Whitehall’s Caboose Museum: A Rolling Piece of History
Tucked behind the White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce sits Caboose No. 90702, a restored C&O Railway caboose now serving as a small but rich museum. Built for the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, the caboose represents the end of an era in American railroading. Before becoming a museum in 2009, the caboose had been used for storage after its retirement. Thanks to local volunteers and the Chamber, it was cleaned, restored, and opened to the public to tell the story of Whitehall’s rail heritage. It is open seasonally, from Memorial Day through Labor Day, and features informational displays, artifacts, and a short film about the region’s railroads.
The C&O and Pere Marquette Connection
The Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, which operated the caboose, had deep ties to Whitehall’s railway system. Before the C&O took over in 1947, the line was operated by the Pere Marquette Railway, which played a central role in West Michigan’s development. Whitehall’s depot, part of this network, was once a vital stop for passengers and freight. Located on Hanson Street, near the former C&O Depot, the caboose now sits just steps away from the historical route that linked Whitehall to larger cities like Muskegon and Grand Rapids. According to MichiganRailroads.com, the Whitehall station operated in various forms from the late 1800s through at least the mid-20th century.
A Community Effort to Preserve the Rails
Bringing the caboose to its current location was no small feat. After being decommissioned, Caboose No. 90702 was placed behind the Chamber and served a utilitarian role until restoration plans began. The Chamber worked closely with volunteers and donors to make the museum a reality. In 2024, the community celebrated the caboose’s 100th year with a month-long event called the “Caboosentennial,” featuring photo contests and historic displays. Today, the museum invites visitors of all ages to step inside and experience a piece of Whitehall’s railroad past—one rooted in the hard work of railmen, the legacy of the C&O, and the pride of a town that chose to remember.
