Consistently ranked as one of the country’s top railroad museums, the California State Railroad Museum displays 19 meticulously restored “iron horse” locomotives and period-perfect railway cars. Many are open for one-of-a-kind walk-throughs.
Highlights include a dining car for elite passengers, a Pullman sleeping car, and an ancient Us postal train. Click here for more info.
Exhibits
The Museum features 19 meticulously restored “iron horse” locomotives, plus period-perfect railway cars, many open for one-of-a-kind walk-throughs. From china and silverware in dining cars to the comfort of Pullman sleeping cars and a charmingly stubby caboose, visitors get a sense of what it was like to travel by train before automobiles became king.
Changing exhibits – including photography, ephemera, and artifacts – bring additional depth to the story of railroads and their impact on American life. CSRM is also committed to telling the stories of railroaders, both past and present.
A major exhibition focuses on the Chinese Railroad Workers’ Experience, which shows that the nameless Chinese workers who built the western portion of America’s first Transcontinental Railroad were more than mere laborers. The Museum also highlights the role of women in rail history. The exhibit was developed and designed by graduate students through a partnership with Sacramento State’s Public History Program. Guests will learn that women played important roles in both the business and operations of the railroad.
Train Rides
Train lovers of all ages will find plenty to keep them interested in this world-class tribute to the railroads’ role in California and the western United States. The museum is home to a remarkable collection of locomotives and rail cars, regularly-changing exhibit spaces, and educational activities.
The museum offers a wide selection of train-themed souvenirs at its large gift shop. Popular items include a rustic blue mug, golden spike bottle opener, Union Pacific sign, and a Lil engineer kit.
Guests can hop aboard the Sacramento Southern Railroad for a scenic train ride along the banks of the Sacramento River on weekends (April-September) and on select dates in October, November, and December. Choose to ride in a first-class observation car or an enclosed coach, and experience the sights, sounds, and smells of train travel from a bygone era. Excursion train rides sell out quickly, so book in advance if you’re interested. The museum also organizes a variety of other seasonal and special event train excursions that are perfect for all ages. This article is worth reading.
Ticket Prices
The California State Railroad Museum at 111 I Street, Old Sacramento interprets the role of the ‘iron horse’ in connecting California to the rest of the nation. It has a large collection of railroad cars and locomotives on display. The museum was started in 1937 by a group of railroad enthusiasts who wanted to highlight the importance of trains in our history.
The museum also offers train rides that depart from and return to the Front Street train depot. Visitors can ride in closed coach cars or open-air gondolas pulled by either the Granite Rock No. 10 steam locomotive or one of the museum’s vintage diesel locomotives.
Tickets are available for purchase online during the week or on a first-come, first-served basis at the Sacramento Southern Railroad ticket office on the weekends starting about an hour prior to the first departure. Tickets for train rides are limited and sell out quickly, so it is recommended that visitors buy them in advance.
Parking
The California State Railroad Museum is the Smithsonian Affiliate in Old Sacramento and provides a first-hand look at the importance of railroads to the region, state, and nation. The museum is also home to historic and authentic excursion train rides from April through September.
Parking for cars is available in metered on-street spaces or the hourly garage across from the Museum on 10th Street. Additionally, guests may park at the nearby Archives Plaza Light Rail stop or utilize public transit via Amtrak.
This museum is more for adults in my opinion, although it does have a section for children to play with some trains. The price is reasonable for the entrance and there are many cool trains to see. The 3rd floor has a whole section of model trains which are really amazing, some massive in size. There is also a workshop area and exhibit on High-Speed Rail. Definitely worth checking out!
Driving directions from Advanced Repipe Specialists to California State Railroad Museum
Driving directions from California State Railroad Museum to Discovery Park