Cole Land Transportation Museum in Bangor, Maine

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Bangor, Maine · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Museum with a major rail exhibitOpen May 1 to November 11, 9 am to 4 pm daily

The Cole Land Transportation Museum in Bangor preserves the trucks, trains, tractors, fire equipment and other vehicles that carried Maine's work and travel, and pairs them with exhibits that honor the state's veterans.

  • Opened by Galen and Sue Cole in 1990
  • Cabooses, trucks, tractors and fire engines
  • Under 19 admitted free
  • Open daily May 1 to November 11
  • Wheelchair accessible

Cole Land Transportation Museum at a glance

Hours
May 1 to November 11, 9 am to 4 pm, 7 days a week
Admission
Adults $14; seniors, military and first responders $12; under 19 free
Seasonal events
Night at the Museum, Memorial Day Picnic and Ceremony, Transportation Festival, Cheers and Gears, Coles Classic Car Show, Halloween Party, Veterans Day Service
Plan for
About 1 to 2 hours
Best for
Families, vehicle lovers and anyone interested in Maine veterans
Best ages
Ages 3 and up
Accessibility
The museum says it is wheelchair accessible and family friendly.

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Cole Land Transportation 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 Bangor.

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.

A trucking family's gift to Bangor

The museum began with Galen Cole, a 1944 graduate of Bangor High School who went to war as a combat infantryman with the U.S. 5th Armored Division. In Germany on April 2, 1945, he lost his entire squad, and he came home with the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star. He later led the 5th Armored Division Association as its president.

Back in Maine, Galen spent half a century with Cole's Express, many of those years as president, and built the company into a regional carrier serving Maine, northern New England and the Canadian Maritimes. He also served as mayor of Bangor, supported the University of Maine for decades and chaired a long list of community groups. His guiding promise was to help his fellow man and leave his community a little better than he found it.

In 1990, Galen and his wife Sue opened the Cole Land Transportation Museum on Perry Road. The idea was bigger than a car collection. The Coles wanted children to see how everyday work and travel shaped Maine life, and to meet the veterans whose service the museum honors. Since opening, the museum has welcomed visitors from around the world and connected tens of thousands of schoolchildren with veterans through interviews and outreach.

Today the Galen Cole Family Foundation carries that mission forward, with maintaining the museum and preserving Maine's land transportation history as its first priority. Staff and volunteers lead school tours, run the events calendar and care for the collection, and visitors often single out the volunteers for the stories they share.

Wagons to 18-wheelers, with rail cars in the mix

The collection covers the whole range of vehicles that moved people and goods across Maine: historic trucks, trains, tractors and farm equipment, fire trucks, snowplows, motorcycles, bicycles, wagons and antique automobiles, along with cabooses for the rail fans in the family. Exhibits explain what each machine was built to do and how it fit into Maine work life. Tourism listings also mention a 72-foot covered bridge from the 1840s on the grounds.

Military displays sit alongside the vehicles, and patriotic memorials stand on the museum grounds. Visits are self-guided, and a short two-minute video on the museum's website gives a quick preview before you go. Visitors regularly say there is more to see than they expected, so leave room in your day.

Don’t miss

  1. The caboosesThe museum's rail equipment includes cabooses, the cars where train crews once rode at the back of freight trains.
  2. Fire trucks and snowplowsTwo kinds of hardworking Maine machines that tend to stop kids in their tracks.
  3. The covered bridgeTourism listings describe a 72-foot covered bridge from the 1840s that visitors can walk across.
  4. Veterans exhibits and memorialsGalen Cole's own wartime service shaped the museum, and its military displays and grounds memorials honor Maine veterans.
  5. Trucks from the Cole's Express storyThe trucking collection reflects the regional carrier the Cole family built over decades.

Big machines and free admission for kids

Children under 19 get in free, which makes this an easy family stop in Bangor. Kids can walk among fire trucks, tractors, snowplows, big rigs and cabooses, and the museum calls itself family friendly and wheelchair accessible, so strollers should manage the route. Food and drinks are not allowed inside, so plan snacks before or after.

The family events are the big draws: Night at the Museum in May brings costumed actors playing characters from Maine history, the September Transportation Festival offers touch-a-truck fun, and an October Halloween Party turns the museum into a trick-or-treat route.

Plan your visit: tips for Cole Land Transportation Museum

  • No food or drinks are allowed in the museum.
  • Pets are not allowed; service dogs are welcome.
  • The season ends on Veterans Day, November 11, with a ceremony on the grounds.
  • Schools can request free field trips, and eligible schools can apply for transportation cost help.
  • The online contact form was being rebuilt, so call (207) 990-3600 with questions.

The museum's calendar fills out the season. Night at the Museum in May and the Halloween Party in late October are both evening family events, the second a costumed trick-or-treat walk through the decorated galleries. The Transportation Festival in September is the biggest day of the year, and the Coles Classic Car Show follows a few days later. For a Halloween outing with an actual train, see our guide to Halloween train rides in Maine.

The Cole family foundation and its volunteers

The Galen Cole Family Foundation sustains the museum, and staff and volunteers lead tours and field trips. Visitors can help by paying admission, attending the Cheers and Gears fundraiser, volunteering, or supporting the foundation through the museum's support page. Call (207) 990-3600 to ask about volunteering.

More rail history near Bangor

The Maine Forest and Logging Museum at Leonard's Mills is only about 10 miles away in Bradley. For a train ride, the Downeast Scenic Railroad is about 26 miles off and the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad about 29. See all of Maine's train museums to plan a longer trip.

Every train museum in Maine

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi dreaming about his toy turtle, green bone and yellow ball
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

So many machines in this museum were built to carry something, from wagons to big rigs to the cabooses at the back of a train. That always makes me think of Rally deciding what goes in his suitcase: the turtle toy, the green bone, the yellow ball. Every traveler has precious cargo. My kids are learning to read, and a coloring page of Rally packing is a sweet way to wind down after a museum day.

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 Cole Land Transportation 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

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

Cole Land Transportation Museum: 20 common questions

What are the Cole Land Transportation Museum hours?

As of October 2026, the Cole Land Transportation Museum is open May 1 through November 11, from 9 am to 4 pm, seven days a week. It closes for the winter after Veterans Day. Dates and hours can change, so call (207) 990-3600 or check colemuseum.org before a trip late or early in the season.

How much are Cole Land Transportation Museum tickets?

As of October 2026, admission is $14 for adults and $12 for seniors, military members and first responders. Children and teens under 19 get in free, which makes the museum an inexpensive family outing. Some special events, such as the adults-only Cheers and Gears evening, are ticketed separately.

Where is the Cole Land Transportation Museum in Bangor, Maine?

The museum is at 405 Perry Road in Bangor, Maine 04401. Enter that address in your GPS. If you need directions or want to confirm anything before you drive over, the museum asks visitors to call (207) 990-3600, since its online contact form was being rebuilt for the new website.

What is the Galen Cole Family Land Transportation Museum?

That is another way people refer to the Cole Land Transportation Museum, which Galen and Sue Cole opened in Bangor in 1990. The Galen Cole Family Foundation sustains it today, and keeping the museum running and preserving Maine's land transportation history is the foundation's first priority.

What upcoming events does the Cole Land Transportation Museum hold?

The 2026 calendar included Night at the Museum in May, a Memorial Day picnic and ceremony, the Transportation Festival and Coles Classic Car Show in September, the Cheers and Gears fundraiser, an October Halloween Party and a Veterans Day service on November 11. The museum notes that dates can change.

Are there trains at the Cole Land Transportation Museum?

Yes. Trains are part of the collection, and the museum's rail pieces include cabooses, shown alongside trucks, tractors, fire equipment, snowplows and other vehicles. It is a broad transportation museum rather than a railroad museum, so expect rail equipment as one part of a much larger display.

Can you ride a train at the Cole Land Transportation Museum?

No train rides are listed. The Cole museum is a self-guided indoor and grounds collection. For a ride, the Downeast Scenic Railroad in Hancock is about 26 miles away and the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad is about 29 miles away; check their own schedules before going.

Is the Cole Land Transportation Museum worth visiting?

Many visitors think so. Online reviewers often say there is more to see than they expected, praise the volunteers who share stories about the Cole family, and recommend leaving enough time. Families also appreciate that anyone under 19 gets in free and that the museum is wheelchair accessible.

What do reviews say about the Cole Land Transportation Museum?

Reviews posted on the museum's site and on Tripadvisor tend to praise the variety of vehicles, the military exhibits and the friendly staff and volunteers. A common comment is that one visit is not quite enough to take everything in, so give yourself extra time if you can.

Where can I see photos of the Cole Land Transportation Museum?

The museum's Facebook page posts photos of exhibits and events, and its website has a two-minute video tour that gives a good sense of the collection. Tripadvisor also carries visitor photos. Those are good places to preview the vehicles before you visit with kids.

Who founded the Cole Land Transportation Museum?

Galen and Sue Cole opened it in 1990. Galen was a World War II combat infantryman who received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, spent 50 years with Cole's Express, served as Bangor mayor and became a strong champion of veterans and schoolchildren. The family foundation continues his work.

Is the Cole Land Transportation Museum good for young kids?

Yes, and children under 19 are admitted free. Kids enjoy the fire trucks, tractors, big rigs and cabooses, and family events like Night at the Museum, the Transportation Festival and the Halloween Party are built for them. Remember that food and drinks are not allowed inside.

Is the Cole Land Transportation Museum wheelchair accessible?

Yes. The museum describes itself as wheelchair accessible and family friendly. If someone in your group has specific access needs, such as help with a particular exhibit area or parking, call (207) 990-3600 before your visit so staff can tell you what to expect.

Are dogs allowed at the Cole Land Transportation Museum?

No. The museum has a no pets policy, and only service dogs are allowed. Plan to leave the family dog at home or with someone who can care for it while you explore, especially on warm days when a car is not a safe place to wait.

Can I bring food into the Cole Land Transportation Museum?

No. Food and drinks are not allowed in the museum, so have lunch or snacks before you arrive or after you leave. If you are bringing a school group, ask about meal arrangements when you plan the field trip by calling (207) 990-3600.

Does the Cole Land Transportation Museum offer school field trips?

Yes. The museum offers free educational programs and field trips led by staff and volunteers, with options such as a museum tour, veteran interviews and transportation history programs. Eligible schools can apply for a Transportation Cost Assistance Program. Teachers submit an inquiry form, and staff follow up about dates.

Does the Cole Land Transportation Museum have a Halloween event?

Yes. The 2026 Halloween Party was set for Tuesday, October 27, from 4 to 7 pm, as a family trick-or-treat walk through the fully decorated museum. Costumes are encouraged, and the event is designed for children. Check the museum's events page or Facebook for the current year's date.

What is the Transportation Festival at the Cole Land Transportation Museum?

The Transportation Festival is the museum's largest family event, held in September and welcoming thousands of guests. It features vehicles of every kind, touch-a-truck experiences and career exploration. In 2026 it ran on Sunday, September 13, from 11 am to 3 pm.

How long should I spend at the Cole Land Transportation Museum?

Plan on one to two hours. Visitors often say they wished they had more time, because the collection covers so many kinds of vehicles plus military exhibits and the grounds. If you have a strong interest in veterans' history or antique trucks, allow a bit longer.

What other train museums are near the Cole Land Transportation Museum?

The Maine Forest and Logging Museum at Leonard's Mills is about 10 miles away in Bradley. The Downeast Scenic Railroad is about 26 miles away, the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad about 29 miles and the Monson Railroad Museum about 46 miles, so Bangor makes a good base for rail outings.

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Kelsey Cecil
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