Othello Caboose Museum

Caboose to open in springtime

OTHELLO — A caboose chugged its way to The Old Hotel Art Gallery in Othello.

The railroad system and the gallery have a history together.

"The railroad was very important to this area," Gallery Director Sally Lambert said. "The old hotel was here for the railroad workers to stay."

After a long day of work on the railroad, workers from out of town stayed at the hotel long before it was converted into a gallery.

When the workers were on the road in the train, they stayed in the caboose, she said.

"The caboose was designed to be a kitchen and sleeping area for railroad workers," she said.

The interpretive caboose is an additional gallery for the museum. When the caboose opens in the springtime, a walk through gallery and its history are available for visitors.

"This will tell about the railroad," she said.

A lamp, potbellied stove and a seat inspired by the original caboose rest inside.

"It doesn't look very comfortable," Lambert said.

The 1946 caboose was transported to Othello from Maine. It was an original caboose designed and built by the Milwaukee Railroad.

Lambert expects a large turnout when it opens.

"I think it will bring a lot of railroad people in," she said. "There are so many people interested in the history of the railroad."

She knows of people who spend time sitting by the railroad tracks to reflect on the railroad's history.

"I'm really looking forward to having this open," Lambert said.

Since becoming the gallery director a few months ago, she finds she loves her job, Lambert said.

She drives a 140 mile round trip daily from her home in Benton City to come to work. Lambert said she always wanted to get involved with the gallery.

When the weather gets nasty, she plans to stay with a fellow gallery worker.

She moved from Virginia and was curious about Othello but never thought she might work there. She recalled seeing signs for Othello while driving to Western Washington and was curious about the city. When she saw the signs, she thought about the Shakespearean play "Othello." She always wanted to visit, Lambert said.

The project is funded by donations from the community, she said.

A tour guide specific to the project is available when the caboose opens.

For more information, contact Lambert at 509-488-2683.