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Tarpon Museum Doing Double Duty As Welcome Center

Mark Schantz/SUNCOAST NEWS

Pete Garofalo, owner of Sign Blasters of New Port Richey, left, and Louie Pianese, a volunteer enlisted from the Greek Pizza Kitchen, hang a welcome center sign on the Tarpon Springs Historical Society headquarters and museum.

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: July 26, 2008

TARPON SPRINGS -- When visitors turn into the Tarpon Springs Historical Society Railroad Museum to ask questions they can now expect to get an official answer.

Last Saturday a sign touting the museum as an official "Welcome Center" was affixed to the building at the corner of Tarpon and Safford avenues.

Carol Mountain, the historical society's president, said July 19 was a wonderful day historical society members had worked to achieve for several months.

Now, especially during the height of the tourist season, visitors strolling along Tarpon Avenue will have a place to ask for directions and questions, Mountain said.

The museum has the latest brochures, restaurant menus and business cards touting local business. Maps will be available to direct the traveler on their journey through the city.

The depot is in the heart of downtown, where the bulk of tourists find themselves, she said.

The sign welcoming visitors should boost attendance at the museum.

A visitor to the museum can travel back in time by viewing thousands of photographs and eyeing artifacts and replicas from the city's bygone eras. The museum also has a gift shop.

From1909 into the 1970s the depot welcomed thousands of visitors coming to the city via what was then the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad.

The welcome center will operate during the museum's normal business hours, 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday.

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