Special event at Danbury Railway Museum celebrates renowned mail dog
The Danbury Railway Museum is gearing up for one of its most unusual and exciting events of the summer. The Railway Post Office Dog Day is a celebration dedicated to Owney, a stray dog that wandered into a post office in Albany, New York in the late 1800s and quickly rose to national fame. What initially started as a local post office mascot transformed into a remarkable journey that saw Owney traveling on Railway Post Office cars across the United States and eventually around the world.
Scheduled for Saturday, July 11, the event will take place at the Danbury Railway Museum on White Street, running from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It promises plenty of activities for railroad enthusiasts, dog lovers, and families alike. Admission is $20 for visitors aged 3 and above, which includes a train ride, an Owney postcard and postage stamp, a dog treat for furry guests, along with a hot dog, chips, and a beverage.
The highlight of Railway Post Office Dog Day will be the museum’s meticulously restored Railway Post Office car, offering visitors a chance to receive a one-day-only commemorative postmark from the U.S. Postal Service. Children can have their Owney postcard stamped and sent out, resulting in a distinctive keepsake that will land in their mailbox a few days later.
Throughout the event, guests can hop aboard vintage railroad equipment, explore the historic rail yard, and admire over 70 railway cars and locomotives on display. In addition, attendees can witness the museum’s operational historic turntable, take a tour of the old water tower pump house, and peruse exhibitions inside the renovated 1903 train station.
To keep the younger attendees entertained, there will be a scavenger hunt, complete with operational model train displays, and ample opportunities to learn about railroad history from the knowledgeable volunteers at the museum. This event blends elements of local history, train travel, canine companions, and a touch of postal history, making it a unique and exciting experience for families this summer.