One stop on the Franklin County Pastport is situated at the heart of one of the county’s smallest towns: the Spruce Pine Museum.

Located on Highway 22 off of Highway 33, south of Russellville, the museum is the only original building remaining from before the train depot closed.

The museum opened in 2012 thanks to the efforts of the Spruce Pine Historical Society, which was incorporated in 2009. In 2010 the Scharnagle family donated the building to the society to be used for the community. It once housed the Scharnagle grocery store and a gas station in the 1930s.

The society renovated the building such that it would resemble the store as it was back then. The society installed old fashioned gas pumps out front, and inside are featured the original scales that were used to weigh meat and cheese.

Also inside are photos of local war heroes, porcelain dolls and other memorabilia donated by community members.

Tours of the museum are available free of charge, by appointment only.