Bishop, CA
Laws Railroad Museum and Historical Site
4.8· 761 Google reviews
At a Glance
Source checked 2026-08-24- TypeEleven-acre railroad and Owens Valley history museum with limited Brill Car rides near Bishop
- LocationBishop, CA
- Rating4.8 ★761 Google reviews
- UpcomingSat, Oct 31
About Laws Railroad Museum and Historical Site
Laws Railroad Museum and Historical Site preserves the original 1883 depot and station yard about five miles north of Bishop. Its eleven acres interpret the Carson & Colorado and Southern Pacific narrow-gauge railroad alongside mining, ranching, household, and community history from the Owens Valley. The museum is open daily, while the narrated ride aboard restored Death Valley Railroad Brill Car No. 5 operates only on selected dates.
Plan a Laws Museum Visit
Choose the visit that fits your groupRailfans, families, and Eastern Sierra history travelers
Explore the depot and eleven-acre grounds
Start at the original depot, then allow time for railroad equipment, historic buildings, mining displays, and Owens Valley collections.
Visitors for whom an actual train ride is essential
Ride Brill Car No. 5
Choose a listed operating date for the 15-20 minute narrated ride and recheck the live schedule before driving out.
Rail historians and equipment-focused visitors
Separate the static and operating equipment
See No. 9 as a restoration display while recognizing Brill Car No. 5 as the regular public ride vehicle.
Visitors building a fuller Owens Valley day
Continue to the Cultural Center
Drive about 6.1 miles to the Bishop Paiute Tribe's living cultural center and follow its current visitor guidance.
Upcoming Events
Complete official date check
2026 special-event calendar
The current official ride page was reconciled after August 24. It lists October 31 and November 27-28 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; rides may continue until 3:30 p.m. if demand warrants. The December 12 Railroad Express holiday event lists the last ride at 2 p.m. and directs ticket questions to Visit Bishop or 760-873-8405. Weather, mechanical condition, staffing, demand, and unforeseen circumstances control. Special charters, hand-car arrangements, and school tours are excluded from ordinary public availability. Check the live official calendar ↗
Plan Your Visit
- Museum hoursDaily 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day
- Museum admission$10 per-person suggested donation; children under 12 free
- Remaining public ride datesOctober 31 and November 27-28, 2026, normally 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; demand may extend rides to 3:30 p.m.
- Holiday rideDecember 12 Railroad Express event; last train at 2 p.m.; Visit Bishop or 760-873-8405 controls event tickets and details
- Ride duration15-20 minutes, narrated by a museum docent
- Ride price$8 adults age 18 and older; $4 ages 4-17; ages 3 and under free
- Ride paymentDepot ticket sales are cash-only; the gift shop accepts credit cards
- PetsLeashed pets may ride free on a lap, in a carrier, or on the railcar floor
- Operating boundaryWeather, mechanical condition, staffing, demand, and other unforeseen circumstances can change the schedule
- AccessibilityThe official site does not publish detailed wheelchair, transfer, restroom-route, or Brill Car boarding specifications; call before an access-dependent visit
- Location200 Silver Canyon Road, about five miles north of downtown Bishop off U.S. Highway 6
- TimezoneAll published times are local Pacific Time
Find the Depot
The Trains
The museum's public ride vehicle is restored Death Valley Railroad Brill Car No. 5, built for Pacific Coast Borax tourist service and returned to operating condition in 2004. Southern Pacific narrow-gauge locomotive No. 9 is displayed and being restored to its 1960 condition after its boiler was condemned in 1959; it is not the regular ride. Southern Pacific No. 18 has visited and operated at Laws for special programs, but belongs to the separate Carson & Colorado Railway program associated with the Eastern California Museum and must not be presented as Laws' routine motive power.
History
The first train reached Bishop Creek Railroad Depot on April 1.
Southern Pacific acquired the Carson & Colorado Railroad.
Pacific Coast Borax acquired Brill Car No. 5 for Death Valley tourist transportation.
The narrow-gauge line closed and locomotive No. 9 arrived at Laws.
Local preservationists formed the Bishop Museum & Historical Society.
Laws Railroad Museum opened on April 1.
Volunteers completed restoration of Brill Car No. 5 to operating condition.
See full history
The first train reached Bishop Creek Railroad Depot on April 1, 1883. Southern Pacific later acquired the Carson & Colorado, and the station became Laws in honor of railroad superintendent R. J. Laws. When the narrow-gauge line closed in 1960, Southern Pacific donated land, railroad equipment, and original structures to the City of Bishop and Inyo County. The Bishop Museum & Historical Society formed in 1964, and the museum opened April 1, 1966. Today the original depot and agent's house sit among preserved or reconstructed buildings and collections interpreting the broader Owens Valley. The site is California Historical Landmark No. 953 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Around the Depot
The Owens Valley Paiute-Shoshone Cultural Center is an independent, tribally operated living cultural center about 6.1 driving miles from Laws. The Bishop Paiute Tribe describes it as a place to preserve, teach, learn, and continue Nüümü and Newe traditions through both traditional and contemporary gatherings. Use the Tribe's current page for hours and visitor guidance, and do not treat the center as a frozen-history extension of the railroad museum.
Getting There & Staying Nearby
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Tours & Activities near Bishop
Tours
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Laws Museum open every day?
The museum publishes daily 10 a.m.-4 p.m. hours, except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.
How much is museum admission?
The museum requests a suggested donation of $10 per person; children under 12 enter free. Special events and train rides can have separate charges.
Does the train run every day?
No. Brill Car rides are scheduled on selected dates only. Check the live ride page before making the trip.
What are the remaining 2026 ride dates?
After August 24, the regular list shows October 31 and November 27-28, normally 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., plus the December 12 Railroad Express holiday event with the last ride at 2 p.m.
How long is the ride?
The museum describes a 15-20 minute ride narrated by a docent.
How much are ride tickets?
$8 for adults 18 and older, $4 for ages 4-17, and free for ages 3 and under.
Can I pay by card?
The depot sells tickets for cash only. The gift shop accepts credit cards.
Which equipment carries passengers?
The regular public ride uses Death Valley Railroad Brill Car No. 5. Southern Pacific No. 9 is a static restoration project, and SP No. 18 is not the routine Laws ride.
Are dogs allowed?
Dogs are welcome on the museum grounds on leash. The ride page says leashed pets may ride on a lap, in a carrier, or on the railcar floor.
Is the Brill Car wheelchair accessible?
The official site does not publish detailed boarding or transfer specifications. Call 760-873-5950 before an access-dependent visit.
Where is Laws Museum?
Use 200 Silver Canyon Road, Bishop, CA 93514, about five miles north of downtown Bishop off U.S. Highway 6.
What nearby stop pairs well?
The Owens Valley Paiute-Shoshone Cultural Center is about 6.1 driving miles away. Check its current hours and visit as a guest of a living tribal community center.
Sources & Verification
Source-checked August 24, 2026. This free profile has not yet been claimed or confirmed by the operator.
- Official Laws Museum home page for current identity, location, collection, and Brill Car program
- Official train-ride page for 2026 dates, duration, prices, payment, pets, special rides, and operating caveats
- Official Tracks Through Time page for daily hours, holiday closures, suggested admission, and site history
- Official museum overview for 1883 arrival, 1960 closure, No. 9 status, 1964 society, and landmark designations
- Official welcome page for address, site extent, original structures, and 1966 opening
- Official contact page for physical address and telephone
- Official grounds map for eleven-acre layout, exhibits, address, hours, and visitor facilities
- Wikimedia Commons record for the 2024 depot hero image
- Wikimedia Commons category for licensed Laws Museum images
- Official Bishop Paiute Tribe page for the independent nearby Cultural Center