The National Railroad Museum was featured by WBAY-TV 2 in a story about the new Track Around the World fundraising project, spearheaded by Bay Port High School seniors Dhruv Bidari and Teigan Wasilewski.
Thank you to Matthew Draxton for spending time with us!
The National Railroad Museum was featured by NBC 26 with a web story regarding the new Track Around the World fundraising project, spearheaded by Bay Port High School seniors Dhruv Bidari and Teigan Wasilewski.
Read the full story on NBC 26.
Thank you to the team at NBC 26!
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Two seniors at Bay Port High School are putting their tech skills to work for a museum that helped shape their childhoods. Dhruv Bidari and Teigan Wasilewski have spent months building Track Around the World, a student-led fundraising campaign to help close the remaining funding gap for the National Railroad Museum’s Fox River Expansion.
The idea started with one simple question: how could two high schoolers meaningfully assist a major capital campaign? Unable to make a large donation on their own, Bidari and Wasilewski turned to what they could offer – skills in technology, design, storytelling, and community outreach.
The result is an interactive fundraising experience: every donation moves a virtual train farther along a route that circles the globe. As the campaign reaches new destinations, donors can explore railroad history and artifacts from the Museum’s collection, with a new train introduced at each stop. Built almost entirely from scratch, the campaign’s website runs on nearly 130,000 lines of code, developed in close collaboration with museum staff. Track Around the World previewed at the Museum’s 70th Anniversary Celebration on July 18th, where the two students – once field trip visitors themselves – presented the project to Museum supporters and raised their first $2,000 in donations.
“Dhruv and Teigan’s project reflect the heart of the Museum’s mission: education. They worked one-on-one with several Museum staff members learning real-world business, marketing, customer cultivation, and financial management as they developed their community-focused DECA project. The money their project raises for the Museum will allow us to better serve the community as we continue to provide immersive exhibits, interactive educational programs, and preserve railroad collections in the public’s trust. We are impressed with their dedication, innovation, and commitment to the community – now and into the future.” – Jacqueline D. Frank, National Railroad Museum CEO
The campaign’s goal is to raise $500,000 and officially launches on Thursday, August 20th. Bidari and Wasilewski hope people across Northeast Wisconsin and beyond will follow the journey, share the campaign, and help move the train (and the Museum) forward, one mile at a time.
Learn more and follow the journey at http://track.nationalrrmuseum.org.
Founded in 1956 and located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the National Railroad Museum inspires lifelong learning by providing dynamic educational opportunities through the preservation of railroad objects, engaging exhibits, and innovative programs.
Media Contact
Liz Van Pay
Marketing & Communications Director
National Railroad Museum
lvanpay@nationalrrmuseum.org
(920) 437-7623
The National Railroad Museum was featured by WLUK FOX 11 during coverage of the 70th Anniversary Celebration, highlighting the Museum’s 70th anniversary and the evening gala celebration that was forthcoming.
The story highlighted the museum’s history and significance in the Green Bay area, and across the United States.
Read the full story on FOX 11.
Thank you to Tony Langfellow and the entire team at FOX 11!
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The National Railroad Museum will commemorate a milestone 70 years in the making with its 70th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, July 18, 2026. This signature gala fundraiser will bring together supporters, members, community leaders, and railroad enthusiasts for an unforgettable evening celebrating the Museum’s legacy while raising support for its continued mission of preserving and sharing America’s railroad heritage.
Founded in 1956, the National Railroad Museum has spent seven decades inspiring lifelong learning through nationally significant collections, engaging exhibits, educational programming, and community events. The 70th Anniversary Celebration reflects that enduring legacy while looking toward the future, ensuring that generations to come can continue to experience the history, innovation, and stories of America’s railroads.
Guests will enjoy an elegant evening across the museum campus, beginning with a strolling culinary experience featuring five unique food and beverage stations paired with interactive fundraising opportunities. The evening continues with a pig roast dinner catered by Biebel’s Catering, a silent auction, anniversary programming, and the announcement of the winners of the Museum’s 70th Anniversary Drumhead Design Contest.
The event will also offer guests the opportunity to experience the National Railroad Museum in a unique setting while supporting its mission to preserve one of the nation’s premier collections of railroad history.
Tickets are available as Heritage Tables for eight guests, Legacy Tables for four guests, Patron Pairs, and Individual Supporter tickets. Seating is limited, and advance reservations are encouraged.
For tickets and additional event information, visit: https://nationalrrmuseum.org/70th-anniversary-celebration/
Founded in 1956 and located in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the National Railroad Museum inspires lifelong learning by providing dynamic educational opportunities through the preservation of railroad objects, engaging exhibits, and innovative programs.
Media Contact
Liz Van Pay
Marketing & Communications Director
National Railroad Museum
lvanpay@nationalrrmuseum.org
(920) 437-7623
The National Railroad Museum was featured by WFRV-TV 5 during coverage of the 70th Anniversary Celebration, highlighting the Museum’s 70th anniversary and the evening gala celebration that was forthcoming.
The story highlighted the museum’s history and significance in the Green Bay area, and across the United States.
Thank you to Joseph Giganti and the entire team at WFRV!
The National Railroad Museum was featured by Wisconsin Public Radio following the opening of the Fox River Expansion, a major addition to the Museum campus that expands exhibit space and supports new educational opportunities.
The story explores how the expansion reflects the Museum’s evolving mission to engage families, students, and lifelong learners through railroad history. It also highlights the significance of the new exhibit spaces and the role they will play in preserving and sharing America’s railroad heritage.
