Nevada County’s sometimes hidden railroad history is now on full display in Nevada City. An official opening ceremony is happening Saturday morning for a major upgrade of a deteriorating monument on the grounds of the original train depot site, which is now Clamper’s Square. That’s between the northbound freeway off-ramp and Railroad Avenue. John Christensen, the director of the Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum, says it’s the climax of a three-year process with the city…

click to listen to John Christensen

The monument, established in 1964, had been dedicated to Sarah Kidder, who was the first woman to own and operate a railroad company. But Christensen says the project ended up going well beyond the original vision, with about 300 feet of track and a rail car display…

click to listen to John Christensen

The project has also received the Chamber of Commerce Stan Hall Architectural Award. The ceremony starts at 10:30 Saturday morning. It also marks the 145 anniversary of the railroad’s construction in 1876. It ran for 22 miles between Colfax and Grass Valley until its termination in 1942.