Cotton Belt Railroad Depot Museum

To preserve the history of the Cotton Belt Railroad and educate the community at large of its importance to the early growth of Tyler and East Texas.

The Saint Louis Southwestern Railroad, best known as the Cotton Belt, was originated in Tyler as the Tyler Tap, a narrow gauge line built to carry cotton and produce to the town of Big Sandy, Texas. The museum is located in the Cotton Belt Depot which served railroad passengers from 1905 until 1956. The Museum provides memories of the operation of the Cotton Belt and a venue for the public, both young and old, to learn about the history of the railroad industry. The Museum is operated by volunteers of the Tyler Tap Chapter of the Cotton Belt Rail Historical Society.

Also included in the museum is a large collection of railroad artifacts from James David "Bo" McDaniel. The oldest of these items date to the Civil War and include numerous items from the pre electronic age.