Georgia State Railroad Museum in Savannah, Georgia

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Savannah, Georgia · Updated October 19, 2026 · 13 min read

Historic rail siteTrain ridesOpen daily, 9 am to 4 pm; outdoor areas close in bad weather

The Georgia State Railroad Museum preserves the Central of Georgia Railway's Savannah shops, begun in the 1850s and now a National Historic Landmark, where staff still restore locomotives, railcars and machinery in some of the oldest railroad repair buildings in the United States.

  • Shop complex begun in 1853
  • National Historic Landmark since 1976
  • 85-foot operating turntable
  • Working handcar for visitors
  • Train rides on select days
  • Opened as a museum in 1989

Georgia State Railroad Museum at a glance

Hours
Daily, 9 am to 4 pm; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day
Admission
Adults $20, children 3 to 12 $14; includes the STEAM Center
Train rides
Short guided train rides on select days, hourly 10 am to 3 pm; check the posted train ride schedule
Plan for
About 2 to 3 hours
Best for
Families with kids, rail fans and history lovers
Best ages
Ages 3 and up

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Georgia State Railroad 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 Savannah.

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.

From Central of Georgia repair yard to Savannah's railroad museum

The Central of Georgia began life in 1833 as the Central Rail Road and Canal Company, and by the mid-1840s it ran 190 miles of track out of Savannah. In 1851 the railroad started building new shops on Louisville Road. The carpenters' shop was finished first, in 1853, and the original roundhouse, machine shop, tender frame shop and blacksmith shop followed in 1855. The railroad kept adding buildings into the 1920s, and after a major fire in 1923 it rebuilt the roundhouse and turntable later that decade to handle bigger locomotives.

Southern Railway bought the Central of Georgia in 1963 and closed the Savannah shops, and the complex passed to the City of Savannah. The buildings were declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976, with the listing widened in 1978. The site is often described as the most complete antebellum railroad repair complex left in the country, and the museum calls its shop buildings the oldest of their kind in the United States.

The turn toward a museum came in 1989. While the film Glory was shooting nearby, City Manager Don Mendonsa and Historic Savannah president Gordon Matthews toured the site, and Matthews suggested Scott Smith, who had led the restoration of Fort Jackson, to start the work. With the city's backing, the nonprofit Coastal Heritage Society opened the museum that year. It was once known as the Roundhouse Railroad Museum.

Today the society's preservation and railroad operations staff keep the place working. They restore buildings, locomotives, railcars and old shaft-driven machinery on site, and the exhibits and tours tell the stories of a century of shop workers, including the history of industrial slavery and segregation on the railroad.

Roundhouse, shops and a turntable that still turns

The heart of the grounds is the partial roundhouse and its 85-foot operating turntable, ringed by historic steam and diesel locomotives, office cars and cabooses. You can walk through several of the historic railcars, and on select days staff lead guided tours by train, with short rides leaving hourly between 10 am and 3 pm. Kids line up for the working handcar, which they can pump along the track themselves.

Around the turntable stand the old shop buildings: part of the machine shop, the Tender Frame Shop, Blacksmith Shop, Boiler House, Storehouse and Print Shop, Lumber and Planing Sheds, and the Coach and Paint Shops. Inside you will find antique shaft-driven machinery, stationary steam engines, model train layouts and what is described as the oldest portable steam engine in the United States. Admission also covers the STEAM Center, and the old carpentry shop now houses the Savannah Children's Museum, which is ticketed separately.

Don’t miss

  1. The operating turntableAt 85 feet across, it still swings locomotives around in front of the rebuilt roundhouse, just as it did for the Central of Georgia.
  2. The handcarVisitors can operate a real handcar, the museum's most hands-on experience and a favorite with kids.
  3. The train rideOn select days a short guided site tour runs by rail, leaving hourly from 10 am to 3 pm.
  4. The Blacksmith Shop and Tender Frame ShopBoth date to the 1855 building campaign and are among the reasons the complex is a National Historic Landmark.
  5. The oldest portable steam engine in the U.S.This small machine is easy to walk past among the big locomotives, so look for it in the shop displays.
  6. The 1850s shop buildingsThirteen of the original structures survive, and many are open to walk through.

Pump a handcar, ride the rails, explore the Loco-Lab

Kids get to do things here, not just look. They can pump the handcar, climb into and walk through historic railcars, watch the turntable and ride the short site train on days it runs. Explore Georgia mentions a Loco-Lab for children, and every ticket includes the STEAM Center, open daily from 9 am to 3 pm.

Much of the museum is outdoors, and the museum closes during bad weather, so check its Facebook page or call on stormy days. With the Savannah Children's Museum on the same grounds (separate ticket), families with little ones can easily fill a day.

Plan your visit: tips for Georgia State Railroad Museum

  • Check the train ride schedule before you go; rides run on select days only.
  • The museum has outdoor sections and closes in bad weather, so call or check Facebook on rainy days.
  • The See 3 ticket covers any three Coastal Heritage Society museums over three days.
  • Visitors with EBT, SNAP or WIC benefits get free admission through Museums for All (bring proof).
  • The Savannah Children's Museum Exploration Station next door is not included in railroad museum admission.

The Coastal Heritage Society crews behind the shops

The Coastal Heritage Society, a nonprofit, runs the museum with major support from the City of Savannah, which owns the complex. Its preservation and railroad operations teams do the restoration work. You can help by becoming a society member, donating, volunteering, joining the teen board or shopping in its store, and scout and school groups can book railroad programs.

More railroad history around Savannah

Across the street in the old Central of Georgia passenger station, the Savannah History Museum displays an early 20th century steam locomotive and makes an easy second stop. About 83 miles up the coast, the Best Friend of Charleston exhibit tells the story of an early South Carolina locomotive, and the Georgia Coastal Railway in St. Marys is about 95 miles south. See all the Georgia train museums for more ideas.

Every train museum in Georgia

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a dad lifting Rally the corgi up the big stairs of a red train car
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

I love that kids at this museum can walk right through old railcars. Those steps up from the ground are tall for small people, and they make me think of Rally in our book, whose short corgi legs could not manage the big train stairs until Dad gave him a boost. My own kids are learning to read now, and they always ask to see that page again. You can color that moment 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
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 Georgia State Railroad 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.

Georgia State Railroad Museum: 20 questions families ask

Where is the Georgia State Railroad Museum?

The Georgia State Railroad Museum is at 655 Louisville Road, Savannah, Georgia 31401, in Tricentennial Park on the west side of downtown. It sits by the Visitor Information Center and across the street from the Savannah History Museum and Battlefield Memorial Park, so several museums are within a short walk. Call (912) 651-6823 for directions.

What are the Georgia State Railroad Museum hours?

As of October 2026, the museum is open seven days a week from 9 am to 4 pm. It closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day, and the museum's own page also lists Christmas Eve. Because parts of the site are outdoors, it also closes during bad weather, so call (912) 651-6823 or check Facebook on stormy days.

How much are Georgia State Railroad Museum tickets?

As of October 2026, tickets are $20 for adults and $14 for children ages 3 to 12. Admission includes the STEAM Center but not the Savannah Children's Museum outdoor Exploration Station, which needs its own ticket. You can buy tickets online through the Coastal Heritage Society website or at the museum, and ask about upgrading your ticket.

Is there a combo ticket for the Georgia State Railroad Museum?

Yes. The Coastal Heritage Society sells a See 3 ticket that lets you visit any three of its participating museums, including the Georgia State Railroad Museum, Savannah History Museum, Savannah Children's Museum, Old Fort Jackson, Pin Point Heritage Museum and Harper Fowlkes House. Once redeemed, it is good for three days.

Can you ride a train at the Georgia State Railroad Museum?

Yes, on select days. The museum offers short guided tours by train, leaving hourly from 10 am to 3 pm on the days they run. The schedule changes, so check the Train Ride Schedule link on the museum's page before you go, or call (912) 651-6823 to confirm that rides are running on your date.

What is the Georgia State Railroad Museum train ride schedule?

Train rides run on select days only, hourly between 10 am and 3 pm. The museum posts the current dates through a Train Ride Schedule link on its website at chsgeorgia.org. If a ride is the main reason for your visit, check that schedule first and call (912) 651-6823, since weather and operations can change plans.

Can kids use the handcar at the Georgia State Railroad Museum?

Yes. Operating the handcar is one of the museum's signature activities, and visitors can pump it along the track. It is a good way for kids to feel how railroad workers once moved along the line by muscle power. Ask staff on arrival when the handcar is running that day.

Is the Georgia State Railroad Museum good for kids?

Yes, it is built for families. Kids can pump a handcar, walk through historic railcars, watch the operating turntable, ride the site train on select days and use the STEAM Center, which is included with admission. The Savannah Children's Museum is on the same grounds if you want to add a separate ticket.

When did the Georgia State Railroad Museum open?

The Coastal Heritage Society opened the museum in 1989, after the City of Savannah took over the old Central of Georgia shops. The buildings themselves are much older: the first, the carpenters' shop, was finished in 1853, and the roundhouse, machine shop and blacksmith shop followed in 1855. It was once called the Roundhouse Railroad Museum.

What railroad built the Georgia State Railroad Museum buildings?

The Central of Georgia Railway built them as its Savannah repair shops and terminal facilities, starting in 1851. The railroad used the shops for more than a century until Southern Railway bought it in 1963 and closed them. The complex is now a National Historic Landmark and is considered the most intact antebellum railroad repair complex in the country.

What locomotives and cars are at the Georgia State Railroad Museum?

The collection includes historic steam and diesel locomotives, office cars, cabooses and other rolling stock, plus stationary steam engines, shaft-driven shop machinery and model train layouts. The museum does not post a full equipment roster online, so if you are looking for a specific engine, call (912) 651-6823 or message the Coastal Heritage Society on Facebook.

How big is the turntable at the Georgia State Railroad Museum?

The turntable is 85 feet long and still operates. It sits in front of the partial roundhouse, which the Central of Georgia rebuilt in the late 1920s after a 1923 fire and to fit larger locomotives. Watching it turn is one of the highlights of a visit.

Is there parking at the Georgia State Railroad Museum?

The museum does not post parking details on its website. It is in Tricentennial Park next to the Savannah Visitor Information Center on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and the Coastal Heritage Society describes the museums there as conveniently located. Call (912) 651-6823 before you go to ask where to park.

Can you have a wedding at the Georgia State Railroad Museum?

The museum takes private tour and event bookings, according to its Tripadvisor listing, but it does not post wedding packages or prices online. To ask about a wedding or private event in the historic shops, contact the Coastal Heritage Society at (912) 651-6840 or info@chsgeorgia.org.

What upcoming events are at the Georgia State Railroad Museum?

The Coastal Heritage Society keeps one events calendar for all its museums at chsgeorgia.org/events, and that is the place to check for railroad museum programs. The society also books birthday parties, field trips and scout programs. For the latest daily information, including weather closures, check its Facebook page.

Did Antiques Roadshow film at the Georgia State Railroad Museum?

The museum does not mention Antiques Roadshow on its visit pages, though many people search for those episodes. For broadcast dates and the three episode hours, check your local public television listings. For questions about filming or events at the site, contact the Coastal Heritage Society at (912) 651-6840.

Does the Georgia State Railroad Museum offer field trips and scout programs?

Yes. The Coastal Heritage Society books student programs and a student STEM program at the railroad museum, plus scout programs including a Railroading Merit Badge program and Grandfather Gordon's Railroad. Bookings require a nonrefundable deposit and final numbers 10 days ahead. Email Megan at malstad@chsgeorgia.org with questions.

Is there free admission at the Georgia State Railroad Museum?

Visitors who receive EBT, SNAP or WIC benefits get free admission through the Museums for All program, which the Coastal Heritage Society calls CHS All In. Bring proof of assistance. The free entry does not cover special events, booked programs, field trips, birthday parties or after-hours events.

How can I support or volunteer at the Georgia State Railroad Museum?

The Coastal Heritage Society, the nonprofit that runs the museum, accepts volunteer applications, memberships and donations, and it runs a teen board. Its preservation and railroad operations teams restore the buildings and equipment with major support from the City of Savannah. Visit chsgeorgia.org or call (912) 651-6840 to get involved.

What other train museums are near the Georgia State Railroad Museum?

The Savannah History Museum, in the old Central of Georgia passenger depot across the street, displays an early 20th century steam locomotive. The Best Friend of Charleston exhibit in South Carolina is about 83 miles away, and the Georgia Coastal Railway in St. Marys is about 95 miles south.

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Kelsey Cecil
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