Ashland Railroad Station Museum, New Hampshire
Depot museumFreeSaturdays 1 pm to 4 pm in July and August, or by appointment
The Ashland Railroad Station Museum preserves an 1869 depot, remodeled in 1891, as a well-kept example of a rural 19th-century New Hampshire station, cared for by the Ashland Historical Society.
- Station built in 1869
- Remodeled in 1891
- On the National Register
- Opened as a museum in 1999
- Free, donations welcome
Ashland Railroad Station Museum at a glance
- Hours
- Saturdays 1 pm to 4 pm in July and August; tours by appointment
- Admission
- Free; a donation is requested for visitors over 13
- Plan for
- About 30 minutes to 1 hour
- Best for
- Rail history fans and families passing through the Lakes Region
- Best ages
- Ages 5 and up
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- Address69 Depot Street, Ashland, NH 03217(opens in a new tab)
- Phone(603) 707-2683
- Websiteashlandnhhistory.org/ashland-railroad-station(opens in a new tab)
Follow Ashland Railroad Station Museum
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Ashland Railroad Station Museum? 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 Ashland.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $13.99 on Amazon.
See the full bookPage 1 of 8
Like it so far? See the full book
25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
Ashland's depot, saved by its historical society
Ashland's railroad station went up in 1869 and was remodeled in 1891, and it survives as a well-preserved example of a small-town New Hampshire depot of the 1800s. The first station here served both passengers and freight, and the building has a long, layered history that the Ashland Historical Society has researched in detail, from proposed rail networks to the town's bridges, business buildings, train operations and the railroad's effect on the local economy.
The society opened the depot as its third museum in 1999, and the station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Volunteers keep it open on summer Saturdays and give tours by appointment, and visitors' donations help pay for its upkeep.
A small station full of railroad things
Visitors describe a carefully restored station filled mostly with railroad artifacts. One favorite is a model railroad layout, built as a school project, that shows the station as it looked around 1893. Visitors have also mentioned that passing tourist trains sometimes pause in Ashland so riders can take a quick look inside.
Don’t miss
- The 1893 model layoutA school-built model railroad shows how the station and its surroundings looked around 1893.
- The depot buildingBuilt in 1869 and remodeled in 1891, the station itself is the main exhibit.
Short visit, small station
A visit here is short and easy for families, and kids who like trains usually enjoy finding the station on the 1893 model layout. Children 13 and under are not asked for a donation. Because the museum keeps limited hours, plan around a summer Saturday or call ahead to arrange a time.
Plan your visit: tips for Ashland Railroad Station Museum
- Call Kendall B. Hughes at (603) 707-2683 to arrange a tour outside summer Saturdays.
- Bring a few dollars for a donation; it helps maintain the building.
- Ask about the Ashland Historical Society's other museums nearby.
The Ashland Historical Society
The volunteer-run Ashland Historical Society owns and operates the station along with its other museums, including the Whipple House Museum, a toy museum and the Reuben Whitten House. Donations at the door, membership and support through the society's website keep the depot open.
Trains and depots around the Lakes Region
The Winnipesaukee Railway runs lake trains from Meredith, about 24 miles away, and its fall foliage trip passes through Ashland. The Wolfeboro Railroad historic collection is about 23 miles away, and the Contoocook Railroad Museum about 33 miles south. Browse train museums across New Hampshire for more.
- Wolfeboro Railroad historic collectionWolfeboro, NH · about 23 mi
- Winnipesaukee Scenic RailroadMeredith, NH · about 24 mi
- Hobo RailroadLincoln, NH · about 24 mi
- New England Southern Railroad historical collectionsNew Hampshire, NH · about 25 mi
- Clark's Bears / White Mountain Central RailroadLincoln, NH · about 25 mi
- Contoocook Railroad MuseumContoocook, NH · about 33 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
A little depot like Ashland's makes me think of the moment in our book when Mr. Conductor, in his blue uniform, holds out a hand to welcome Rally aboard. Small stations always felt like that to me, a place where somebody waits to greet you. My mom dreamed up that kind of warmth for Rally's trip. If your kids want to color the conductor, he is on our coloring pages.
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
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
- Train museums in New Hampshire: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in New Hampshire
- Halloween train rides in New Hampshire
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Ashland Railroad Station Museum?
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
- Ashland Railroad Station Museum official website(opens in a new tab)
- Ashland Railroad Station Museum on Tripadvisor(opens in a new tab)
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Ashland Railroad Station Museum: 20 questions before you go
What is the Ashland Railroad Station Museum?
It is a museum inside Ashland's historic railroad station, built in 1869 and remodeled in 1891, operated by the Ashland Historical Society. The society opened it as its third museum in 1999. Visitors describe a restored station filled mostly with railroad artifacts.
What are the Ashland Railroad Station Museum hours?
As of October 2026, the museum is open from 1 pm to 4 pm on Saturdays in July and August. Outside those times, special tours can be arranged by appointment by calling Kendall B. Hughes at (603) 707-2683. Check the Ashland Historical Society website before you go.
How much does the Ashland Railroad Station Museum cost?
There is no set admission fee. As of October 2026, the society asks for a donation from each visitor over age 13 to help maintain the museum and support its work. Children 13 and under are not asked to donate.
Where is the Ashland Railroad Station Museum?
The museum is on Depot Street in Ashland, New Hampshire. The society's listing gives 69 Depot Street, Ashland, NH 03217, while some references list 39 Depot Street, so call (603) 707-2683 if you have trouble finding it.
Can I book a tour of the Ashland Railroad Station Museum?
Yes. Special tours may be arranged by appointment by contacting Kendall B. Hughes at (603) 707-2683. This is the best option if you cannot visit on a Saturday afternoon in July or August, or if you are bringing a group.
When was the Ashland railroad station built?
The station was built in 1869 and remodeled in 1891. The first Ashland station served both passengers and freight. Today the building is considered a well-preserved example of a rural 19th-century railroad station. The historical society's website tells the longer story of the station and its additions.
Is the Ashland Railroad Station on the National Register of Historic Places?
Yes. The Ashland Railroad Station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a well-preserved example of a rural 19th-century railroad station. It is now a museum operated by the Ashland Historical Society.
Who runs the Ashland Railroad Station Museum?
The Ashland Historical Society runs it. The society also operates the Whipple House Museum, a toy museum and the Reuben Whitten House, and it researches and publishes local history, including a detailed account of the railroad in Ashland.
What can you see at the Ashland Railroad Station Museum?
Visitors describe a nicely restored station filled mostly with railroad-related artifacts. A highlight mentioned by visitors is a model railroad layout, built as a school project, showing the station as it looked around 1893. Because the building is small, a visit is quick and easy to fit into a summer Saturday.
Is there a model railroad at the Ashland Railroad Station Museum?
Yes, visitors mention a model railroad layout made as a school project that shows the Ashland station around 1893. It is a fun way for kids to see how the depot and its tracks looked more than a century ago.
Do tourist trains stop at the Ashland Railroad Station Museum?
Visitors have reported that passing tourist trains sometimes stop in Ashland for a quick tour of the museum. Such stops are not on a posted schedule, so do not count on them. The Winnipesaukee Railway's fall foliage trip does travel through Ashland.
Is the Ashland Railroad Station Museum good for kids?
It is a short, easy visit, and train-loving kids usually like the 1893 model layout. There are no rides or climbable equipment, so it works best as a quick stop for families exploring the Lakes Region.
How long should I plan at the Ashland Railroad Station Museum?
Most visitors need 30 minutes to an hour. It is a single station building, so it pairs well with other stops in town, including the historical society's other museums and Ashland's covered bridge. Check the society's site for those hours before planning a longer day.
Is the Ashland Railroad Station Museum wheelchair accessible?
The society does not post accessibility details online. Call Kendall B. Hughes at (603) 707-2683 before your visit to ask about steps, entrances and how best to see the station. Volunteers staff the museum, so a little notice helps them prepare for your visit.
Is there parking at the Ashland Railroad Station Museum?
The society does not list parking details online. The museum is on Depot Street in Ashland; call (603) 707-2683 to ask where visitors should park, especially if you are bringing a group or a larger vehicle.
Is the Ashland Railroad Station Museum open in winter?
Regular hours are only on Saturday afternoons in July and August. At other times of year, call (603) 707-2683 to ask whether a tour by appointment is possible. Tours by appointment depend on volunteer availability, so give the society some notice, especially for a school or club group.
What other museums does the Ashland Historical Society run?
Besides the railroad station, the society runs the Whipple House Museum, a toy museum and the Reuben Whitten House. Its website also covers Ashland's covered bridge, war monuments, cemeteries and town history. Several of these sit close together, so you can see more than one in an afternoon.
How can I support the Ashland Railroad Station Museum?
Leave a donation when you visit, since gifts from visitors over 13 help maintain the building. You can also join or support the Ashland Historical Society through the About, Join and Support section of its website.
Where can I learn about the history of the railroad in Ashland?
The Ashland Historical Society's website has a detailed section on the railroad in Ashland, covering proposed rail networks, the line's physical structure, bridges, buildings, operations, incidents in the news and its economic impact on the town.
What train attractions are near the Ashland Railroad Station Museum?
The Wolfeboro Railroad historic collection is about 23 miles away, the Winnipesaukee Railway in Meredith and the Hobo Railroad in Lincoln are each about 24 miles, and the Contoocook Railroad Museum is about 33 miles south.
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