Anchorage Museum (Alaska Railroad history), Alaska

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Anchorage, Alaska · Updated October 19, 2026 · 9 min read

Museum with a major rail exhibitThe museum is open year-round; its railroad centennial exhibition closed February 18, 2024

The Anchorage Museum, Alaska's largest museum, marked the 100th year of the completed Alaska Railroad with All Aboard: The Alaska Railroad Centennial, an exhibition built with railroad historians that ran from May 2023 to February 2024.

  • Alaska's largest museum
  • Railroad centennial exhibit, 2023 to 2024
  • Hands-on Discovery Center
  • Planetarium on site
  • Downtown at 625 C Street

Anchorage Museum (Alaska Railroad history) at a glance

Hours
Open year-round; see the museum's Hours and Tickets page for current times
Admission
See the Hours and Tickets page on anchoragemuseum.org. $5 Third Thursdays offered
Seasonal events
$5 Third Thursdays, First Friday, Museum After Dark, Halloween programs
Plan for
About 2 to 3 hours
Best for
Families wanting an indoor day in downtown Anchorage
Best ages
All ages

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Anchorage Museum (Alaska Railroad history)? Bring Rally along.

In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Anchorage.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

How Anchorage celebrated a railroad's hundredth year

There is no stand-alone Alaska Railroad museum in Anchorage. The city's major showcase for railroad history was a temporary exhibition at the Anchorage Museum, Alaska's largest museum and a center for the art, history and culture of the North, which sits in walkable downtown Anchorage.

Timed to the centennial year of the railroad's completion, All Aboard: The Alaska Railroad Centennial was created together with Alaska Railroad historians and experts. It filled the museum's first-floor atrium from May 5, 2023 to February 18, 2024 and used archival images, objects and ephemera to trace three key eras of railroad history across the 20th and 21st centuries: the important moments, the technical advances, and the human stories of the people who built and ran the line. Public programs were presented with the Alaska Railroad, community clubs and rail enthusiasts.

The exhibition has closed, and the museum's current exhibition list does not include a railroad show. Families can still visit the museum year-round, and the Alaska Railroad lists it among its suggested Anchorage day trips.

What the museum offers today

The Anchorage Museum brings together art, science, history and culture. Its permanent exhibitions include the Alaska Exhibition, Art of the North and Living Our Cultures, Sharing Our Heritage: The First Peoples of Alaska, and the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center displays more than 600 objects from Alaska Native cultures. Kids can head to the hands-on Discovery Center or the planetarium. Check the museum's exhibitions page in case rail history returns in a future show.

Don’t miss

  1. Discovery CenterA hands-on space for exploring Alaska's natural world, built for visitors of all ages.
  2. Smithsonian Arctic Studies CenterThe only Smithsonian facility in Alaska, with more than 600 objects from Alaska Native cultures.
  3. PlanetariumShows and events under the dome, including private planetarium parties.

Discovery Center, planetarium and family classes

The museum is a good rainy or snowy day choice with kids: the Discovery Center is hands-on, the planetarium adds a show, and the calendar includes family classes, school-break workshops, sensory-friendly times and birthday parties. For trains specifically, pair a museum visit with a ride on the Alaska Railroad, which suggests the museum as a day-trip stop.

Plan your visit: tips for Anchorage Museum (Alaska Railroad history)

  • The railroad centennial exhibition closed in February 2024; check the exhibitions page before visiting for rail history.
  • Groups of ten or more should book at least two weeks ahead.
  • Look for $5 Third Thursdays on the museum calendar.
  • The museum is in walkable downtown Anchorage at 625 C Street.

A museum built with community partners

The All Aboard exhibition was created with Alaska Railroad historians and experts, sponsored by Jan and Jeri van den Top, and supported by programs with the Alaska Railroad, community clubs and rail enthusiasts. Visitors can support the Anchorage Museum through membership, giving and its volunteer program, all listed on its contact page.

Rail history beyond Anchorage

Seward's historic Alaska Railroad depot, built in 1917 at the southern end of the line, is about 78 miles away. For a full list of rail stops, see train museums in Alaska, and if you are planning a trip by train, read our tips on train routes with kids.

Every train museum in Alaska

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor view from inside a dark tunnel looking out at a sunny beach and cliffs
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

A planetarium dome going dark before the stars come out always reminds me of the tunnel in our book. Everything goes black, then there's a big bright light and happy cheers. Rally is very brave about it, with Mom and Dad right beside him. My mom dreamed up that moment, and you can read how her idea became a book on our story page.

Free for train families

Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.

Get the free coloring pages
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

More for train families

Work or volunteer at Anchorage Museum (Alaska Railroad history)?

We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.

Sources

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Alaska Railroad history in Anchorage: 20 questions answered

Is there an Alaska Railroad museum in Anchorage?

There is no stand-alone Alaska Railroad museum in Anchorage. The city's major railroad history exhibition was All Aboard: The Alaska Railroad Centennial at the Anchorage Museum, which ran from May 5, 2023 to February 18, 2024 and has now closed. The Anchorage Museum itself is open year-round.

What was the All Aboard Alaska Railroad Centennial exhibit?

All Aboard was an Anchorage Museum exhibition opened in the centennial year of the Alaska Railroad's completion. Created with Alaska Railroad historians and experts, it used archival images, objects and ephemera to explore three key eras of railroad history in the 20th and 21st centuries, including innovations and human stories.

Is the Alaska Railroad centennial exhibit still open?

No. All Aboard: The Alaska Railroad Centennial was on view in the museum's first-floor atrium from May 5, 2023 to February 18, 2024, and it now appears among the museum's past exhibitions. Check the Anchorage Museum's exhibitions page for current and upcoming shows before you plan a visit around rail history.

Where is the Anchorage Museum?

The Anchorage Museum is at 625 C Street, Anchorage, Alaska 99501, in walkable downtown Anchorage, on the traditional homeland of the Eklutna Dena'ina. Call (907) 929-9200 for directions or general information, and check the museum's visitor pages for current details before you head over with kids.

What are the Anchorage Museum hours?

The museum describes itself as open year-round, but daily hours are not spelled out on its main visitor pages. Check the Hours and Tickets page on anchoragemuseum.org or call (907) 929-9200 for current times before you go.

How much are Anchorage Museum tickets?

General ticket prices are not spelled out on the museum's group and visitor pages. Look at the Hours and Tickets page on anchoragemuseum.org or call (907) 929-9200. The museum calendar also lists $5 Third Thursdays, and groups of ten or more can contact group sales for group pricing.

Does the Anchorage Museum have anything for train fans now?

The museum's current exhibition list does not include a railroad show, so check before you go. The museum's archives at the Atwood Resource Center may help researchers interested in railroad history; call (907) 929-9235 to ask. For hands-on trains, pair your visit with a ride on the Alaska Railroad.

Is the Anchorage Museum good for kids?

Yes. The hands-on Discovery Center is built for exploring Alaska's natural world, and the planetarium offers shows. The calendar includes family classes, school-break workshops and sensory-friendly programs. It is a good indoor choice for cold or rainy days.

Can you have a birthday party at the Anchorage Museum?

Yes. Birthday parties are listed among the museum's programs, and private planetarium parties appear on the calendar, which can be a fun option for space-loving kids. Contact the museum at (907) 929-9200 or museum@anchoragemuseum.org to ask about packages, availability, group size and pricing.

Does the Anchorage Museum offer group tours?

Yes. General group admission is available for groups of ten or more, and guided educational tours led by a museum educator cost $200 per group with a 20-person limit. Some qualifying summer groups may get complimentary tours. Book at least two weeks ahead through groupsales@anchoragemuseum.org or (907) 929-9255.

Does the Anchorage Museum offer school field trips?

Yes. The museum runs field trip programs for K-12 groups tied to Alaska education standards. Contact the field trips team at (907) 929-9280 or fieldtrips@anchoragemuseum.org to plan a visit, and allow at least two weeks of notice.

What is the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center at the Anchorage Museum?

It is the only Smithsonian facility in Alaska, located inside the Anchorage Museum. The center features more than 600 objects from Alaska Native cultures, including Alutiiq, Athabascan, Cup'ik, Inupiaq, St. Lawrence Island Yupik, Unangan and Yup'ik traditions, designed with Alaska Native communities.

Does the Anchorage Museum have a planetarium?

Yes. The planetarium is one of the museum's featured spaces, with regular planetarium events on the calendar and private planetarium parties available for booking. Check the calendar on anchoragemuseum.org for the day's shows and plan your gallery time around a showing.

How long should I spend at the Anchorage Museum?

Plan about two to three hours to see a few galleries, spend time in the Discovery Center and catch a planetarium show. Visitors who want to see the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center in depth may want longer.

Does the Anchorage Museum have Halloween events?

Yes. Halloween is one of the categories on the museum's events calendar, alongside all-ages and family classes. Check the October calendar on anchoragemuseum.org for this year's family-friendly programs, times and any tickets needed, and call (907) 929-9200 with questions.

Does the Alaska Railroad stop near the Anchorage Museum?

The Alaska Railroad lists the Anchorage Museum among its suggested day trips, describing it as offering a mix of art, history and science. Check alaskarailroad.com for train schedules and depot details, and confirm the route from the depot to the museum.

Is the Anchorage Museum accessible?

The museum has an Access page under its visitor information, but it does not spell out details on its main visitor pages. Call visitor services at (907) 929-9263 or email vsa@anchoragemuseum.org to ask about accessibility needs before your visit.

Who sponsored the Alaska Railroad centennial exhibit?

Jan and Jeri van den Top sponsored All Aboard: The Alaska Railroad Centennial. The exhibition was created in collaboration with Alaska Railroad historians and experts and included public programs with the Alaska Railroad, community clubs and railroad enthusiasts.

How can I support the Anchorage Museum?

You can become a member by calling (907) 929-9228, give through donor relations at (907) 929-9226 or giving@anchoragemuseum.org, or join the museum's volunteer program listed on its calendar. Shopping at the museum store also helps.

What train museums are near Anchorage?

The historic Alaska Railroad depot in Seward, built in 1917 and listed on the National Register in 1987, is about 78 miles away. Seward is also the southern end of the Alaska Railroad, so you can reach it by train from Anchorage in summer.

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