Meridian Railroad Museum, Mississippi

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Meridian, Mississippi · Updated October 19, 2026 · 10 min read

Depot museumHours are not posted online; check the museum's Facebook page before you go

In a town the railroads made, the Meridian Rails Historical Society has turned a 1906 Mission Revival freight station on Front Street into a museum about the lines that once made Meridian the largest city in Mississippi.

  • 1906 Mission Revival freight station
  • Beside the Norfolk Southern mainline
  • Three pieces of rolling stock
  • Wooden train sets for kids
  • Run by a nonprofit society

Meridian Railroad Museum at a glance

Hours
Not posted online; check Facebook or call 601-479-2483
Admission
Not posted online; call ahead
Best for
Families with young kids and train watchers

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Meridian 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 Meridian.

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.

Meridian's freight house finds a second life

Meridian was a railroad town from the start, and the Meridian Rails Historical Society points out that the railroads are the reason it was once the largest city in Mississippi. The nonprofit set out with two projects: open a railroad museum for train lovers of every age, and preserve and restore the railroad artifacts that tell the town's story.

The museum's home is the former freight station and Railway Express Agency building on Front Street, built in 1906 in the Mission Revival style. It sits downtown next to Meridian Union Station and the Norfolk Southern mainline, along the busy rail corridor known as the Meridian Speedway, and over the 20th century the station and freight house served a long list of passenger trains. The society still invites local families to share their own Meridian railroad memories, so the collection keeps growing one story at a time.

Exhibits indoors, rolling stock outside

Inside the old freight house, visitors find interactive exhibits on Meridian's railroads and wooden train sets that younger children can play with. Outside, the museum displays a trio of retired rolling stock, including a caboose from the Meridian & Bigbee, a short line based nearby. Trains on the Norfolk Southern mainline pass right by, which adds a live soundtrack to a visit.

Don’t miss

  1. The Meridian & Bigbee cabooseOne of three retired pieces of rolling stock on display, it comes from the Meridian & Bigbee, a short line based nearby.
  2. The 1906 freight stationThe Mission Revival building once handled freight and Railway Express shipments next to Meridian Union Station.
  3. Wooden train setsA hands-on corner where small children can build and run their own trains.

Wooden trains and real ones rolling by

The wooden train sets give small children something to do with their hands, and the passing trains on the mainline next door are often the highlight for kids who love the real thing. The museum does not post age guidance or details about stroller access online, so call 601-479-2483 with questions.

Plan your visit: tips for Meridian Railroad Museum

  • Check the museum's Facebook page for the latest hours; it has occasionally closed for short repair periods.
  • Call 601-479-2483 to ask about reserving a vendor table at museum events.
  • Bring family photos or stories about Meridian's railroads; the society wants to hear them.

The Meridian Rails Historical Society

The museum is a project of the Meridian Rails Historical Society, a nonprofit that gratefully accepts donations and is also working to preserve and restore railroad artifacts. To help, contact the society at info@meridianrails.org, follow its Facebook page for updates, or share your own Meridian railroad history with the volunteers.

Plan a Mississippi rail road trip from Meridian

The Historic Hattiesburg Train Depot is about 80 miles southwest, and the model railroad at the Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum in Jackson is about 85 miles west. Heading east, the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum in Calera, Alabama is about 124 miles away. See all the train museums in Mississippi for more.

Every train museum in Mississippi

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi dreaming about his toy turtle, green bone and yellow ball
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

When I read that Meridian's museum keeps wooden train sets out for little hands, I thought about Rally packing for his trip in our book: his turtle toy, his green bone and his yellow ball, the things that make a new place feel safe. Small kids need a familiar toy at a big museum too. If yours want something to color on the drive, there are free coloring pages here.

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 Meridian 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.

Meridian Railroad Museum: 20 questions families ask

Where is the Meridian Railroad Museum?

The Meridian Railroad Museum is at 1805 Front Street, Meridian, Mississippi 39301, in the heart of downtown. It occupies the former freight station and Railway Express Agency building next to Meridian Union Station and the Norfolk Southern mainline, so look for the Mission Revival building beside the tracks.

What are the Meridian Railroad Museum hours?

The Meridian Railroad Museum does not post regular hours on its website. The Meridian Rails Historical Society shares its latest updates on its Facebook page, so check there or call 601-479-2483 before you go. The museum has occasionally closed for short repair periods, which is another reason to check first.

How much does the Meridian Railroad Museum cost?

The museum does not list admission prices online. It is run by a nonprofit that gratefully accepts donations, so bring a few dollars to give if you can. Call 601-479-2483 or email info@meridianrails.org to ask about current admission.

What is there to see at the Meridian Railroad Museum?

Visitors will find interactive exhibits about Meridian's railroads inside the 1906 freight house, wooden train sets for young children, and a trio of retired rolling stock outside, including a caboose from the Meridian & Bigbee short line. Active trains on the Norfolk Southern mainline pass right beside the building.

What do people say in Meridian Railroad Museum reviews?

Visitors and local tourism writers tend to point out the museum's setting in a 1906 freight station right beside the mainline, the retired rolling stock outside, and the wooden train sets that keep small children busy. Because hours vary, recent reviewers often suggest checking the Facebook page before a visit.

Where can I find photos of the Meridian Railroad Museum?

The Meridian Railroad Museum posts pictures and news on its Facebook page and its Instagram account, meridianrails. Those are the best places to see the current exhibits, the rolling stock and the building before you visit, and to catch announcements about events.

What building is the Meridian Railroad Museum in?

The museum is housed in Meridian's former freight station and Railway Express Agency building, built in 1906 in the Mission Revival style. The station and freight house served a range of passenger trains throughout the 20th century and stand next to Meridian Union Station.

Who runs the Meridian Railroad Museum?

The Meridian Rails Historical Society, a nonprofit, runs the museum. The society's two main projects are the railroad museum itself and the preservation and restoration of railroad artifacts. You can reach the society at info@meridianrails.org or 601-479-2483.

Is the Meridian Railroad Museum good for toddlers?

It is a good fit for toddlers and preschoolers who love trains. The museum has wooden train sets for kids to play with, and the passing trains on the mainline outside are a big draw. Keep a close hand on little ones near the tracks, and call ahead about stroller access.

Can you go inside the caboose at the Meridian Railroad Museum?

The museum does not say online whether visitors can go inside its rolling stock, including the Meridian & Bigbee caboose. Ask a volunteer when you arrive, or call 601-479-2483 before your visit if climbing aboard is important to your child.

Can you watch trains at the Meridian Railroad Museum?

Yes. The museum sits beside the Norfolk Southern mainline along the rail corridor known as the Meridian Speedway, so working trains pass close by. It is a good spot for kids who love seeing real trains in motion, and for rail photographers.

Does the Meridian Railroad Museum offer train rides?

No train rides are listed for the Meridian Railroad Museum. Its draw is the exhibits, the rolling stock on display and the active mainline next door. Watching the working trains roll past on the mainline is the closest thing to a ride, and many young visitors are happy with that. Call 601-479-2483 to ask about any special event plans.

Why is Meridian, Mississippi a railroad town?

According to the Meridian Rails Historical Society, Meridian was founded on the railroad, and the railroads are the reason it was once the largest city in Mississippi. Today the town still sits on a major Norfolk Southern main line, and the museum tells that story.

Does the Meridian Railroad Museum host events?

Yes, the museum hosts occasional events, and has invited vendors to reserve tables by calling 601-479-2483. Event dates are announced on the museum's Facebook page rather than on a posted calendar, so follow the page for news of upcoming gatherings.

Can groups or schools visit the Meridian Railroad Museum?

The museum does not post a group tour program online. Contact the Meridian Rails Historical Society at info@meridianrails.org or 601-710-0843 to arrange a visit for a class, scout troop or club, and confirm a date when volunteers can be on hand.

How can I donate to the Meridian Railroad Museum?

The Meridian Rails Historical Society is a nonprofit and gratefully accepts donations to support the museum and its restoration work. Its website has a contact form, or you can email info@meridianrails.org to ask about giving or donating railroad artifacts.

Can I share my family's Meridian railroad history with the museum?

Yes. The Meridian Rails Historical Society actively asks people to share their own Meridian railroad stories, photographs and memories. Reach out through the contact form on the society's website, email info@meridianrails.org, or call 601-479-2483. Volunteers say they would love to hear and tell your story.

Is there parking at the Meridian Railroad Museum?

The museum does not list parking details online. It is downtown on Front Street next to Meridian Union Station, so plan for downtown street or lot parking and call 601-479-2483 if you need guidance, especially for a bus or a large group.

Is the Meridian Railroad Museum the same as Meridian Union Station?

No. Meridian Union Station is the active passenger station next door. The Meridian Railroad Museum is in the neighboring 1906 freight station and Railway Express Agency building at 1805 Front Street, run by the Meridian Rails Historical Society.

What other train museums are near Meridian?

The Historic Hattiesburg Train Depot is about 80 miles southwest, and the Mississippi Agriculture & Forestry Museum in Jackson, with its model railroad, is about 85 miles west. The Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum in Calera, Alabama is about 124 miles away for a longer trip.

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