Laws Railroad Museum and Historical Site is the location of the Bishop Creek Railroad Depot, which grew into a sizable settlement after the first train steamed into the station on April 1, 1883. By 1900, Southern Pacific Lines had taken over the Carson & Colorado Railroad and renamed the station "Laws" in honor of the railroad's Assistant Superintendent, R.J. Laws. While it was originally mainly a railroad site, Laws grew into a community center for local homesteaders, farmers, ranchers, and miners. The station and its community flourished until the railroad ceased operation.
On April 30, 1960, the narrow-gauge railroad Engine No. 9, lovingly known as the “Slim Princess,” pulled her last train into Laws coming from Keeler.
Southern Pacific subsequently donated the land, Engine No 9 with boxcars and caboose, and original railroad structures to the City of Bishop and Inyo County. Local visionaries formed the Bishop Museum & Historical Society in 1964, and area residents immediately began donating entire historic structures along with items ranging from antique pioneer furnishings, old photographs, wagons, farm equipment and mining equipment—even a working stamp mill. Laws Railroad Museum & Historical Site opened its doors to the public on April 1st, 1966 -- 83 years after the first train steamed into the station.
You, Too, Can Be a Part of Local History!
Laws Museum continues to accept donations of historically relevant items, making it a truly living museum focusing on preserving and curating local history in all its aspects rather than just on railroads.
Donated exhibits that depict pioneering, ranching, mining, and the railroad provide insight into the style of living 150 to 50 years ago. Every facet of life is depicted, from outhouses to hair salons, from mining shacks to ranch houses, from the railroad depot to the blacksmith shop, from a light spring wagon to an ambulance car.
A few of the buildings, while original to Laws, do not actually date back to the period. Some actually originated as a movie set for the 1966 feature "Nevada Smith," starring Steve McQueen. The Wagon Barn for the 20 Mule Team exhibit and Mule Museum is a modern-day replica, built in 2016.
Since long ago when the Owens Valley was inhabited only by native tribes, its history has been a complex weave of homesteading, ranching, mining, railroading, hydroelectric generation, and water resources. Innovations from mule freighting, steam ships on desert lakes, lumber harvesting, and charcoal kilns, to the building of the 20th century Sierra Highway from portions of the old El Camino Sierra trail, all enrich the tapestry of this valley in the "land of little rain" just east of the Sierra Nevada.
Mission Statement
Bishop Museum and Historical Society seeks to foster a connection with the public through a variety of exhibits, experiences, and educational opportunities,
Procure, preserve, and curate structures, artifacts, and documents pertinent to the County of Inyo’s natural and cultural heritage, and make these available to the public,
Develop educational programs and materials to benefit the museum’s visitors, and
Be a historical research repository.
Vision Statement
We strive to:
Create and maintain a world-class museum with a variety of exhibitions,
Engage and inspire people of all ages to embrace stories presented through the exhibits and educational opportunities.
The Laws Museum and Historical Site is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior, and designated by the State of California as Historical Landmark # 953.