Douglas Railroad Interpretive Center, Wyoming
Depot museumOpen Monday to Saturday, closed Sundays
The Douglas Railroad Interpretive Center pairs an 1886 passenger depot, built before Wyoming became a state, with a line of historic rail cars that visitors can walk through, all on the grounds of Locomotive Park.
- Depot built in 1886
- Rail cars open to walk through
- Steam locomotive on display
- Shaded picnic tables
- Closed Sundays
Douglas Railroad Interpretive Center at a glance
- Hours
- Monday to Saturday 9 am to 4 pm, closed Sunday
- Admission
- No admission fee is posted; call to confirm
- Seasonal events
- Spirit of Fall Tea, Nightmare at the Museum, Christmas at the Depot, Painting Workshop
- Plan for
- About 1 hour
- Best for
- Road trippers and families with young train fans
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Douglas Railroad Interpretive Center? 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 Douglas.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
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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.
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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 depot older than the state of Wyoming
The depot was built in 1886 for the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad, whose line ended at the brand new town of Douglas. That was before Wyoming became a state. The building later served the Chicago and North Western Railway and is still known by both railroads' names. It was a fairly small station, and it stayed in service until 1970.
Today the depot is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Douglas. It houses the Douglas Railroad Museum & Visitor Center, so travelers stopping for local information end up in the middle of the town's railroad history. Outside, Locomotive Park and the interpretive center share the grounds, with rail cars arranged around the old station. The center also goes by the Douglas Railroad Interpretive Museum at Locomotive Park on some travel listings. Hours, events and admission details are best confirmed by phone before a long drive.
Eight rail cars around the station
Travel listings describe eight rail cars surrounding the depot, including a day coach from the 1800s and a steam locomotive. The city's description of the collection adds a dining car, a caboose and a motor car, and many of the cars are open so visitors can see the inside as well as the outside. The depot itself holds the museum exhibits and visitor center, and the museum's website offers a virtual tour.
Don’t miss
- The 1886 depotBuilt for the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad, it served passengers until 1970.
- The 1800s day coachOne of the oldest cars on the grounds, a reminder of how passengers rode in the territorial era.
- The steam locomotiveThe anchor of Locomotive Park and the first thing most kids run toward.
- Open rail carsMany of the cars, including the dining car and caboose, can be explored inside.
Climb aboard, then picnic in the shade
Kids get to explore rail cars inside and out here, which beats looking through a fence. Locomotive Park has shaded picnic tables, so it works well as a lunch stop on a road trip. The museum does not list age guidance or stroller details online, so expect steps up into the cars.
Plan your visit: tips for Douglas Railroad Interpretive Center
- The site sits at Brownfield Road and West Yellowstone Highway.
- Bring lunch: Locomotive Park has shaded picnic tables.
- It is closed on Sundays.
- Take the virtual tour on the museum's website to preview the cars.
The museum lists a handful of seasonal events, including a Spirit of Fall Tea, Nightmare at the Museum and Christmas at the Depot. Dates are posted on its website. For holiday rides elsewhere in the state, see our list of Christmas train rides in Wyoming.
A depot that welcomes the whole town
The depot does double duty as the Douglas visitor center, and the museum invites visitors to subscribe for updates on its website. Coming to an event, signing up for news and spreading the word are simple ways to help. Call (307) 358-2950 to ask about volunteering or donations.
Rail history across Wyoming
In town, the Wyoming Transportation Museum listing points to the same grounds. The Historic Laramie Railroad Depot is about 101 miles south, and the Cheyenne Depot Museum is about 116 miles away. Browse every train museum in Wyoming for more.
- Wyoming Transportation MuseumDouglas, WY · same town
- Historic Laramie Railroad DepotLaramie, WY · about 101 mi
- Union Pacific Steam Shop historic collectionCheyenne, WY · about 116 mi
- Wyoming State Museum railroad exhibitsCheyenne, WY · about 116 mi
- Historic Rawlins Union Pacific DepotRawlins, WY · about 116 mi
- Cheyenne Depot MuseumCheyenne, WY · about 116 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
Rail cars sit high off the ground, and climbing into one is a real adventure for small legs. In our book, Rally the corgi can't manage the big train steps, so Dad gives him a boost while Mom watches. I think of that every time I see a family lifting a little one into an old coach. My mom dreamed up Rally's trip before she passed in 2021, and moments like that are why. Read more 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
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 Wyoming: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Wyoming
- Halloween train rides in Wyoming
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Douglas Railroad Interpretive Center?
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.
Douglas Railroad Interpretive Center: 20 visitor questions
What is the Douglas Railroad Interpretive Center?
It is a railroad museum and visitor center in Douglas, Wyoming, housed in the 1886 Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad passenger depot. Outside, rail cars and a steam locomotive surround the depot on the grounds of Locomotive Park. Today it goes by the name Douglas Railroad Museum & Visitor Center.
Where is the Douglas Railroad Interpretive Center?
The museum is at 121 Brownfield Rd in Douglas, Wyoming. The city places Locomotive Park and the interpretive center at the intersection of Brownfield Road and West Yellowstone Highway, sharing grounds with the Douglas visitor center inside the old depot. Call (307) 358-2950 if you need directions.
What are the Douglas Railroad Museum hours?
As of October 2026, the Douglas Railroad Museum & Visitor Center lists hours of 9 am to 4 pm, Monday through Saturday, and it is closed on Sunday. Holiday hours are not posted, so call (307) 358-2950 before visiting around a holiday or on a day with a special event.
Is the Douglas Railroad Interpretive Center free?
The museum does not post an admission price online, and its site invites visitors to stop in during business hours. Locomotive Park outside is a city facility with picnic tables. To confirm whether there is any charge for the museum or the rail cars, call (307) 358-2950 before you go.
Can you go inside the train cars in Douglas, Wyoming?
Yes. Many of the rail cars around the depot are open to visitors, so you can see the inside of the trains as well as the outside. The city lists a locomotive, dining car, caboose and motor car that families can explore. Expect steps up into the cars.
What trains are on display at the Douglas Railroad Interpretive Center?
Travel listings describe eight rail cars around the depot, including a day coach from the 1800s and a steam locomotive. The city also mentions a dining car, a caboose and a motor car. Ask staff at the visitor center which cars are open on the day you visit.
When was the Douglas train depot built?
The depot was built in 1886 to serve the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad at the end of its line in the newly founded town of Douglas. That was before Wyoming became a state. The depot retired from railroad service in 1970 and now houses the museum and visitor center.
What railroad built the Douglas depot?
The Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Railroad built the depot in 1886, and the building is also known as the Chicago and North Western Railway Passenger Depot. Douglas was the railroad's terminus when the depot opened, and the building was designed as a fairly small station for that traffic.
Are there photos of the Douglas Railroad Interpretive Center?
Yes. The museum's website offers a virtual tour of the site, which is the easiest way to preview the depot and the rail cars before visiting. Travel and tourism listings for Douglas also feature photos of the depot and the train cars in Locomotive Park.
Is the Douglas Railroad Interpretive Center good for kids?
Yes, especially for kids who like to climb aboard. Many of the cars are open to explore, the steam locomotive is a big draw, and the shaded picnic tables make it an easy stop for a family lunch. The museum does not post age guidance, so judge the steps into each car for little ones.
Can you picnic at Locomotive Park in Douglas?
Yes. The city lists shaded picnic tables among the features of Locomotive Park, which shares its grounds with the railroad museum and visitor center. It makes a good lunch break on a road trip through central Wyoming. Pack out your trash and check the weather, since the tables are outdoors.
Does the Douglas Railroad Museum have Christmas events?
Yes. The museum lists Christmas at the Depot among its events. Details such as dates, times and whether there is a charge are posted on its website as the season approaches, so check douglasrailroadmuseum.org or call (307) 358-2950 in late fall for this year's plans.
Does the Douglas Railroad Museum have Halloween events?
The museum lists an event called Nightmare at the Museum, along with a Spirit of Fall Tea, among its seasonal programs. The website does not spell out the details on its main page, so check douglasrailroadmuseum.org or call (307) 358-2950 for dates, ages and tickets before you plan around it.
Can you ride a train at the Douglas Railroad Interpretive Center?
No train rides are listed. The Douglas site is a static display: the rail cars and steam locomotive stay put, but many are open for visitors to walk through. If you want a moving train, look for excursion and holiday rides elsewhere in the region before planning your trip.
How long should I plan at the Douglas Railroad Interpretive Center?
About an hour covers the depot and a walk through the open rail cars, a bit more if you stop for a picnic in Locomotive Park. It works well as a road trip break. Because the museum closes at 4 pm and is closed Sundays, arrive with time to spare.
Is there a visitor center at the Douglas Railroad Museum?
Yes. The old passenger depot houses both the railroad museum and the Douglas visitor center, so it is a good first stop for local information about the town and Converse County. Staff can answer questions about the rail cars and nearby attractions during open hours.
Is there a gift shop at the Douglas Railroad Interpretive Center?
The museum does not mention a gift shop on its website. Since the depot also serves as the visitor center, staff may have local brochures and information on hand. Call (307) 358-2950 to ask whether any railroad souvenirs or books are for sale before you plan to shop.
Does the Douglas Railroad Museum host workshops?
Yes. Along with its holiday and fall events, the museum lists a painting workshop among its programs. Dates and sign-up details appear on its website, so check douglasrailroadmuseum.org or subscribe for updates there to hear about the next session.
How do I contact the Douglas Railroad Interpretive Center?
Call (307) 358-2950 during open hours, Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm as of October 2026. The museum's website, douglasrailroadmuseum.org, has an option to subscribe for updates. No public email address is listed, so the phone is the most reliable way to reach staff.
What other train museums are near Douglas, Wyoming?
The Historic Laramie Railroad Depot is about 101 miles away, and Cheyenne, about 116 miles away, has the Cheyenne Depot Museum, the Big Boy No. 4004 display and the Wyoming State Museum. The Historic Rawlins Union Pacific Depot is also about 116 miles away.
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