Monson Railroad Museum, Maine
Museum with a major rail exhibitMid-June to mid-October, Wednesdays and Saturdays, plus by appointment
Monson's railroad history lives with the Monson Historical Society, whose volunteer-run museum displays items from the Monson Narrow Gauge Railroad, the little two-foot line that carried the town's slate to the Bangor and Aroostook connection at Monson Junction.
- Two-foot narrow gauge slate railroad
- Volunteer-run historical society
- Open mid-June to mid-October
- Visits by appointment
Monson Railroad Museum at a glance
- Hours
- Mid-June through mid-October: Wednesday 10 am to 2 pm, Saturday 9 am to 3 pm; also by appointment
- Admission
- Not posted online; call to ask
- Plan for
- About 1 hour
- Best for
- Narrow gauge fans and Maine small-town history lovers
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 Monson 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 Monson.
Rally Takes the Train
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A slate town's little railroad
The Monson Railroad was a two-foot narrow gauge line that ran between Monson and Monson Junction, where it met the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad. Its main job was to serve the slate quarries and finishing houses that made Monson known, carrying slate from the quarry to the junction. Over the years it also carried passengers, mail and freight. In 1908 the line was sold to the Monson Slate Company, which bought the station, land and office on Water Street.
The Monson Historical Society, a volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit, keeps that story alongside the rest of the town's past. Its museum displays include items from the Monson Narrow Gauge Railroad, a slate mining display, and exhibits on the Monson Fair, the Juanita Grange and Monson Academy. A short stretch of restored track and the Monson station building have also been photographed in town. Volunteers list their own phone numbers so visitors can arrange a time to come in.
Railroad relics among Monson's stories
The historical society describes its museum as being on Main Street (Greenville Road), next to the town hall. Railroad items share space with slate mining tools and history, military memorabilia from the Revolutionary War to Iraq, and local fair and grange displays. The society does not post a full list of the railroad pieces, so call ahead if you are coming mainly for the narrow gauge collection.
Don’t miss
- Monson Narrow Gauge Railroad displayItems from the little two-foot line that once linked Monson's slate quarries to Monson Junction.
- Slate mining displayThe reason the railroad existed: Monson slate, quarried and finished in town and shipped out by rail.
A small-town museum for curious kids
Kids who love trains may like hearing that Monson's railroad ran on rails only two feet apart, and that it carried heavy slate as well as mail and passengers. This is a small community museum without posted children's programs, so it suits older kids and patient younger ones best. Call ahead to ask what children can see and touch.
Plan your visit: tips for Monson Railroad Museum
- Outside posted hours, call (207) 557-7769 or (207) 997-3287 to arrange an appointment.
- Email monsonhistoricalsocietyme@gmail.com with questions about the railroad collection.
- The museum is described as being next to the Monson town hall on Main Street (Greenville Road).
Monson volunteers keep the story
The Monson Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit run by local volunteers, several of whom list their own phone numbers for appointment visits. To donate railroad photos or artifacts, or to help out, email monsonhistoricalsocietyme@gmail.com.
Rail trips from Monson
The Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad is about 45 miles away, and the Cole Land Transportation Museum in Bangor is about 46. Narrow gauge fans can continue about 52 miles to the Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad. Plan more stops with our list of Maine train museums.
- Belfast & Moosehead Lake RailroadBelfast, ME · about 45 mi
- Cole Land Transportation MuseumBangor, ME · about 46 mi
- Maine Forest & Logging Museum / Leonard's MillsBradley, ME · about 48 mi
- Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes RailroadPhillips, ME · about 52 mi
- Downeast Scenic RailroadHancock, ME · about 72 mi
- Wiscasset, Waterville & Farmington Railway MuseumAlna, ME · about 83 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
On a little two-foot railroad like Monson's, I picture a conductor who knew every passenger by name, along with the mail and the slate. In our book, Mr. Conductor in his blue uniform reaches out a hand to welcome Rally aboard, and that small kindness is the part my kids talk about most. My mom wrote it that way on purpose. You can read about her on our story page.
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 Maine: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Maine
- Halloween train rides in Maine
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Monson 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.
Monson Railroad Museum: 20 questions from visitors
Where is the Monson Railroad Museum?
Monson's railroad history is displayed by the Monson Historical Society, whose museum it describes as on Main Street (Greenville Road) in Monson, right next to the town hall. Some listings give 560 North Guilford Road instead, so call (207) 557-7769 to confirm the location before you drive.
What are the Monson Railroad Museum hours?
The historical society posts a season from mid-June through mid-October, open Wednesdays 10 am to 2 pm and Saturdays 9 am to 3 pm, as of October 2026. Visits are also possible by appointment. Hours are set by volunteers, so call ahead to confirm before a long drive.
Can I visit the Monson Railroad Museum by appointment?
Yes. The Monson Historical Society lists volunteers who can open the museum by appointment, including Glenn Poole at (207) 557-7769 and Cindy Turner at (207) 997-3287. This is the best option if you are visiting outside the summer and fall season or on a weekday other than Wednesday.
How much does the Monson Railroad Museum cost?
The Monson Historical Society does not post an admission fee online. Call (207) 557-7769 or email monsonhistoricalsocietyme@gmail.com to ask whether there is a fee or suggested donation. As a volunteer nonprofit, the society depends on visitor support.
What was the Monson Railroad?
The Monson Railroad was a two-foot narrow gauge railway between Monson and Monson Junction, where it connected with the Bangor and Aroostook Railroad. Its main purpose was serving the town's slate mines and finishing houses, though it also carried passengers, mail and freight for many years.
Why was the Monson Railroad built?
It was built to move slate. Monson's slate quarries and finishing houses needed a way to get heavy slate to the larger railroad, and the narrow gauge line carried it from the quarry to Monson Junction on the Bangor and Aroostook. Passenger, mail and freight service came along too.
Who owned the Monson Railroad?
In 1908 the railroad was sold to the Monson Slate Company, which purchased the station, land and office on Water Street. The town of Monson's history notes that the line was owned by the Monson Maine Slate Company, which used it to ship slate to Monson Junction.
What railroad items are at the Monson Railroad Museum?
The Monson Historical Society's museum includes items from the Monson Narrow Gauge Railroad among its collections. The society does not post a detailed list of the railroad pieces online, so email monsonhistoricalsocietyme@gmail.com if you want to know what is on display before visiting.
Is the Monson railroad station still standing?
A Monson station building and a short length of restored track were photographed in town in 2007. Whether they are open or how to see them is not posted online, so ask the Monson Historical Society at (207) 557-7769 for current details and directions.
What else is in the Monson Historical Society museum?
Besides the narrow gauge railroad display, the museum covers slate mining, military memorabilia from the Revolutionary War to Iraq, the Monson Fair, the Juanita Grange and Monson Academy. It is a small-town museum where the railroad sits among many local stories.
Can you ride a train at the Monson Railroad Museum?
No. The Monson Railroad no longer runs, and the museum does not offer rides. For a ride on two-foot gauge track, the Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad in Phillips is about 52 miles away, and the Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad is about 45 miles away; check their schedules.
Is the Monson Railroad Museum good for kids?
It works best for older children who enjoy history or trains. It is a small volunteer museum without posted kids' programs or hands-on exhibits. Younger train fans may get more out of pairing it with a ride elsewhere. Call ahead to ask what children can see.
Is the Monson Railroad Museum wheelchair accessible?
The Monson Historical Society does not post accessibility information online. Call (207) 557-7769 or (207) 997-3287 before your visit to ask about steps, entrances and getting around inside, and the volunteers can tell you what to expect.
Who runs the Monson Railroad Museum?
The Monson Historical Society, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, runs the museum with local volunteers. Several members list their home phone numbers so visitors can arrange appointments, which says a lot about how much the town cares about sharing its history.
How can I donate to the Monson Historical Society?
Email monsonhistoricalsocietyme@gmail.com or call (207) 557-7769 to ask about donations, membership or volunteering. Families with old photographs, tickets or other items from the Monson Railroad or the slate industry may want to ask whether the society would like them for its collection.
Where can I read more about the Monson Railroad?
The Monson Historical Society has items on the Maine Memory Network, and the town of Monson's history page points readers to a Monson Railroad blog by Roger Whitney. Both are good places to find photos and history before or after a museum visit.
How long should I plan for the Monson Railroad Museum?
Plan about an hour. The historical society's museum is small, and the railroad display is one part of a broader look at Monson life, from slate to the town fair. Railroad researchers may want longer, so mention that when you call to arrange a visit.
When is the Monson Railroad Museum open for the season?
The museum's posted season runs from mid-June through mid-October. Outside that window, the Monson Historical Society offers visits by appointment through its volunteers. Call (207) 557-7769 to check exact opening and closing dates for the current year.
How do I contact the Monson Historical Society?
Email monsonhistoricalsocietyme@gmail.com or call one of the volunteers the society lists, such as Glenn Poole at (207) 557-7769 or Cindy Turner at (207) 997-3287. The society's website at monsonmehistoricalsociety.com also carries a brief history of the town.
What train museums are near Monson, Maine?
The Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad is about 45 miles away, the Cole Land Transportation Museum in Bangor about 46 miles, the Maine Forest and Logging Museum about 48 miles, and the Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad in Phillips about 52 miles.
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