The Boca Express Train Museum, operated by the Boca Raton Historical Society, is housed in a restored 1930 Florida East Coast Railway (FEC) train station in Boca Raton, Florida. designed by Chester G. Henninger, built for Clarence H. Geist. It is located at 747 South Dixie Highway, off U.S. 1 (Federal Highway). On October 24, 1980, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

Boca Raton Florida East Coast Railway Station
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
The Florida East Coast Railway Station in Boca Raton was renovated as the Count de Hournle Pavilion, and then became the Boca Express Train Museum
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Location	747 South Dixie Highway Boca Raton, Florida  United States
Coordinates	26°20′33.92″N 80°5′20.38″W
Built	1930
Architect	Chester G. Henninger
Architectural style	Mediterranean Revival
NRHP reference No.	80000959[1]
Added to NRHP	24 October 1980

Use as a passenger train station

Historically, the station served several long-distance trains and one or two local trains. Into the early 1960s, passengers could take one of two Chicago-bound trains (on alternating days), the City of Miami or the South Wind (both via Birmingham) and the New York City-bound East Coast Champion, Havana Special, and Miamian from the FEC's station.[2] Into the latter 1950s, passengers could take the Dixie Flagler to Chicago via Atlanta from the station.[3] The FEC operated local passenger service between Jacksonville and the Miami area until July 31, 1968.[4]

Service on the line is planned to be restored by Brightline, with a station 3⁄4 mile (1.2 km) north of the museum, scheduled to open in 2021.[5] However, Brightline shut down operations during the 2020–2021 Covid pandemic.

Exhibits

The Museum contains two restored and unique 1947 Seaboard Air Line streamlined rail cars, a dining and a lounge car, built by the Budd Company and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Boca Express Train Museum also includes a 1946 Atlantic Coast Line caboose and a 1930 Baldwin steam switch engine.[6]

For sale

The Boca Raton Historical Society put the Train Museum up for sale in 2017, saying that maintaining two historic buildings (the other is the Society's home, Boca Raton's first city hall) is draining the nonprofit's resources.[7]

See also

• Seaboard Air Line 6113
• Seaboard Air Line 6603
• South Florida Railway Museum

References

• Palm Beach County listings at National Register of Historic Places
• Florida's Office of Cultural and Historical Programs
  • Palm Beach County listings
  • Palm Beach County markers
  • Count de Hoernle Pavilion

External links

• Media related to Florida East Coast Railway Passenger Station at Wikimedia Commons
• Boca Express Train Museum - Boca Raton Historical Society

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