Anna Newhoff
NCR Reporter
All aboard for the 20th Railroad Day Festival and Car Show.
This Saturday, step back in time to celebrate the history of Callahan’s railway. This year’s event is especially significant as it coincides with Nassau County’s 200th birthday.
The event planning began in 2005 to celebrate the 150-year anniversary of David Levy Yulee’s railroad being built in 1856 through what is now the Town of Callahan.
“The first Railroad Day was a three-day event held in early June 2006, as part of a broader celebration among the communities along the 155-mile-long rail line such as Archer, Gainesville, Fernandina Beach, and Cedar Key,” explained John Hendricks, president of the West Nassau Historical Society.
The event will take place at the historic Callahan Train Depot. While it’s not the original train depot constructed in 1856, the current depot was built in 1881 for the Waycross Short Line.
The town’s namesake, Daniel Callahan, was an Irish-American hired by Yulee to oversee railway construction.
“Callahan and his work crew of enslaved Africans reached Kings Road where Callahan now is during the summer of 1856. When it opened, it was Florida’s first trans peninsular rail line. Callahan as we know it grew from this junction,” Hendricks said.
Along with the history of the railway, the event will feature bicentennial banners exploring each of the decades between 1824 and 2024.
Visitors can enjoy live music, antique engines, arts and crafts vendors, model trains, railroad day merchandise, and even a blood drive.
Hendricks looks forward to the sense of community that Railroad Day fosters.
“I love seeing all the kids enjoying the kids’ area thanks to Joel Pace Piano and Music. I love to listen to the live entertainment and I love seeing the model trains,” he said.
The Railroad Day festival runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with live local entertainment performing at the new Callahan Pavilion, adjacent to the depot.
The classic car show, hosted by the Callahan Cruisers, will take place from 10 a.m. through 2 p.m. next door to the depot at Cochrane’s Collision Center. Awards will be presented during a recognition ceremony at 2 p.m. at the pavilion.
While admission is free, the West Nassau Historical Society relies on donations and new members to continue preserving local history. Attendees are encouraged to contribute by finding one of the society’s directors, such as Emily Baumgartner or Hendricks, to donate via cash, check, or credit card.
For more information about the event, visit www.wnhsfl.org or contact the West Nassau Historical Society at 904-879-3406. An event regarding the festival has also been created on Facebook.
“Come out and enjoy a family-friendly event that celebrates the history of our area,” said Hendricks. “Step inside the 144-year-old train station museum and view pieces of our history.”