Griffin Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, Illinois

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Chicago, Illinois · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Museum with a major rail exhibit

At the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry, The Great Train Story carries more than 20 model trains along 1,400 feet of track through 2,200 miles of American scenery between Chicago and Seattle, the centerpiece of a Transportation Gallery that also holds full-size historic trains.

  • 3,500-square-foot HO model railroad
  • More than 20 model trains
  • Pioneer Zephyr exhibit
  • 999 locomotive in Transportation Gallery
  • Model trains here since 1941
  • Opened in 1933

Griffin Museum of Science and Industry at a glance

Hours
Posted daily on griffinmsi.org under Today's Hours
Admission
General admission tickets sold online; some exhibits and Giant Dome Theater films cost extra
Seasonal events
Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light
Plan for
About 1 hour at the train exhibits; most of a day for the whole museum
Best for
Families with train-loving kids of all ages
Best ages
Toddlers and up
Parking
See the Directions and Parking page on griffinmsi.org
Accessibility
Exhibit listings include accessibility and sensory notes such as mobility, seating, quiet areas and low light.

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Griffin Museum of Science and Industry? 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 Chicago.

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.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

Eight decades of model trains in the Palace of Fine Arts

The museum's building began as the Palace of Fine Arts, designed by Charles B. Atwood for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, and it is the only remaining structure from that fair. Philanthropist Julius Rosenwald, inspired by Munich's Deutsches Museum, pledged $3 million in 1926 to create an interactive science museum in Chicago, and it opened on June 19, 1933. More than 200 million guests have visited since.

Model trains have been part of the place for most of that time. The first layout, which opened in 1941, was the largest of its kind in the world: designed by Minton Cronkhite, it filled 2,340 square feet with Q scale trains and 1,000 feet of track, showing how railroads served industry and agriculture across the desert Southwest. It was also among the first model railroads in the country to run diesel models as diesels replaced steam on real lines.

In the 1990s that Santa Fe layout was taken apart and moved to make room for the Boeing 727 in Take Flight, and the reassembly was hard on it. After six decades of service it closed in 2002. Its replacement, The Great Train Story, took two and a half years to build and opened on November 22, 2002, with more than 5,000 visitors on its first day, according to Model Railroader. The new layout is 50 percent larger and can run more than 20 trains instead of the original 10.

Chicago to Seattle in a few minutes, plus full-size trains

The Great Train Story is the centerpiece of the Transportation Gallery. In 3,500 square feet of HO scale scenery, more than 20 trains wind along 1,400 feet of track past Chicago skyscrapers, plains towns and Rocky Mountain ranges to the Seattle waterfront, with details as small as crossing lights and floating seabirds. Twice an hour the layout switches to nighttime mode, and interactive buttons let you lift a drawbridge, set off tunneling explosives or fell trees. An Engineer's Eye View and an Eye Spy hunt reward a slow look.

Elsewhere in the museum, rail fans can climb aboard the Pioneer Zephyr exhibit, and the Transportation Gallery tells the story of the 999, the locomotive that ran passenger and freight service after the 1893 Exposition and returned to Chicago for the 1933 Century of Progress fair and the 1948 to 1949 Chicago Railroad Fair. The rest of the 14-acre museum includes the U-505 submarine, Science Storms and its tornado, and the Henry Crown Space Center.

Don’t miss

  1. The Great Train StoryA 3,500-square-foot HO scale model railroad with more than 20 trains, built over two and a half years.
  2. Nighttime modeTwice every hour the layout dims to night, a favorite moment for small kids.
  3. The interactive buttonsRaise a drawbridge, set off tunneling explosives or fell a few trees along the line.
  4. Pioneer ZephyrA full-size train exhibit you can step aboard, listed among the museum's permanent exhibits.
  5. The 999 locomotivePart of the Transportation Gallery, with ties to three Chicago world's fairs and rail expositions.

Buttons to push and trains to follow

The Great Train Story is built for kids of every age, from train-loving toddlers to older children who enjoy the Eye Spy challenge of finding tiny scenes. Little ones can push buttons to lift the drawbridge or set off a blast in the tunnel, and the twice-hourly switch to nighttime mode gets a reaction every time. Walking around the layout to follow one train from Chicago to Seattle is a game in itself.

The museum filters its exhibits by sensory notes such as loud noises, low light and flashing lights, which can help families plan a visit for kids with sensory needs. Some experiences, such as the flight and motion simulators and special exhibitions, need an additional ticket.

Plan your visit: tips for Griffin Museum of Science and Industry

  • Buy tickets online to choose your ticket type ahead of time.
  • Groups of 15 or more get discounts when booking at least two weeks ahead.
  • Watch for nighttime mode, which runs twice each hour on The Great Train Story.
  • Check which exhibits need an additional ticket before you go.

Members, donors and a long line of model builders

The museum is a nonprofit institution that relies on ticket buyers, members and donors, and its Get Involved pages explain how to support it. Generations of builders have kept its model railroads running since 1941, and the museum also hosts camps, workshops and field trips that bring science education to students.

More train stops in and around Chicago

Pullman National Historical Park, the town where railcars were built, is about 11 miles south. The Chicago History Museum is about 4 miles north, and for real train rides, the Illinois Railway Museum is about 52 miles away. See all the train museums in Illinois for more.

Every train museum in Illinois

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi looking out an arched train window at the ocean and a white bird
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Somewhere on The Great Train Story's Seattle waterfront, there are tiny seabirds floating by the tracks. I love that the builders thought of them. In our book, Rally peers out an arched train window at the ocean and says hello to a white bird. My mom pictured that scene before she died, and my kids now hunt for birds out every train window. More books for little riders are on our train books for toddlers list.

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 Griffin Museum of Science and Industry?

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.

Griffin MSI train exhibits: 20 questions families ask

What is the train exhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry?

The main train exhibit is The Great Train Story, a 3,500-square-foot HO scale model railroad at the center of the Transportation Gallery. More than 20 trains run on 1,400 feet of track through 2,200 miles of scenery between Chicago and Seattle. The museum also has the Pioneer Zephyr and the 999 locomotive.

Where is the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry?

The museum is at 5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60637, in the former Palace of Fine Arts from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. Its website has a Directions and Parking page with travel options. It is about 4 miles from the Chicago History Museum.

How much does it cost to get into the Museum of Science and Industry?

The museum sells general admission tickets on its website, where current prices are listed on the Ticket Pricing page. Some experiences, such as the flight and motion simulators, Giant Dome Theater films and certain special exhibitions, require an additional ticket. Groups of 15 or more get discounts when booking ahead.

Is The Great Train Story included with admission?

The Great Train Story is part of the museum's Transportation Gallery and is not listed among exhibits that require an additional ticket, so it is generally covered by general admission. Check the ticket options on griffinmsi.org before you go, since special exhibitions and films are priced separately.

What are the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry hours?

The museum posts Today's Hours on every page of griffinmsi.org, along with a full Hours page under Visitor Information. Check there before you go, since hours can change for holidays and special events. Tickets can be bought online ahead of your visit.

How big is The Great Train Story model railroad?

The layout covers 3,500 square feet in HO scale, with 1,400 feet of track and room to run more than 20 trains at once. It is 50 percent larger than the museum's original railroad, which ran up to 10 trains. Building it took about two and a half years.

What route does The Great Train Story follow?

The model follows a continental journey of about 2,200 miles between Chicago and Seattle, through plains states and over the Rocky Mountains. Scenes range from Chicago skyscrapers to mountain ranges, small towns and the Seattle waterfront, with tiny crossing lights and floating seabirds along the way.

Can kids interact with The Great Train Story?

Yes. Interactive buttons let visitors lift a drawbridge, set off tunneling explosives or fell a few trees. Twice an hour the layout switches into nighttime mode, and an Engineer's Eye View and Eye Spy hunt give kids things to look for. It is easy to spend a long time watching one train make the trip.

When did The Great Train Story open?

The Great Train Story replaced the museum's 61-year-old O scale layout and opened on November 22, 2002. Model Railroader reported more than 5,000 visitors on opening day. The previous railroad closed in 2002 after six decades of service.

What was the original Museum of Science and Industry model railroad?

The first layout opened in 1941 and was the largest of its kind in the world. Designed by Minton Cronkhite, it filled 2,340 square feet with Q scale trains, 1:45 scale models on 2-rail O gauge track, and showed railroads serving industry and farms in the desert Southwest. It closed in 2002.

Can you go inside the Pioneer Zephyr at the museum?

The Pioneer Zephyr is one of the museum's permanent exhibits, introduced with an invitation to climb all aboard. Check the Pioneer Zephyr page on griffinmsi.org for current access and any tour times before you visit, since availability can vary.

What is the 999 locomotive at the Museum of Science and Industry?

The 999 is a famous steam locomotive featured in the Transportation Gallery. After the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition it provided passenger and freight service for many years, then returned to Chicago for the 1933 Century of Progress World's Fair and again for the 1948 to 1949 Chicago Railroad Fair.

What other exhibits are at the Museum of Science and Industry?

Besides the train exhibits, highlights include the U-505 Submarine, Science Storms with its tornado, the Henry Crown Space Center, Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle, Farm Tech, Extreme Ice, Earth Revealed, the Ships Gallery and a mirror maze. Seasonal shows like Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light return each year.

Is the Museum of Science and Industry good for toddlers?

Yes, and The Great Train Story is a favorite for little ones. The museum itself describes it as worth seeing whether or not you are a train-fanatic toddler. Its exhibit listings include sensory notes such as loud noises, low light and flashing lights, which help parents of young kids plan their route.

Is the Museum of Science and Industry accessible?

The museum has an Accessibility page and tags exhibits by features including mobility, seating, quiet areas, tactile opportunities, assistive features and sensory notes. Use those filters on the Exhibits page of griffinmsi.org to plan, or reach the museum through its online contact form with specific questions.

How long should I spend at the Museum of Science and Industry?

Allow about an hour for The Great Train Story and the Transportation Gallery if trains are your focus. The museum covers 14 acres of exhibits, so a full visit can easily fill most of a day. Buying timed or add-on tickets in advance helps avoid sold-out experiences in busy seasons.

Should I visit the Museum of Science and Industry or the Field Museum?

It depends on your family's interests. For train lovers, the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry is the clear pick, with The Great Train Story, the Pioneer Zephyr and the 999 under one roof, plus hands-on science exhibits. Compare current prices and hours on each museum's website before deciding.

Does the Museum of Science and Industry offer group discounts?

Yes. Groups of 15 or more, from scouts to social groups and large families, receive discounts on general admission, Giant Dome Theater films, temporary exhibits and tours when they book prepaid reservations at least two weeks in advance. School field trips and tour operators have separate pricing pages.

Who founded the Museum of Science and Industry?

Philanthropist Julius Rosenwald inspired it after visiting Munich's Deutsches Museum in 1911, and he pledged $3 million in 1926 to fund it. The museum opened on June 19, 1933, in the former Palace of Fine Arts, and more than 200 million guests have visited since.

What train museums are near the Museum of Science and Industry?

Chicago Transit Authority heritage equipment is about 2 miles away, the Chicago History Museum about 4 miles, and Pullman National Historical Park about 11 miles. For train rides, the Fox River Trolley Museum is about 35 miles and the Illinois Railway Museum about 52 miles away.

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