A great non-profit organization has many aspects from donors, to volunteers, to the mission being served. The Friends of the Depot’s story is about taking a derelict eye sore, rehabbing that building, then overcoming a fire that razed the building, and then having the fortitude to rebuild and become the central focal point of a town.
The FOTD board and volunteers taker their love of history, of place, and of a building and bring that love everyday to folks from all around the world. In fact, the passion shown for our little train depot has spawned another small town, in another state, to resurrect their own train depot and create a renaissance for their own town.
If the hallmark of a good non-profit is to serve their community, be a resource for all, and to spread their message; then the Friends of the Depot hits that goal on all marks.
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- EIN 65-1221063
- 661 823-1100
- 101 West Tehachapi Blvd Tehachapi CA 93581 USA
- www.tehachapidepot.com
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Nonprofit Overview
Causes: Arts & Culture, History Museums
Mission: The mission of Friends of the Tehachapi Depot, through the operation of the Tehachapi Depot Railroad Museum, is to educate the public on the history and impact of the railroad in our community and geographic area. We tell the story of the people who built and continue to operate this major thoroughfare of commerce which is the nation's second transcontinental railroad. Our all volunteer staff is dedicated to the successful operation of our historic depot museum facility, maintaining the artifacts and displays, and providing an interactive learning experience for our local and worldwide visitors.
Results: We have had more than 4 years of successful volunteer participation and a growing number of members who support the museum because of the history we teach and the displays we use to demonstrate how the railroad works. Everyone that comes through the depot museum comment and give wonderful praises for how great the docents and the gift shop/greeters are when they arrive. They also say how informative the docents are about the history they learn from them when they tour the museum.
Target demographics: To teach people of all ages about the museum, the history and reason for the railroad through the Tehachapi Mountains Range as well as why the City of Tehachapi was developed and is a thriving and growing community.
Direct beneficiaries per year: Over 10,000 people, with most of them visitors from out of town and internationnal guests. Plus we had over 1000 school age children from our area tour and be a part of the museum, as well as many senior tours from the state. We are very proud of the work we do and the families and people we touch when they visit the museum.
Geographic areas served: We are in the middle of the state in California as a museum and visitor center for the area.
Programs: We provide classroom tours for school age children, adult/senior tours from outside the area and as a visitors center for the city. We maintain a museum that will educate and make the history of the area come alive with our displays and tours of the museum given by our docents.