Kingman Railroad Museum, Arizona
Depot museumFriday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm, based on volunteer availability
The Kingman Railroad Museum fills the larger part of the town's 1907 Santa Fe depot, a concrete station built to survive after fire took two earlier depots, with donated railroad memorabilia and model trains run by local volunteers.
- In the 1907 Santa Fe depot
- On historic Route 66
- O, HO and N scale layouts
- $2 admission, under 12 free
- Opened in 2012
- Live rail cameras on the main line
Kingman Railroad Museum at a glance
- Hours
- Friday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm, based on volunteer availability; call before visiting
- Admission
- $2 per person; children under 12 and active duty military free
- Plan for
- About 1 hour
- Best for
- Route 66 travelers and families with young train fans
- Best ages
- Toddlers to age 12
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Kingman 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 Kingman.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
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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.
Four depots, two fires and a station built of concrete
The first train reached Kingman on March 28, 1883, and the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad used a boxcar as its depot until it could build a real one. That second depot, a two-story wooden building from 1885 with living quarters upstairs for the station manager and his family, burned on April 28, 1900, reportedly from hot cinders thrown by a steam locomotive. The Santa Fe Railway's replacement opened in December 1900 and burned too, on June 24, 1906, again blamed on sparks from a passing engine.
Having lost two stations to fire, the Santa Fe built the fourth depot to be fireproof. It opened on July 22, 1907, made of reinforced concrete right down to the roof and finished in stucco. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in May 1986.
By the early 2000s the depot sat empty and in poor repair. Grant funding paid for a restoration that began in June 2010 and finished in 2011. Amtrak moved into the west end as a crew room and passenger waiting room, and the larger part of the building became the Kingman Railroad Museum, which opened in 2012.
The museum was created by the Whistle Stop Railroad Club and is run as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit by its volunteer members, working with the City of Kingman. Every piece of memorabilia on display was donated.
Model trains, memorabilia and the real thing outside
Inside the depot, rooms of donated railroad memorabilia surround the museum's model train exhibits. Volunteers run trains in three scales, O, HO and N, and they switch out the trains on a regular basis, so repeat visitors often see something new. Local listings describe three layouts in all.
The depot still sits on a busy main line, and real trains go by throughout the day. The museum even hosts two live rail cameras, provided by railfanaz.com, one at each end of the station, so you can check online whether a train is coming before you step out to the platform. The building itself is part of the exhibit: look at the thick concrete construction that kept this depot standing when its predecessors burned.
Don’t miss
- The model train layoutsO, HO and N scale trains, swapped out regularly by the volunteers.
- The 1907 fireproof depotA reinforced concrete Santa Fe station, roof included, on the National Register since 1986.
- Live rail camerasTwo cameras, one at each end of the station, show the trains approaching on the main line.
- Donated memorabiliaEvery artifact in the museum was given by people who wanted Kingman's railroad story kept.
Little trains inside, big trains outside
Children can watch O, HO and N scale model trains running inside, then head out to see full-size trains on the main line. Checking the rail camera together to guess when the next train will appear makes a fun game. Admission is free for children under 12.
The museum is small and indoors, a comfortable stop on a hot Route 66 road trip, and a visit of about an hour suits young children well.
Plan your visit: tips for Kingman Railroad Museum
- Call (928) 753-7995 before you go; hours depend on volunteer availability.
- Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and Easter Sunday.
- Check the museum's live rail camera link to time your visit with a passing train.
- The model trains change regularly, so a second visit may show different trains.
Run by the Whistle Stop Railroad Club volunteers
The Kingman Railroad Museum was created by the Whistle Stop Railroad Club and is independently operated by its volunteer members as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, in cooperation with the City of Kingman. The whole collection was donated. Visitors help by paying the modest admission, donating railroad items, and joining as members or volunteers.
Rail stops within a day's drive of Kingman
The Grand Canyon Railway in Williams is about 105 miles east along I-40. Across the state line, the Las Vegas Railroad Society collections are about 91 miles northwest, and the Verde Canyon Railroad is about 130 miles away. See every train museum in Arizona for more.
- Nevada State Railroad MuseumBoulder City, NV · about 70 mi
- Las Vegas Railroad Society / related preservation collectionsLas Vegas area, NV · about 91 mi
- Arizona State Railroad MuseumWilliams, AZ · about 105 mi
- Grand Canyon RailwayWilliams, AZ · about 105 mi
- Verde Canyon RailroadClarkdale, AZ · about 130 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
Kingman's depot still has an Amtrak waiting room at one end, so people with bags come and go right beside the museum. In our book, Rally packs his own suitcase before the trip: his turtle toy, his green bone and his yellow ball, because a corgi needs his things. I like thinking about what each traveler in that waiting room tucked into their bag. Our train books for toddlers list has more stories for the ride.
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 Arizona: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Arizona
- Halloween train rides in Arizona
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Kingman 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.
Kingman Railroad Museum: 20 questions for Route 66 visitors
Where is the Kingman Railroad Museum?
The Kingman Railroad Museum is in the historic railroad depot at 402 E. Andy Devine Avenue, Kingman, Arizona 86401. Andy Devine Avenue is Kingman's stretch of historic Route 66 downtown. The museum shares the building with Amtrak, which uses the west end. Call (928) 753-7995 for directions.
What are the Kingman Railroad Museum hours?
As of October 2026, the museum is open Friday through Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm. Hours depend on volunteer availability, so the museum asks visitors to call (928) 753-7995 before coming. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and Easter Sunday.
How much are Kingman Railroad Museum tickets?
As of October 2026, admission is $2 per person. Children under 12 and active duty military get in free. You pay at the museum when you arrive, and the modest fee helps the volunteers keep the model trains and exhibits running.
What is in the Kingman Railroad Museum?
The museum is filled with railroad memorabilia, all donated, and model train exhibits in O, HO and N scale. Local listings describe three layouts. The volunteers switch out the trains regularly, so there may be new trains to see each time you visit.
Are there model trains at the Kingman Railroad Museum?
Yes. The museum runs O, HO and N scale model trains, and the volunteers rotate which trains are running on a regular basis. That makes it a good repeat stop for kids who love little trains. Call ahead to make sure volunteers are on hand to run the layouts.
Can you see real trains at the Kingman Railroad Museum?
Yes. The depot sits on an active main line and trains go by throughout the day. The museum also has two live rail cameras, one at each end of the station, provided by railfanaz.com, and you can check the camera link on its website to see if a train is coming.
When was the Kingman depot built?
The current depot opened on July 22, 1907. It is the fourth station in Kingman since the first train arrived on March 28, 1883. The Santa Fe Railway built it of reinforced concrete, including the roof, after fires destroyed the 1885 and 1900 depots.
Why is the Kingman depot made of concrete?
Because fire destroyed the two depots before it. The 1885 wooden depot burned in April 1900 and its 1900 replacement burned in June 1906, both blamed on sparks or cinders from steam locomotives. The Santa Fe made the 1907 depot fireproof with reinforced concrete walls and roof, then added stucco.
Is the Kingman depot on the National Register of Historic Places?
Yes. The Kingman depot was added to the National Register of Historic Places in May 1986. After sitting empty in the early 2000s, it was restored with grant funding between June 2010 and 2011, and the museum opened inside in 2012.
Does Amtrak stop at the Kingman depot?
Yes. Amtrak uses the west end of the restored depot as a crew room and passenger waiting room, while the larger portion houses the Kingman Railroad Museum. Check Amtrak directly for current train times if you want to catch or watch a passenger train.
When did the Kingman Railroad Museum open?
The museum opened in 2012, after the depot's grant-funded restoration was completed in 2011. It was created by the Whistle Stop Railroad Club and is independently operated by volunteer members as a nonprofit, in cooperation with the City of Kingman, which helped bring the empty depot back to life.
Who runs the Kingman Railroad Museum?
The museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit independently operated by its volunteer members, with the cooperation of the City of Kingman. It was founded by the Whistle Stop Railroad Club. Because volunteers staff it, the posted hours can change, so call ahead.
Is the Kingman Railroad Museum good for kids?
Yes, especially for young train fans. Kids under 12 get in free, the model trains run in three scales, and real trains pass outside. The visit is indoors and compact, which suits short attention spans and makes a good break on a Route 66 drive.
How long does a visit to the Kingman Railroad Museum take?
Most visitors spend about an hour looking at the memorabilia and model trains. Stay longer if you want to wait on the platform for a passing train, which the live rail cameras can help you time. It pairs easily with other stops along Andy Devine Avenue.
Can I donate railroad items to the Kingman Railroad Museum?
The museum says all of its memorabilia has been donated, so it is built on gifts from the community. If you have railroad items to offer, email kingmanrailroad@gmail.com or call (928) 753-7995 to describe them and ask whether they fit the collection.
Is the Kingman Railroad Museum open on holidays?
It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day and Easter Sunday. Outside those dates the posted schedule is Friday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm, but hours depend on volunteer availability, so call (928) 753-7995 before you travel, especially around a long holiday weekend.
Where can I see Kingman Railroad Museum photos?
The museum's website shows its model train exhibits and the depot, and it links to the live rail cameras watching each end of the station. Its Facebook page, listed under the name Kingman Railroad Museum, is another place to look for pictures. Call (928) 753-7995 if you plan to photograph the layouts.
Is the Kingman Railroad Museum worth a stop on Route 66?
Travel listings describe it as a small specialty museum in the historic depot, with donated memorabilia, model trains in three scales and live cameras on the passing trains. At $2 for adults and free for kids under 12, it is an easy, low-cost stop for families traveling Route 66 through downtown Kingman.
How do I contact the Kingman Railroad Museum?
Call (928) 753-7995 or email kingmanrailroad@gmail.com. The museum also has a Facebook page under the name Kingman Railroad Museum. Calling is best on the day of your visit, since the hours depend on which volunteers are available, and the street address is 402 E. Andy Devine Avenue.
What train attractions are near Kingman?
The Grand Canyon Railway in Williams is about 105 miles east, running daily trains to the South Rim. The Las Vegas Railroad Society collections in Nevada are about 91 miles away, and the Verde Canyon Railroad in Clarkdale is about 130 miles southeast.
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