Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
A view of Brașov’s Old Town.
Romania • 12 days, 11 nights
Legends of Romania: Castles, Ruins & Culinary Delights
from
Balkans road trip
Bosnia and Herzegovina • 9 days, 8 nights
Balkans Road Trip: Serbia, Croatia & Bosnia and Herzegovina
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Contemplative paths.
Ayo Rock Formations
Parking Lot Shoeprints
Dewey Square Pylon & Bent 38
Black Rocks of Pungo Andongo
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Benshi would introduce and provide commentary for films like A Page of Madness.
Remembering the Heyday of Japan’s Silent FIlm Narrators
about 15 hours ago
The Horn & Hardart Automat was a staple of urban dining in midcentury New York City.
All Hail the Slop Bowl, Lunch of Our Ancestors
about 17 hours ago
The Grateful Dead’s “Wall of Sound” on display in Las Vegas.
The Grateful Dead’s Wall of Sound Changed Live Music Forever
about 23 hours ago
Two suitcases in an empty airport hall.
AO Mailbag: Is It Normal to Share a Checked Bag With Your Boyfriend?
3 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United States Virginia Herndon Herndon Depot Museum

Herndon Depot Museum

This former train station was once an important shipping depot for the regions farmers.

Herndon, Virginia

Added By
Ian Hall
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Herndon Depot Museum   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Herndon Depot Museum   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
  edgeofpossibility / Atlas Obscura User
  edgeofpossibility / Atlas Obscura User
  edgeofpossibility / Atlas Obscura User
Herndon Depot Museum   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Herndon Depot Museum   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Herndon Red Caboose   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Herndon Depot Museum   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Herndon Depot Museum   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Also known as the Herndon Historical Society Museum, this compendium of local memorabilia includes information on U.S. Navy Commander William Lewis Herndon (for whom the town was named), as well as artifacts from the World War II ship the USS Herndon, noteworthy items shared by local residents, and a healthy dose of railroad-related relics.

The last category of remnants is fitting since the museum is housed in a train depot that dates back to 1857, when it first served the Alexandria, Loudoun, and Hampshire railroad. It later served several other lines, including the Richmond & Danville railroad, the Southern Railway, and the Washington & Old Dominion Railroad. 

The railroad was a boon to agriculture in the area and many local farmers used it to ship milk to Washington, D.C. to be processed and distributed. Better roads and the appearance of cars and trucks reduced reliance on trains.

The last major job completed by the railway was the delivery of sand used for the concrete mix to build the runways at Washington Dulles International Airport. The railroad and depot closed in August 1968.

The building still features the original window and door frames, baggage doors, semaphores, and several hardware elements. 

 

Related Tags

Train Stations History & Culture Museums

Know Before You Go

The Herndon Depot Museum was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 18, 1979.

 

Community Contributors

Added By

blimpcaptain

Edited By

edgeofpossibility

  • edgeofpossibility

Published

February 14, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Herndon Depot Museum
717 Lynn St
Herndon, Virginia, 20170
United States
38.970197, -77.385699
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Acetylene Gas Generating Station

Herndon, Virginia

miles away

Herndon Fortnightly Club

Herndon, Virginia

miles away

Laura Ratcliffe Hanna Family Cemetery

Herndon, Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Herndon

Herndon

Virginia

Places 8

Nearby Places

Acetylene Gas Generating Station

Herndon, Virginia

miles away

Herndon Fortnightly Club

Herndon, Virginia

miles away

Laura Ratcliffe Hanna Family Cemetery

Herndon, Virginia

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Herndon

Herndon

Virginia

Places 8

Related Places

  • Takao Railway Museum

    Kaohsiung City, Taiwan

    Takao Railway Museum

    A museum commemorates what was once the largest freight station in Taiwan.

  • Savannah, Georgia

    WEBB Military Museum

    At this privately owned collection, conflicts are humanized through soldiers’ personal belongings.

    Sponsored by Visit Savannah
  • Odawara, Japan

    Suzuhiro Kamaboko Museum

    Dedicated to the history and culture of Japanese fishcake, this museum invites you to take part in its kamaboko-making workshop.

  • One of the galleries in the modern section of the Manchester Jewish Museum.

    Manchester, England

    Manchester Jewish Museum

    A Victorian synagogue-turned-museum chronicles centuries of Jewish life.

  • Portumna, Ireland

    Irish Workhouse Centre

    A well-preserved, 19th-century Irish workhouse recounts a grim time in the country’s history.

  • Manjira

    Meknes, Morocco

    Dar Jamai Museum

    A museum dedicated to the musical instruments used in traditional Moroccan music.

  • Reproduction of an eviction scene.

    County Donegal, Ireland

    Doagh Famine Village

    Once part of a living village, these buildings now house exhibits showcasing historical aspects of life in Ireland.

  • Objects made by incarcerated political prisoners.

    Belfast, Northern Ireland

    Eileen Hickey Irish Republican History Museum

    Documenting the nationalist movement in Northern Ireland, with an emphasis on the history of political prisoners.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.