Manassas Railroad Depot, Virginia
Depot museumVisitor Center open daily, 9 am to 5 pm, except major holidays
The 1914 Manassas Railroad Depot is the signature landmark of Historic Downtown Manassas: a working station for Virginia Railway Express and Amtrak trains that also houses the city's Visitor Center and the James and Marion Payne Railroad Heritage Gallery.
- Depot built in 1914
- Payne Railroad Heritage Gallery inside
- Daily VRE and Amtrak trains
- Open daily, 9 am to 5 pm
Manassas Railroad Depot at a glance
- Hours
- Daily, 9 am to 5 pm; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day
- Admission
- No admission fee posted; call 703-361-6599 to confirm
- Train rides
- VRE commuter and Amtrak trains stop here daily; tickets through those operators
- Seasonal events
- Holiday Market, Manassas Fall Jubilee, First Fridays, Historic Manassas Farmers Market
- Plan for
- About 30 to 60 minutes, more if you ride a train
- Best for
- Families pairing a train-watching stop with a day in Old Town Manassas
- Best ages
- Toddlers to age 10
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Manassas Railroad Depot? 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 Manassas.
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.
A 1914 depot at the heart of Old Town
Manassas built its railroad depot in 1914, and the renovated building is now called the signature landmark of Historic Downtown. It sits in the Manassas Historic District, a national historic district of 206 contributing buildings across the downtown business area and the neighborhoods around it.
The depot is run day to day by Historic Manassas, Inc., a nonprofit Main Street organization formed in February 1986 to bring life back to empty downtown storefronts. Funded by private donations and the City of Manassas, it manages the city's Visitor Center under contract, keeps its offices in the depot, and runs the farmers market and several annual community events. The depot also holds the James and Marion Payne Railroad Heritage Gallery, and Virginia's tourism site lists the building as part of the Manassas Museum System.
A visitor center, a rail gallery and real trains
Inside, the Historic Manassas Visitor Center has brochures, maps and staff who can help you plan a walk or drive around town, and the James and Marion Payne Railroad Heritage Gallery shares the building. Gallery details are not posted online, so ask at the desk what is on view. Outside, the platforms stay busy with daily Virginia Railway Express commuter trains and Amtrak trains connecting Manassas with Washington, DC.
Don’t miss
- James and Marion Payne Railroad Heritage GalleryThe depot's own railroad heritage gallery, set inside the 1914 building.
- The working platformsVRE and Amtrak trains stop here every day, so kids can see modern passenger trains at a century-old station.
Trains coming and going all day
The big draw for small rail fans is the live action: commuter and Amtrak trains pulling in and out beside a building more than a hundred years old. Stop in the gallery, pick up a map at the Visitor Center, and then watch a train from a safe spot on the platform. Staff can suggest family-friendly stops downtown, and the nearby Manassas Museum has hosted free open houses and hands-on summer programs.
Plan your visit: tips for Manassas Railroad Depot
- Use the Visitor Center address, 9431 West Street, for directions.
- Check VRE and Amtrak schedules if your kids want to see a train arrive.
- Pick up a walking tour map at the Visitor Center for the rest of Old Town.
- The farmers market runs Thursdays and Saturdays at the Harris Pavilion nearby.
The Main Street group that runs the depot
Historic Manassas, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded by private donations and the City of Manassas, and it staffs the Visitor Center at the depot. Visitors can support it through donations, volunteering at its markets and events, or shopping its merchandise, and its monthly e-newsletter lists what is coming up downtown.
More rail stops around northern Virginia and DC
About 22 miles east, Alexandria Union Station is another historic station with exhibits, and Union Station in Washington, about 27 miles away, is where many Manassas trains end up. The National Capital Trolley Museum is about 34 miles off for streetcar rides. See the full list of Virginia train museums too.
- Virginia Railway Express historic collectionsnorthern Virginia, VA · about 20 mi
- Alexandria Union Station historic exhibitsAlexandria, VA · about 22 mi
- Union Stationhistoric railway terminal, DC · about 27 mi
- Gaithersburg Community MuseumGaithersburg, MD · about 31 mi
- National Capital Trolley MuseumColesville, MD · about 34 mi
- Brunswick Heritage MuseumBrunswick, MD · about 40 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
Commuter trains in Manassas pull up all day, and every one has those tall steps up into the car. Rally knows that problem well. In our book his little corgi legs can't reach the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost while Mom waits inside. If your littlest rider needs a lift too, they are in good company. Our coloring pages include Rally on the stairs.
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 Virginia: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Virginia
- Halloween train rides in Virginia
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Manassas Railroad Depot?
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.
Manassas Railroad Depot: 20 questions visitors ask
What is the Manassas Railroad Depot?
It is the 1914 train station in Historic Downtown Manassas, Virginia. The renovated depot is still a working stop for Virginia Railway Express and Amtrak trains, and it houses the Historic Manassas Visitor Center, the offices of Historic Manassas, Inc., and the James and Marion Payne Railroad Heritage Gallery.
Where is the Manassas train depot?
The Visitor Center at the depot is at 9431 West Street, Manassas, Virginia 20110, in the heart of Old Town Manassas. Use that address for directions. You can call the Visitor Center at 703-361-6599 for help finding parking or the platforms before you arrive.
What are the Manassas Railroad Depot hours?
As of October 2026, the Historic Manassas Visitor Center at the depot is open every day from 9 am to 5 pm. It closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Train times are separate, so check VRE or Amtrak if you also want to catch or watch a train.
Is there a fee to visit the Manassas depot railroad gallery?
No admission fee is posted for the depot, the Visitor Center or the James and Marion Payne Railroad Heritage Gallery. Because policies can change, call the Visitor Center at 703-361-6599 or email info@historicmanassasinc.org to confirm before you plan a group visit.
What is the James and Marion Payne Railroad Heritage Gallery?
It is the railroad heritage gallery inside the 1914 Manassas depot, sharing the building with the Historic Manassas Visitor Center. Details about its current exhibits are not posted online, so ask the Visitor Center staff what is on display or call 703-361-6599 before your visit.
When was the Manassas train depot built?
The Manassas depot was built in 1914. It has since been renovated and is described as the signature landmark of Historic Downtown Manassas. It stands within the Manassas Historic District, a national historic district with 206 contributing buildings in the downtown business area and nearby neighborhoods.
Do VRE trains stop at the Manassas depot?
Yes. The depot is a busy stop for daily Virginia Railway Express commuter trains, which connect Manassas with Washington, DC. Check VRE's own schedule for times and fares before you go, and ask the Visitor Center staff if you need help finding the platform or things to do downtown.
Does Amtrak stop in Manassas?
Yes. Daily Amtrak trains also stop at the Manassas depot, connecting the city with Washington, DC and beyond. Check Amtrak for routes, times and tickets. The Visitor Center staff can point you to the platforms and help with things to do downtown while you wait.
Is the Manassas depot good for kids who love trains?
Yes. Kids can watch VRE and Amtrak trains arrive at a station built in 1914, then step inside for the railroad heritage gallery and visitor center. Keep little ones well back on the platform since it is an active station, and check train schedules so you are there when something is coming.
How long should I spend at the Manassas Railroad Depot?
Plan on thirty minutes to an hour for the depot, the gallery and some train watching. Many families make it the first stop of a longer day in Old Town Manassas, picking up maps and walking tour ideas at the Visitor Center before exploring the shops, restaurants and other attractions nearby.
Who runs the Manassas Visitor Center at the depot?
Historic Manassas, Inc. runs it under contract with the City of Manassas. HMI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Main Street organization founded in February 1986, funded by private donations and the city. It also manages the farmers market and several annual community events downtown, and its offices are in the depot.
Is the Manassas depot part of the Manassas Museum?
Virginia's tourism website lists the depot as part of the Manassas Museum System. The Manassas Museum itself is a separate building at 9101 Prince William St, where it has hosted open houses, hands-on activities and family programs. Ask at the depot Visitor Center about visiting both on the same day.
What events happen near the Manassas train depot?
Historic Manassas, Inc. runs downtown events including First Fridays, the Manassas Fall Jubilee and a Holiday Market, plus the Historic Manassas Farmers Market on Thursdays and Saturdays at the Harris Pavilion, 9201 Center St. Check the event calendar on historicmanassas.org for current dates.
Does the Manassas depot have a Christmas event?
No train-specific Christmas event is posted for the depot. Historic Manassas, Inc. does hold a Holiday Market downtown, and the Visitor Center closes on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Check the HMI event calendar or call 703-361-6599 for this year's holiday schedule.
Is there parking at the Manassas Railroad Depot?
Parking details for the depot are not posted on the Historic Manassas website. Call the Visitor Center at 703-361-6599 to ask where visitors should park, especially if you plan to stay for a few hours downtown.
Is the Manassas train depot wheelchair accessible?
Accessibility details are not posted online for the depot or the gallery. The building was renovated and serves daily rail passengers, but call the Visitor Center at 703-361-6599 before your visit to ask about entrances, restrooms and platform access for wheelchairs and strollers.
Can I take a train from Manassas to Washington, DC?
Yes. Both Virginia Railway Express and Amtrak trains from the Manassas depot connect with Washington, DC. VRE is a commuter rail service and Amtrak a national one, so their schedules and tickets are separate. Check each operator's website for times and fares before you plan a day trip into the city.
How can I support the Manassas depot and Visitor Center?
Historic Manassas, Inc. accepts donations and recruits volunteers through its website, and its website lists farmers market merchandise and the Gift Manassas program. Signing up for its monthly e-newsletter is an easy way to hear about downtown events. Call 703-361-6599 or email info@historicmanassasinc.org to get involved.
What is the Manassas Historic District?
Also called Old Town Manassas, it is a national historic district covering the central business area and surrounding residential streets of Manassas. It includes 206 contributing buildings and one contributing object. The 1914 railroad depot is its best-known landmark and the natural starting point for a visit.
What train museums are near Manassas?
Alexandria Union Station, with its historic exhibits, is about 22 miles away, and Union Station in Washington, DC, is about 27 miles. The Gaithersburg Community Museum is about 31 miles, the National Capital Trolley Museum about 34 miles, and the Bowie Railroad Museum about 41 miles away.
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