Grantee Database
Black Butte Center for Railroad Culture
Grant Year
2026-27
Grant Program
General Operating Support
Award Amount
$9,000.00
Project Description
With support from the California Arts Council, Black Butte Center for Railroad Culture will sustain and expand programming as an explicitly anti-racist, all-volunteer arts nonprofit in rural, under-resourced Siskiyou County. We host art shows, concerts, zine releases, and community events in our restored railcar gallery and performance spaces in Weed. Our programming centers the working-class and immigrant histories of North American railroad culture, in solidarity with the Lao community of south Weed, undocumented migrants, and LGBTQ railroad enthusiasts.
This grant would help us pay artist and curator honoraria, cover outreach and marketing, print and design exhibitions and zines, rent equipment, and contract bookkeeping and admin support. It would expand our community reach, ease volunteer burnout, and sustain BBCRC as one of the region’s few multidisciplinary arts venues.
Organization Summary
On-site library and art gallery space in a restored Pacific Fruit Express boxcar. This includes an evolving archive of materials, including many rare historic documents and photographs. The gallery normally hosts 2-3 art shows per year.
Ongoing development of the online “Hobo Bibliography” the most comprehensive resource on books, journal articles and other materials on this subject ever assembled. This has included a past partnership with the University of Washington’s Library Studies Program.
Assistance to travelers visiting our site (food, cooking facilities, camping facilities, caboose accommodations during inclement weather, rail travel information).
Collaboration with the California State Railway Museum in Sacramento to save and restore the historic 1888 Southern Pacific Pullman car 109, “Shasta.” The car was based in Dunsmuir during the early 1900s and is now back in Siskiyou County after being donated by CSRM to BBCRC.
Outreach though www.bbcrc.org website, monthly newsletter reaching over 600 people, maintaining an email list serve for 250 people and social media
Visitor center featuring eight historic railcars, several of which have been converted to functional uses, as well as other interpretive resources.
Production of booklets, pamphlets/zines and music CDs
Events including music shows, art displays, volunteer work events.
Engagement with local arts and creative communities in Siskiyou County through participation in the annual Dunsmuir Railroad Days event, collaborations with the Siskiyou Arts Museum, Siskiyou County Arts Council, Siskiyou Land Trust and various special events.
Partnership with The Long Memory (memorial foundation set up to honor the legacy of famed folk musician Utah Phillips) through hosting the organization’s Flanger (similar to a caboose) Car and 1-2 yearly events.
Forest restoration work on 50-acre site including wildfire risk reduction and forest resilience, prescribed burning, enhancement of wildlife habitat.
Partnership with Railway Workers United to protect the interests of rail workers.
Advocacy for undocumented migrants.
Organization
Black Butte Center for Railroad Culture
Address
800 BLACK BUTTE RD
WEED
96094-9705
County
Siskiyou
Region
Upstate
Website
Congressional District
California Assembly district 1 (for now)
State Assembly District
District 1
State Senate District
District 1
