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So, just as it did in 1896, the depot again serves as a gathering spot for residents and visitors.
The woman’s waiting room which provided a spacious well-lit area that offered privacy and security for women traveling alone or with children is more of a recreated historic space than exhibit space. A three-dimensional radio play is proposed that will use this room as its set.
The area formerly used to provide nourishment to the body, will now serve to nourish the mind, as dining areas are transformed into exhibits telling the story of Sedalia’s heritage. The railroads and the resulting changes wrought on the edge of the prairie. Exhibits include:
They will be able to appreciate the sense of brotherhood among these employees who created their own marching bands, sports teams, formed their own semisecret society and gathered for weekly barbecues. They will gain dramatic glimpses of what it meant both to work on the railroad and be a railroader in the community. Just like in the old days, the depot is again filled with the sounds of train whistles and people. The Katy Depot is now the conduit by which the local community and railroads come together to create a dynamic, exhibit which uses railroading as the framework for understanding and presenting our shared heritage.
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The
former men’s waiting room, which once provided a space where men
could talk freely, smoke, conduct business and relax while waiting for
the train now serves as a Visitor Information Center and Depot Store.
Here, people can pick up maps, get directions and find out about the
community’s many historic sites and varied attractions while they
browse among the bountiful selection of gifts and memorabilia on display.
Visitors
in the women's waiting room will be introduced to various train travelers
and railroad employees. Computer controlled sound effects are planned
for the future to further represent the hectic depot activity of a century
ago. The women's waiting room will, from time to time, also host special
events and function as a rotating art gallery.
The
former ticket office has been transformed into a youth activity area.
Children can buy or sell train tickets, order merchandise to be delivered
by train, be an engineer and drive a train, learn about train cars or
try on the many hats of turn of the century Sedalians.
Interactive
telegraph visualizeshow railroads communicated with themselves to
control train traffic and to bring a communications system to rural
Missouri.
Interpretation
continues in the Baggage Room . Framed storyboards feature the 1923
Katy Line Map; Katy Depot in Missouri; Sedalia Heritage Trail Map; and
a Railroad Heritage Timeline. 
The
second floor, once housing divisional office space now provides offices
for Chamber staff and the basement once again accommodates storage needs.
