John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library, St. Louis Mercantile Library, Missouri
Rail preservation groupResearch library; check reading room hours before visiting
Founded in 1984 around the papers of railroad executive John W. Barriger III, the Barriger National Railroad Library at the St. Louis Mercantile Library is one of North America's largest and finest collections on the history of railroading.
- Railroad library founded in 1984
- Mercantile Library founded in 1846
- At UMSL since 1998
- Milwaukee Road Archives, 1,100+ boxes
- Railroad models and artifacts on view
John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library, St. Louis Mercantile Library at a glance
- Hours
- General library and reading room hours are posted on the Mercantile Library website
- Admission
- Not posted online; contact the library
- Best for
- Rail historians, researchers and older rail fans
- Best ages
- Ages 10 and up
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library, St. Louis Mercantile Library? 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 St. Louis.
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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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
A railroad executive's papers become a national archive
The St. Louis Mercantile Library was founded in 1846 in downtown St. Louis as a membership library, and it is the oldest library still in existence west of the Mississippi River. Over its long life its collections came to center on westward expansion, the growth of the St. Louis region, and the American rail and river transportation experience. Since 1998 it has been housed at the University of Missouri-St. Louis as a special collections library within the Thomas Jefferson Library.
In 1984 the Mercantile established the John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library as a special collection. It is named for the twentieth-century railroad executive John W. Barriger III (1899 to 1976), whose own collection forms its heart. From that start it has grown into one of North America's largest and finest railroad history collections and a major resource on railroad business and technology, and on how railroading shaped the American economy, society and culture.
The Barriger's holdings now read like a roll call of American railroading: the Barriger papers themselves, the Charles Rupp Railroad Timetable Collection, the ACF Industries archives, Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Historical Society collections, the Hamill Louisville and Nashville collection, a Railroad Executive Oral History Program, Amtrak corridor development studies and Southern Pacific History Center materials. The Milwaukee Road Archives alone fill more than 1,100 archival boxes, the largest single collection the Mercantile holds.
Models and artifacts upstairs, archives in the reading room
For casual visitors, the Mercantile's permanent exhibitions are the place to start. They include river and railroad models and artifacts, Missouri paintings and sculpture, and an American political campaign collection, while changing exhibitions explore maps, historic newspapers and westward expansion.
Researchers can go deeper in the reading room, where the Barriger's archives, books and periodicals are available. Collections include the William Rapp and G. W. Maxwell photograph collections, railroad prints, railroad stock certificates and a set of photographs of German locomotives. The library also shares images from the Barriger on Flickr and publishes research guides such as Missouri's Railroads: A Bicentennial Overview and material on the Transcontinental Railroad.
Don’t miss
- River and railroad modelsPart of the Mercantile's permanent exhibitions and the easiest way into the collection for families.
- Milwaukee Road ArchivesMore than 1,100 boxes of records, the largest single collection in the library, with legal documents making up the biggest share.
- Gregory Ames Collection of Children's Railroad LiteratureA whole archive devoted to train books written for young readers.
- Charles Rupp Railroad Timetable CollectionPrinted timetables that show how passenger and freight service changed over the decades.
- Railroad Executive Oral History ProgramRecorded recollections from the people who ran America's railroads.
Best for curious older kids and teens
This is a research library first, so it suits older children and teens more than toddlers. The permanent exhibitions of river and railroad models are the best stop for younger visitors.
For classrooms, the Mercantile's Anniversary Educational Series is a self-paced virtual field trip for grades 6 to 8 and 9 to 12. In about 90 minutes of videos and a hands-on assignment, students tour the library, learn what primary sources are and practice analyzing them, in line with Missouri learning standards.
Plan your visit: tips for John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library, St. Louis Mercantile Library
- Check reading room hours and policies before a research visit.
- Send research questions ahead to 314-516-7247 or mercantilelibrary@umsl.edu.
- Many archival collections are for on-site use only in the reading room.
- Ask about tours, which are listed among the library's events and learning programs.
Members, benefactors and researchers
The Mercantile Library has served researchers from around the world for more than 175 years. You can support the railroad collection by becoming a Barriger Benefactor, joining the Mercantile as a member, making a donation or planned gift, or shopping its gift shop. The library also lists employment and volunteering opportunities on its website.
See the trains the archives describe
The St. Louis Union Station historic exhibits are about 8 miles away. To stand next to real locomotives, head about 12 miles to the National Museum of Transportation, or about 20 miles to ride a steam train on the Wabash Frisco & Pacific Railroad. See the full list of Missouri train museums.
- St. Louis Union Station historic exhibitsSt. Louis, MO · about 8 mi
- National Museum of TransportationSt. Louis County, MO · about 12 mi
- Wabash, Frisco & Pacific RailroadGlencoe, MO · about 20 mi
- Historic Illinois Central Depot MuseumCentralia, IL · about 65 mi
- Iron Mountain RailwayJackson, MO · about 99 mi
- Museum of Missouri Military History railroad exhibitsJefferson City, MO · about 101 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
This library keeps an entire collection of children's railroad books, which makes me smile, because our book is one of those now. So many train stories have a tunnel, and ours does too: everything goes dark, then there's a big bright light and happy cheers. My mom dreamed that up for her grandkids before she died in 2021. Our list of train books for toddlers has more favorites.
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 Missouri: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Missouri
- Halloween train rides in Missouri
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library, St. Louis Mercantile Library?
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.
Barriger National Railroad Library: 20 questions answered
What is the St. Louis Mercantile Library railroad collection?
It is the John W. Barriger III National Railroad Library, established in 1984 as a special collection of the St. Louis Mercantile Library. Built around the papers of railroad executive John W. Barriger III, it is one of North America's largest and finest railroad history collections.
Where is the Barriger National Railroad Library?
The Barriger is part of the St. Louis Mercantile Library, housed in the Thomas Jefferson Library building at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, 1 University Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63121. Call 314-516-7240 for directions to the library on the UMSL campus.
Who was John W. Barriger III?
John W. Barriger III (1899 to 1976) was a noted twentieth-century railroad executive. His personal collection forms the heart of the railroad library that bears his name. The library also holds his papers as a separate archival collection, listed as B-1 in its special collections directory.
What are the Barriger Library hours?
The Mercantile Library posts its general library hours and its reading room hours on its website under Plan Your Visit. Because archival materials are used in the reading room, check those hours specifically before a research trip, or call 314-516-7240 to confirm.
Is the St. Louis Mercantile Library open to the public?
Yes. The Mercantile serves researchers from around the world and offers exhibitions open to visitors, plus guest access to its catalog. Reading room policies apply to archival materials, and many collections are for on-site use only, so review the policies or call 314-516-7240 before you go.
Does the Mercantile Library have railroad exhibits?
Yes. The Mercantile's permanent exhibitions include river and railroad models and artifacts, along with Missouri paintings and sculpture and an American political campaign collection. Changing exhibitions cover maps, historic newspapers and westward expansion, so check the current exhibitions page before you visit.
What railroad archives does the Barriger Library hold?
Holdings include the Milwaukee Road Archives, the ACF Industries archives, Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Historical Society collections, the Hamill Louisville and Nashville collection, the Charles Rupp timetable collection, Association of American Railroads historical material, Amtrak corridor studies and Southern Pacific History Center materials, among many others.
How big is the Milwaukee Road collection at the Mercantile Library?
The Milwaukee Road Archives fill more than 1,100 archival boxes, making it the largest single collection held by the St. Louis Mercantile Library. Legal documents are the biggest share of the collection, which reflects the scale and diversity of the railroad. An online reference guide helps researchers find material.
Can I do railroad research at the Barriger Library?
Yes. The library offers research services, image reproduction and a reading room, plus research guides and a library catalog with guest access. Direct research and reference questions to 314-516-7247 or mercantilelibrary@umsl.edu, or use the reference request form on the website.
Can I get copies of railroad photographs from the Barriger Library?
The Mercantile offers image reproduction services with a request form on its website. Photograph holdings include the William Rapp and G. W. Maxwell collections and German locomotive photographs. Contact 314-516-7247 or mercantilelibrary@umsl.edu to ask about specific images and fees.
When was the St. Louis Mercantile Library founded?
The Mercantile Library was founded in 1846 in downtown St. Louis as a membership library, and it is the oldest library still in existence west of the Mississippi River. Since 1998 it has been housed at the University of Missouri-St. Louis inside the Thomas Jefferson Library.
Is the Barriger Library good for kids?
It is best for older kids and teens. The Mercantile is a research library, though its permanent exhibitions of river and railroad models and artifacts can interest younger visitors. Teachers of grades 6 to 12 can use the Anniversary Educational Series virtual field trip.
Does the Mercantile Library offer field trips for students?
Yes. The Anniversary Educational Series is a virtual field trip for grades 6 to 8 and 9 to 12 that takes about 90 minutes. Students tour the library by video, learn about primary sources and complete a hands-on assignment aligned with Missouri learning standards.
Does the Mercantile Library offer tours?
Tours are listed among the Mercantile's events and learning programs on its website, alongside upcoming events and an education video series. Call 314-516-7240 or email mercantilelibrary@umsl.edu to ask about scheduling a tour of the library and its railroad exhibits.
Does the Barriger Library have children's train books?
Yes. The library holds the Gregory Ames Collection of Children's Railroad Literature, a special archival collection devoted to railroad books written for young readers. Like most archives here, it is used in the reading room, so contact the library before you visit to ask about access.
How can I support the Barriger National Railroad Library?
You can become a Barriger Benefactor, join the Mercantile as a member, make a donation or planned gift, or buy something from the gift shop. All of these options are listed under Support on the library's website, and staff can answer questions at 314-516-7240.
Can I volunteer at the St. Louis Mercantile Library?
The Mercantile lists employment and volunteering opportunities on its About pages. Call 314-516-7240 or email mercantilelibrary@umsl.edu to ask what volunteer roles are currently available, including any that support the railroad collection. Staff can explain how to apply and what training is involved.
Is there parking at the St. Louis Mercantile Library?
The library does not list visitor parking details on its railroad pages. It is on the University of Missouri-St. Louis campus in the Thomas Jefferson Library building, so call 314-516-7240 before your visit to ask where visitors should park.
Does the Barriger Library share images online?
Yes. The library shares images from the Barriger collections on Flickr, and the Mercantile has a digital library. Research guides on its website include Missouri's Railroads: A Bicentennial Overview and material on the Transcontinental Railroad, both good starting points before a visit.
What train museums are near the St. Louis Mercantile Library?
The St. Louis Union Station historic exhibits are about 8 miles away, and the National Museum of Transportation, with full-size locomotives, is about 12 miles. The Wabash Frisco & Pacific Railroad, which runs small steam trains on Sundays in season, is about 20 miles away.
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