it interesting they were very bored. This place is actually pretty cool for a hard-core train buff but miniscule, which is why I gave it an average rating. Freebies: A list of movies with trains in them, All things Railroad in Connecticut here, at the CTMQ Railfan Depot, SoNo Switch Tower Museum oh man, so much here. (We did visit later.). It was only fitting I took the train to So Norwalk train station to visit SoNo Switch Tower Museum. A popular pick of Norwalk hotels includes the Residence Inn by Marriott Norwalk. 77 Washington Street, South Norwalk, CT SONO Switch Tower Museum Photo Albums Main Album Splash Festival 2004 More Links Here Copyright 2004. But it is the rare museum that is entirely unique in and of itself. The Cushing Center & Yale Medical Library, 223. Towers were used by railroads to control areas of track, preventing trains from crashing. Sat. During guided tours of this amazing living museum, learn about the stories of: The SoNo Switch Tower Museum offers a fascinating insight into the past of the railroad industry. It's very interesting to see how far the trains have come along with modern technology. Sono Switch Tower Museum - Facebook Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more. New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, "The History Behind the SoNo Switch Tower Museum: Cameron on Transportation", "SoNo Switch Tower finds internet fan base", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=SoNo_Switch_Tower&oldid=1111039278, Short description is different from Wikidata, Infobox mapframe without OSM relation ID on Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, This page was last edited on 19 September 2022, at 00:36. Switch Towers Wiki You will have fun but only on weekends afternoon, SoNo Switch Tower Museum (Norwalk) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go. SoNo Switch Tower Museum. And its free - donations only. The sentinel of the railroad, the speeding trains watchman, and the railroaders guardian angel when danger lurks the interlocking signal tower has been called all of those things, and with justification. They also housed the mechanism for changing trains from one track to another. Trains, Trolleys, Planes, Boats, Ferries & Lighthouses, The Oldest Operating Union Station in the US, Site of The Great East Thompson Train Wreck, Birthplace of Worlds First Business Computer, The Oldest Collegiate Athletic Competition in US, First Black Yale Grad, Ph.D. & Phi Beta Kappa, XIII. Railroads used towers to house the mechanism of switching trains from one track to another back in the day. Wadsworth Living Museum, 205. I recommend that it be visited by all age groups. Restaurants near SoNo Switch Tower Museum: SoNo Switch Tower Museum, Norwalk: Address, Phone Number, SoNo Switch Tower Museum Reviews: 4.5/5. Tremaine Gallery at the Hotchkiss School, 195. CT High School Coaches Assoc. This number is based on the percentage of all Tripadvisor reviews for this product that have a bubble rating of 4 or higher. Phone: (203) 869-2110 Youll be able to understand what life was like for its past owners and discover the local lifestyle from the turn of the century. June 13, 2009, [If you're interested in railroading stuff in Connecticut, check out my Railfan Depot page here.]. Since the advent of better computers and technology, the interlocking switch system has gone away. Bring a camera.I also found that the entire SoNo area in South Norwalk is a great little town and seaport village to visit.Steve McEvoyWest Chester, Pennsylvania, This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. 119. SoNo Switch Tower Museum The Museum is furnished as it was during active service in the 1950s. This page will soon be updated with the history of Almost all are now gone, but this one has been restored to excellent condition. Explore an array of SoNo Switch Tower Museum, Norwalk vacation rentals, including houses, apartment and condo rentals & more bookable online. 0. CT Audubon Society Center (Glastonbury), 42 & 39. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. read more, The SoNo Switch Tower Museum is a great example of early 20th Century railroad technology preserved The Mansfield Freeman Center for East Asian Studies, 202. Othniel Charles Marsh House (Marsh Hall). preventing trains from crashing. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The interlocking is not only a landmark in the history of safe railroading, it is a landmark in the history of the computers that all of us now use everyday. In fact, there is another exhibit at the museum entitled, Metro-North at 25, celebrating the commuter rail line that brings all the billionaire hedge-fund managers in Fairfield County to their Manhattan offices these days. SoNo Switch Tower - Wikipedia Admission is FREE! The Norwalk Museum (CTMQ visit here), the Maritime Center (CTMQ Visit here) And great restaurants as well. 7. And today, this museum offers more than just historical artifacts. This is a good stop for most everyone but is not for anyone who would have trouble with stairs. How this fail-safe arrangement works is brilliant in its conception. Sherman Museum of Jewish Civilization, 157. Read our. ABOUT. Destroying the myth that there is nothing to do here, Magazine/Book Editors, Please enjoy the entire site, aside from a bite of the worlds most expensive chocolate, 12. Engineers would pick up and drop off notes at the switch houses using this long pole sort of like a modern day Grabber that the elderly use as they whizzed on by. The SoNo Switch Tower Museum is one such museum. Arboreta, Gardens & Greenhouses, Labyrinths, Trees & Plants, IX. Back to the first level and a neat gift shop. And seeing this stuff in action is even cooler. Take a step back in time at the SoNo Switch Tower Museum and learn about the Golden Age of Railroads. Do browse the books, especially the kid section, and consider making a donation to this FREE great museum; it's well worth supporting. While not as well known as other cutesy nicknames like WeHo, SoHo or TriBeCa (West Hollywood, South of Houston St. in Manhattan and the Triangle Below Canal Street Sheesh, you people need to get out more), SoNo certainly has its charms. SONO SWITCH TOWER MUSEUM - 67 Washington St, Norwalk, Connecticut - Landmarks & Historical Buildings - Yelp SoNo Switch Tower Museum 3 reviews Unclaimed Landmarks & Historical Buildings, Museums Closed 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM See hours Add photo or video Write a review Add photo Location & Hours Suggest an edit 67 Washington St Norwalk, CT 06854 Hello Tim Shields! The docents were passionate and informed about the history of railroading in the US. East Granby Historical Society Museum, 248. You wont like it if: You cant.
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