The White River Valley Museum invites the public to explore the historic world of moving massive materials to market in the new exhibit Rails to Sails, Tracking the Sound’s Industry Boom from Shore to Ship, on display from April 25 through July 29.

From the earliest days, the extractive industries of logging, mining and agriculture needed to expand their markets beyond the Puget Sound region to sustain or grow their operations. When railroads became available products could be shipped to one of the deep-water ports on Puget Sound and then sail to markets worldwide.

Rails to Sails consists of 40 historic photographs, combined with artifacts and illustrations that tell the story of how railroads worked with maritime industries to move products to worldwide markets beginning with horse logging and ending with the modern Port of Seattle container ships and cranes. In so doing railroads opened the way for development throughout the Pacific Northwest.

The Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive created the exhibit which debuts at the White River Valley Museum and is available for rental thereafter. The show is sponsored by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Foundation and the National Railway Historical Society. Exhibit previews and interviews with the lead curator Gary Tarbox of the Pacific Northwest Railroad Archive can be arranged.

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Upcoming museum event

Family Train Day, Bring the family: 4 p.m., May 19. Explore the world of trains during this hands-on open house. Included in regular museum admission.

For museum hours and other information, visit www.wrvmuseum.org