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History Comes Alive 2026:

Remembering the Railroad

The railroad was the lifeline of the Santiam Canyon. It carried logs out of the mountains, supplies into the camps, and generations of people who built their lives around the timber industry.

This year, History Comes Alive 2026 will take you back to the early days of the railroad in the Santiam Canyon—tie by tie.

You’ll meet the people who helped create this legacy: those who surveyed and donated the land, the railroad men who worked the steep mountain grades, and the families who made their homes along the line.

You’ll hear the story of George Dewey Flatman, a 17-year-old brakeman whose job was far more than simply pulling a lever. You’ll learn what it was like to work the trains, ride the steep grades, and face the dangers of a railroad built through rugged canyon country.

And then there is the story of the great train wreck—a trainload of logs coming down from Hammond Lumber Company’s Camp 24, a runaway train, heroic attempts to stop it, and the terrifying experience of those riding in the caboose.

Through the voices of those who lived it, the railroad story becomes more than dates and facts. It becomes a story of people, courage, hard work, tragedy, family, and community.

Join us as History Comes Alive 2026 brings the railroad era of the Santiam Canyon back to life—tie by tie, story by story.

Pavilion seating is limited, so please feel free to bring a lawn chair.