Science Museum Oklahoma Offers Tours of Historic Parlor Car Through Jan. 1
December 8, 2016
Visitors escaping the December chill at Science Museum Oklahoma have an extra reason to head to the museum during the holiday season: tours of SMO’s 1929 Pullman parlor car.
Normally closed to the public to maintain its preservation, the Pullman parlor car is decorated for the holidays and open for tours through Jan. 1. The car was built for the Missouri Pacific Railroad and, after several other owners, was donated it to the then Kirkpatrick Center, now Science Museum Oklahoma, in 1982.
“The portion of the museum that houses the Pullman parlor car was actually built around the train car. Thousands of guests tour the parlor car during the holidays and have the opportunity to learn about its history as well as what riding in these cars was like for the guests, cook and porter,” said Clint Stone, director of education and training for SMO.
The interior of the historic car was refurbished to reflect its original grandeur and features brass, chrome and Honduran mahogany woodwork that was cleaned, polished and repaired. Aging upholstery, drapes and carpet were replaced with fabrics fitting the time period and the car’s original decor.
The Pullman parlor car is located on the first floor of the museum near Tiny Tracks, an exhibit that features railway artifacts and an M.G. Pinky Martin model train that weaves through 1,000 square feet of town, countryside and Oklahoma City landmarks.
Science Museum Oklahoma is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. The museum is closed Christmas Eve and Christmas and open on New Year’s Day. Daily general admission is $15.95 for adults (ages 13 to 64) and $12.95 for children (ages 3 to 12) and seniors (65 and older). Annual memberships begin at $95.
For more information about Science Museum Oklahoma, call 405-602-6664 or visit www.sciencemuseumok.org.
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