This week at Rotary, our guest speaker is Bob LaPrelle of the Museum of the American Railroad

Bob LaPrelle is a 30-year veteran in the field of historic railway preservation and museums. He has served as Executive Director/CEO of the Museum of the American Railroad since 1988, and three prior years as a board trustee. Mr. LaPrelle has placed an emphasis on the cultural history and technology aspects of railroad museums and their role in communities as an educational resource and tourism destination. LaPrelle recently led the successful effort to move the Museum to a significantly larger venue in North Texas to expand collections and serve a broader audience. He is currently overseeing construction of the Museum’s new facilities, including 6,500 feet of exhibit tracks, a covered pavilion for rolling stock, and permanent exhibit buildings. Upon completion, the Museum will be one of the premiere transportation history and technology centers in the Southwestern United States. He attended the University of Texas at Austin, majoring in Government and Public Policy, including original research at the LBJ Presidential Library. He is immediate past president and board member of the HeritageRail Alliance, and chairs the Museums Advocacy and Recommended Practices Committees, making annual trips to Washington, D.C. Bob also serves on the board of the London-based World Association of Tourist Trams & Trains (WATTRAIN)