Laws Railroad Museum and Historical Site

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Thousands of travelers pass through Bishop on Highway 395 and miss one of the most interesting historic sites in California. The Laws museum and historical site preserve the Owens Valley railroad town of Laws. The original depot along with other historical buildings are a fascinating look into the history of the Owens Valley. Old number 9 ( The Slim Princess) sits on a few feet of narrow gauge track next to the original train depot. You can spend several hours exploring the buildings which include a general store, Wells Fargo building, bottle house and a miners shack. There are over 20 buildings plus mining and farming equipment on display. Volunteers have finished restoring a 1927 Death Valley self-propelled car and plans are in the works to run track to the town of Bishop and have an operating railway. Take time out on your next trip to the Eastern Sierras and visit this wonderful museum. Open all year 10 AM to 4 PM. Admission is free but any donations are appreciated and go toward upkeep of the site.

Laws Depot

Slim Princess Old Number 9

Armstrong gallows turntable

Historical Buildings

Laws Railroad Museum

Original Oil and Water Tanks

Mining Artifacts

The End of the Line

The museum is located 4 1/2 miles north of Bishop on Silver Canyon Road, just past the Owens River where U.S. 6 makes a sharp turn to the north. Prominent signs at the intersection note the location of the museum. The museum can be contacted by writing to: Bishop Museum & Historical Society, P.O. Box 363, Bishop CA 93515, calling 760/873-5950,. GPS coordinates are N37.401, W118.346.