Mid-Continent EXPERIENCES
Support our mission while enjoying what Mid-Continent has to offer!
Mid-Continent Railway Historical Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to educating our current population in the early railroading era. We accomplish this by restoring historic vintage cars and engines with the wonderful help of our accomplished volunteer members. With this equipment we provide delightful train rides for a first-hand experience to our visitors, giving a long-lasting memory.
Our museum is a very pleasant task for our small staff and many dedicated volunteer members; however, it requires an infusion of funding from sources other than ridership. We operate under limited Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) regulations, insurance is a necessity, and we must cover all other expenses, just as for-profit companies do.
We are now offering an opportunity for you to join us in this wonderful endeavor by providing support, and at the same time, enjoying the benefits of membership and train rides for you and your family.
Please consider the donation level of your choice, and join us for a wonderful Experience!
EXPERIENCES Donation Opportunities
The table below lists the perks offered at each donation level.
| Level | Amount | Benefits You’ll Experience |
| SECTION FOREMAN | $1,000 | All the benefits offered by our Associate Level Museum Membership, including*:
— PLUS —
|
| BRAKEMAN | $2,000 | All the benefits offered by our Associate Level Museum Membership, including*:
— PLUS —
|
| CONDUCTOR | $3,000 | All the benefits offered by our Associate Level Museum Membership, including*:
— PLUS —
|
* Perks are honored through the end of the following calendar year. For example, signing up on August 1st would mean benefits continue until December 31 of the following year, a total duration of 17 months.
Your donation will be placed in the General Fund where it will be available to help the museum where most needed. Experiences program donations cannot be restricted by the donor to a specific project, building, locomotive, etc.
For IRS purposes, acknowledgment of the donation will be shown less the value of the amenities received by the donor.
Getting Started
To sign up for an Experiences package, complete the Experiences Donation Form and mail it with a check to:
Mid-Continent Railway Museum
PO Box 358
North Freedom, WI 53951-0358
Experiences donations can also be completed by phone. If you have any questions, contact the Mid-Continent office.
Phone: (608) 522-4261
Toll Free: (800) 930-1385
Email: inquiries@midcontinent.org
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- All Experiences packages include Mid-Continent’s membership perks
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- A caboose ride for you and 7 friends await at any package level.
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- The Section Foreman and Brakeman packages include coach tickets to give to friends and family.
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- The Brakeman package also includes a cab ride in one of Mid-Continent’s diesel locomotives.
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- The Conductor package includes two tickets aboard any one of our onboard dining trains.
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- The Conductor package also includes a cab ride in an operating steam locomotive (when available).
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How is the Experiences donation program different than joining Mid-Continent as a member?
A: In short, Experiences donations can be made by anyone who wishes to financially support the museum and be rewarded for doing so with a variety of perks. Museum membership is designed for those who wish to be more directly involved in inner-workings of the organization or who just wish to receive the basic perks offered by membership. Experience donations are a one-time offering of support that can be repeated if desired. Memberships have dues that are billed annually.
Q: Can a person be both a museum member and an Experiences donor?
A: Yes. Memberships and Experiences donations are two different programs for showing your support of Mid-Continent Railway Museum and you do not have to choose one or the other. Some perks overlap, but there are still reasons why you may wish to do both.
Q: Do Experiences program donors receive voting privileges in museum elections?
A: No. Although some of the benefits of being an Experiences donor have some overlap with the perks of museum membership, they are separate and distinct methods of supporting Mid-Continent. Only members (Regular and Life classes) are offered the ability to vote in director elections, bylaw changes, etc. Being a member is also required for some volunteer positions, such as working as part of the train crew and some leadership roles.
Q: Can I give an Experiences package as a gift to someone else?
A: Yes, Experiences packages make a fantastic gift.
Q: Do I receive my train tickets in the mail?
A: After signing up, you will receive vouchers corresponding to your Experiences package level. The vouchers are not boarding passes and will not be accepted by the train conductor. Vouchers also do not guarantee availability on a specific train. Instead, you must first contact Mid-Continent to redeem the vouchers, at which time you will be issued a reservation for the train departure of your choosing.
If giving the Experiences package as a gift to someone else, please be sure to mark the appropriate boxes on the form or notify the Mid-Continent staff member so they can be sure to send the vouchers to the appropriate address.
Q: Are Experiences donations tax-deductible?
A: The majority of each Experiences package is tax-deductible. However, because the donor receives goods and services in return for their donation, a portion of each package is non-deductible. You will receive an acknowledgment letter in the mail for tax-purposes indicating how much is considered a donation. The deductible amount is subject to change as the price of tickets, printing costs, and other factors that go into the perks change in value. To find out the current value of sponsorship perks, contact the Mid-Continent office.
Q: Will other Experiences donation packages or perks be added?
A: At this time we are just introducing the Experiences donation program and look forward to hearing feedback on how it can be improved. Let us know what you want to see added in the future.
Q: Will I be automatically enrolled in the Experiences program if I make a donation over $1000?
A: No, the donor must request to be included in the Experiences program at the time of making the donation. Many donors are happy just to support the museum and do not desire any perks in return and would rather have 100% of their donation be tax-deductible – that will remain the default means of giving.
Q: I previously made a donation for over $1000. Can I retroactively turn that donation into an Experiences program donation so I can receive the perks?
A: Unfortunately no. Due to IRS reporting requirements, we cannot alter donations previously received to make them count toward an Experiences package donation. It must be made clear at the time of making the donation that it is for the Experiences program. The best way to ensure your Experiences donation is properly processed is to complete the Experiences Donation Form and send it along with your payment.