Are you a railfan? Do you have children that love trains? The Railroad Historical Museum is a really cool place to take the kids on a Saturday if you’re visiting the area. It is an amazing addition to any vacation, and its budget friendly! Additionally, it’s rich with historical memorabilia and knowledgeable volunteers that are happy to answer your questions.
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The “hands-on experience” inside
The museum memorabilia is inside of a train that you and your family can walk through. Sitting in the engineer’s seat of Locomotive #4524 is a really neat experience. You’ll get a rough idea how it functions from the controls, gauges, tender, and firebox. You can even ring the bell if you want!
They have little conductor hats for kids to wear as they stroll through train cars filled with history.
Picture frames line the sides of train car walls. The frames protect historical images of rail transport and old newspaper articles. Additionally, they have historically informative videos playing that captivate most everyone.
The “visual” experience outside the Railroad Historical Museum
Outside you’ll see the beautiful Locomotive #4524. It is 1 of 4 surviving Northern Locomotives; 2 of which are in the state of Missouri. My pictures don’t do it justice because those wheels are at least 6′ tall! You’ll also see the impressive yellow & black Chicago & Northwestern passenger car, a baggage car, a caboose, signal lights, and much more.
More information about the Railroad Historical Museum
This is a nonprofit museum and admission is FREE! This is an excellent place for field trips or birthday parties. Learn more about the museum here.
You can also find them on Facebook!
You can visit the museum at 1401 N Grant Street in Springfield, Missouri. Below is an interactive map for your convenience. You can zoom out using the minus sign.
TRIP TIP! This museum is located in Grant Beach Park where there is also a large public swimming pool and tons of water filled fun! Learn more about Grant Beach Park & Pool here. Admission is very reasonable.
You can also visit them on Facebook.
Worthy of notable mention
We came here from the Air & Military Museum of the Ozarks. It was an incredible “hands-on” experience our family will always remember. It is only 9 minutes away by automobile, and the admission is very reasonable. Learn more about the Air & Military Museum of the Ozarks here!
Need directions? Below is an interactive map for your convenience. You can zoom out by using the minus sign.
My grandkids would love the Railroad Historical Museum! They love trains. I hope to be able to take them one day.
It’s a really neat experience, and they’ll have a blast! I always recommend visiting in the summer so the kids can enjoy water activities at the Grant Beach Park & Pool! I hope you and your family get to visit!