Forney Museum of Transportation in Denver, Colorado
Museum with a major rail exhibit
The Forney Museum of Transportation is a nonprofit Denver collection of historic cars, carriages, bicycles, aircraft and rail equipment that started with a single 1921 Kissel and now includes the Big Boy locomotive No. 4005.
- Big Boy locomotive No. 4005
- Began with a 1921 Kissel
- Cars, carriages, aircraft and trains
- Nonprofit 501(c)(3) museum
Forney Museum of Transportation at a glance
- Hours
- Not posted in detail; check the museum's website before you go
- Admission
- Check the museum's website for current ticket prices
- Best for
- Families with mixed interests and steam locomotive 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 Forney Museum of Transportation? 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 Denver.
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.
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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.
From one Kissel to a Big Boy
The Forney Museum of Transportation carries the name of J.D. Forney, who founded Forney Industries in Fort Collins. The collection began more than 60 years ago with a single car, a 1921 Kissel, and kept growing until it covered nearly every way people have moved: buggies and carriages, bicycles and motorcycles, fire apparatus, public transit, aircraft, steam locomotives and other rail equipment.
Travel guides describe the collection as anywhere from more than 600 to more than 800 artifacts. Today it is run as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose purpose is to collect, preserve and show transportation objects of artistic, historical and technological interest for education and enjoyment. Visitors should check the museum's website for current hours, admission and any changes before planning a trip.
Cars with famous owners and a giant of steam
Train fans come for Big Boy No. 4005, one of the giant steam locomotives built for the Union Pacific, which is part of the museum's collection. Around it, the halls hold antique automobiles, horse-drawn carriages, bicycles, motorcycles, aircraft and fire equipment. Two cars stand out for their famous owners: Amelia Earhart's Goldbug Kissel and Prince Aly Khan's Rolls Royce. The museum does not post a detailed gallery map online, so allow time to wander.
Don’t miss
- Big Boy No. 4005The museum's best-known rail piece and the reason many train fans search for the Forney by name.
- Amelia Earhart's Goldbug KisselA car once owned by the famous aviator, and a nod to the Kissel that started the whole collection.
- Prince Aly Khan's Rolls RoyceOne of the luxury cars in the collection with a well-known past owner.
A big-wheels day for mixed-interest families
Kids who love anything with wheels will find trains, fire trucks, motorcycles and old cars in one visit, which makes the Forney a good fit for siblings with different favorites. The museum does not post details about hands-on exhibits, strollers or accessibility online, so call or check its website before you go.
Plan your visit: tips for Forney Museum of Transportation
- Confirm hours and ticket prices on forneymuseum.org before driving over.
- Verify the street address on the museum's website before you go.
- Pair a visit with the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, about 12 miles away.
A nonprofit built around one family's collection
The museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that exists to collect, preserve and exhibit transportation history for education. Buying a ticket is the most direct way to help, and the museum's website is the place to ask about memberships, donations or volunteering.
Pair the Forney with these rail stops
The Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden is about 12 miles west and has train rides on many days. The Georgetown Loop Railroad is about 39 miles into the mountains, and the Colorado Model Railroad Museum in Greeley is about 47 miles north. For the full list, see train museums in Colorado.
- Colorado Railroad MuseumGolden, CO · about 12 mi
- South Park Rail Society / Como RoundhouseComo, CO · about 27 mi
- Georgetown Loop RailroadGeorgetown / Silver Plume, CO · about 39 mi
- Colorado Model Railroad MuseumGreeley, CO · about 47 mi
- Moffat Road Railroad MuseumGranby, CO · about 55 mi
- Breckenridge High Line Railroad ParkBreckenridge, CO · about 61 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
This whole museum started with one car, and that makes me think of how small things grow. Rally's suitcase in our book only holds three things: his turtle toy, his green bone and his yellow ball. My mom dreamed up that packing scene before she died in 2021, and it still makes my kids giggle. A collection has to start somewhere, even a corgi's. Our story page tells how the book began.
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 Colorado: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Colorado
- Halloween train rides in Colorado
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Forney Museum of Transportation?
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.
Forney Museum of Transportation: 20 questions before you go
Where is the Forney Museum of Transportation?
The Forney Museum of Transportation is in Denver, Colorado. Map listings place it at 4303 Brighton Boulevard, Denver, CO 80216, but confirm the address on forneymuseum.org before you drive, since the museum's own site is the best source for its current location and directions.
What are the Forney Museum of Transportation hours?
Hours can change by season, so confirm them with the museum. Check forneymuseum.org for the current days and times before you go, especially around holidays. Visit Denver and Colorado.com also list the museum, but the museum's own website is the most reliable place to confirm.
How much are Forney Museum of Transportation tickets?
Ticket prices change, so confirm them with the museum. Check forneymuseum.org for adult, senior and child admission and any group rates before you visit. Buying a ticket also supports the museum, which is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that preserves and exhibits transportation history for education.
Does the Forney Museum of Transportation have free days?
The museum does not advertise free days in its general listings. Some Denver museums take part in free admission days during the year, so check forneymuseum.org or call the museum to ask whether any free or discounted days are coming up before you plan around one.
Is the Big Boy locomotive at the Forney Museum of Transportation?
Yes. The museum's collection includes Big Boy No. 4005, one of the huge steam locomotives built for the Union Pacific. It is the piece many train fans travel to see, so if it is your main reason for visiting, ask the museum about current viewing access before you go.
What is in the Forney Museum of Transportation collection?
The collection covers almost every way people have traveled: antique cars, buggies, carriages, bicycles, motorcycles, aircraft, fire apparatus, public transportation, steam locomotives and other rail equipment. Travel guides describe it as more than 600 to more than 800 artifacts, all relating to transportation history.
Who founded the Forney Museum of Transportation?
The museum is named for J.D. Forney, who founded Forney Industries in Fort Collins, Colorado. The collection began more than 60 years ago with a single 1921 Kissel automobile and expanded to include vehicles of every kind, from carriages to steam locomotives.
Is Amelia Earhart's car at the Forney Museum?
Yes. The museum's collection includes Amelia Earhart's Goldbug Kissel, a car once owned by the famous aviator. It is one of the most talked-about pieces in the museum, alongside Prince Aly Khan's Rolls Royce and the Big Boy No. 4005 steam locomotive.
Is there parking at the Forney Museum of Transportation?
The museum does not spell out parking in its general listings. Check forneymuseum.org or call the museum for parking directions before you go, particularly if you are bringing a group, a large vehicle or anyone who needs a close drop-off point.
Is the Forney Museum of Transportation good for kids?
It can be a good pick for kids who love anything with wheels, since trains, fire equipment, motorcycles, aircraft and old cars share one visit. For current hands-on exhibits or children's programs, check its website for current family activities.
How long should you spend at the Forney Museum of Transportation?
The museum does not suggest a visit length online. With a collection of several hundred vehicles and artifacts, most families will want to set aside a couple of hours to walk the halls without hurrying, and more if you like reading every sign.
Can you ride a train at the Forney Museum of Transportation?
Train rides are not listed as part of a visit. The Forney is a display museum where you see locomotives, cars and other vehicles up close. For an actual ride, the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden, about 12 miles away, runs train rides on scheduled days.
Is the Forney Museum of Transportation wheelchair accessible?
The museum does not describe its accessibility features in its general listings. Contact the museum through forneymuseum.org before your visit to ask about wheelchair and stroller access, seating and restrooms so you can plan around any needs in your group.
Does the Forney Museum of Transportation have jobs or volunteer roles?
The museum does not advertise job or volunteer openings in its general listings. As a nonprofit, the museum may welcome volunteers. Check forneymuseum.org for any openings, or contact the museum directly to ask how you can help.
Can I take photos at the Forney Museum of Transportation?
The museum does not publish a photo policy in its general listings. Many visitors want pictures of the Big Boy locomotive and the famous cars, so check with the front desk when you arrive about photography rules and whether flash or tripods are allowed.
What do reviews say about the Forney Museum of Transportation?
Travel guides call it a one-of-a-kind collection, noting the range from carriages and motorcycles to aircraft and steam locomotives. For current visitor reviews, check sites such as Google and Tripadvisor, which give a sense of how recent visitors spent their time.
Is the Forney Museum of Transportation a nonprofit?
Yes. The museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that exists to collect, preserve and exhibit items of artistic, historical and technological interest relating to transportation, for education and personal enrichment. Ticket sales and support from visitors help it care for the collection.
Can groups or school classes visit the Forney Museum?
The museum does not list group or school visit details in its general listings. Since the museum's purpose includes education, contact it through forneymuseum.org to ask about group rates, booking and any guided options before you schedule a field trip.
Does the Forney Museum of Transportation have holiday events?
The museum does not advertise holiday events in its general listings. For a Christmas train ride near Denver, the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden runs The Polar Express each November and December. Check forneymuseum.org for any special events at the Forney itself.
What other train museums are near the Forney Museum of Transportation?
The Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden is about 12 miles away, the South Park Rail Society and Como Roundhouse about 27 miles, the Georgetown Loop Railroad about 39 miles, and the Colorado Model Railroad Museum in Greeley about 47 miles. That makes Denver a handy base for a rail-themed weekend.
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