Tennessee State Railroad Museum

Cowan Railroad Museum Adopted: May 21, 2007

Tennessee State Railroad Museum: Cowan Railroad Museum

The Cowan Railroad Museum became the second official state railroad museum in the State of Tennessee when Governor Phil Bredesen signed House Bill No. 1196 (HB1196) on May 21, 2007.

The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, in Chattanooga, was the first official railroad museum honored by the State of Tennessee in 1978.

SENATE BILL 1220
By Cooper

HOUSE BILL 1196
By Fraley

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 1 and Title 4, Chapter 3, relative to railroad museums.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:

SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Section 4-1-311, is amended by deleting the section in its entirety and by substituting instead the following language:

§ 4-1-311. The following are designated as official railroad museums in this state:

(1) The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, located in Hamilton County, which shall be indicated by an appropriate marker erected by this state. Such signs shall be placed on the property of the museum and shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500) in cost; and

(2) The Cowan Railroad Museum, located in Franklin County, which shall be indicated by an appropriate marker erected by the state. Such museum may also receive appropriations as the general assembly deems necessary, grants from state or federal agencies, and donations from private or public sources.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2007, the public welfare requiring it.

Tennesseee State Railroad Museum: Cowan Railroad Museum
1920 Porter 2-4-2 Steam Locomotive

Tennessee Law

The following information was excerpted from the Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 4, Chapter 1, Part 3, Section 4-1-311.

Title 4 State Government
Chapter 1 General Provisions
Part 3 State Symbols
Tenn. Code Ann. § 4-1-311 (2011)

4-1-311. Official railroad museums.

The following are designated as official railroad museums in this state:

(1) The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, located in Hamilton County, which shall be indicated by an appropriate marker erected by the state. The signs shall be placed on the property of the museum and shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500) in cost; and

(2) The Cowan Railroad Museum, located in Franklin County, which shall be indicated by an appropriate marker erected by the state. The museum may also receive appropriations as the general assembly deems necessary, grants from state or federal agencies, and donations from private or public sources.

HISTORY: Acts 1978, ch. 547, § 1; T.C.A., § 4-127; Acts 2007, ch. 193, § 1.

Sources...

The State of Tennessee. Tennessee Code Annotated. Nashville: The State of Tennessee, 2011. Web. 18 Aug 2011.
Tennessee General Assembly. House Bill No. 1196. Nashville:The State of Tennessee, 2011. Web. 4 Sep 2011.

Additional Information

Railroad Tracks by Ewing Galloway

Cowan Railroad Museum: Official Website of the Cowan Railroad Museum, located at 108 Front Street, S. off Route 41 in Cowan, Tenn.

Cowan Railroad Museum: Tennessee History for Kids.

Cowan Railroad Museum: Brief description from the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development.

Cowan Railroad Museum: YouTube silent video.

More symbols & emblems: Complete list of official Tennessee state symbols from NETSTATE.COM.