Montana Museum of Railroad History in Great Falls, Montana
Railroad museumFreeSaturday afternoons in the warm months; other times by appointment
The Montana Museum of Railroad History keeps the story of Montana's railroad systems in one room of artifacts, tools and photographs at Montana ExpoPark in Great Falls, and it asks only for a donation at the door.
- Free admission, donations welcome
- Inside Montana ExpoPark
- Saturday afternoons in summer
- Weekly Thursday evening meetings
- Artifacts, tools and photographs
Montana Museum of Railroad History at a glance
- Hours
- Summer Saturdays, 12 pm to about 4:30 pm; other times by appointment. Confirm before you go.
- Admission
- Free; donations welcome
- Plan for
- About 1 hour
- Best for
- Rail history fans and school-age kids
- Best ages
- Ages 6 and up
- Parking
- Inside Montana ExpoPark; the museum does not post parking details online
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- Address400 3rd Street NW, Great Falls, MT 59404(opens in a new tab)
- Phone(406) 453-3025
- Websitegreatfallsmuseums.com/montana-museum-of-railroad-history(opens in a new tab)
Follow Montana Museum of Railroad History
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Montana Museum of Railroad History? 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 Great Falls.
Rally Takes the Train
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Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $13.99 on Amazon.
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A Great Falls room full of Montana's rail lines
The Montana Museum of Railroad History sets out to show how railroads shaped Montana, using objects, tools, photographs and exhibits gathered from the lines that once served the state. A summer camp group that toured the museum came away talking about the different transcontinental railroads that crossed Montana and the many rail lines that branched off them.
The museum sits on the grounds of Montana ExpoPark and belongs to the Great Falls Museum Consortium, a group of local museums and interpretive centers that work together to bring visitors to the city's cultural sites. Its members still hold a meeting every Thursday evening at 7:30, and the public is welcome to sit in. Opening times are limited, so contact the museum before you make a special trip.
Artifacts, tools and photographs
Expect an indoor museum of railroad objects rather than a yard of locomotives. Exhibits cover the transcontinental routes across Montana and the branch lines that served its towns, told through artifacts, tools and historic photographs. The museum does not post a full collection list online, so ask the volunteer on duty what is new.
Don’t miss
- Transcontinental railroad exhibitsDisplays trace the several transcontinental lines that crossed Montana, a good starting point for understanding the state's map.
- Railroad toolsWorking tools from Montana's railroads show the hand labor behind the lines.
- Historic photographsPhotographs of Montana rail lines fill in the places and people the objects came from.
A short stop for curious young rail fans
A summer camp group visited and spent the afternoon on railroad artifacts, tools and photographs, which suggests school-age kids who already love trains will get the most from it. The museum does not post a kids program or hands-on area online, so plan a shorter visit with little ones and ask staff what children can touch.
Plan your visit: tips for Montana Museum of Railroad History
- Call before you drive in: posted hours differ between listings.
- The 406-453-3025 line is answered in the evenings.
- Thursday evening meetings at 7:30 pm are open to the public.
- Bring a few dollars for the donation box.
Kept going by its members
The museum is run by a group of members who meet every Thursday evening at 7:30 and welcome the public. Coming to a meeting is the simplest way to get involved, and a donation on your visit helps, since admission is free. The museum also posts updates on its Facebook page.
More Montana rail stops from Great Falls
The Central Montana Rail and Judith Basin railroad heritage exhibits are about 56 miles away. The Charlie Russell Chew Choo near Lewistown, about 93 miles off, adds a real train ride, and the Butte, Anaconda and Pacific Railway collection is about 119 miles southwest. See all the train museums in Montana to plan a longer trip.
- Central Montana Rail / Judith Basin railroad heritage exhibitscentral Montana, MT · about 56 mi
- Charlie Russell Chew ChooLewistown, MT · about 93 mi
- Butte, Anaconda & Pacific Railway historic collectionButte / Anaconda, MT · about 119 mi
- Livingston Depot CenterLivingston, MT · about 132 mi
- Historical Museum at Fort Missoula railroad exhibitsMissoula, MT · about 134 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
A room of railroad tools and old photographs makes me think about all the people who kept trains running, the ones in uniforms with a kind word for nervous passengers. In our book, Mr. Conductor holds out a hand to help Rally aboard, and that moment always felt like my mom: steady and welcoming. If your little one wants to draw a conductor of their own, our coloring pages are free.
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 Montana: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Montana
- Halloween train rides in Montana
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Montana Museum of Railroad History?
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
- Montana Museum of Railroad History official website(opens in a new tab)
- Montana Museum of Railroad History on Facebook(opens in a new tab)
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Montana Museum of Railroad History: 20 visitor questions
Where is the Montana Museum of Railroad History?
The Montana Museum of Railroad History is at 400 3rd Street NW in Great Falls, Montana 59404, on the grounds of Montana ExpoPark. Use the ExpoPark address in your GPS, and if you have trouble finding the building once you are on the grounds, call 406-453-3025, which is answered in the evenings.
What is the Montana Museum of Railroad History?
It is a small museum in Great Falls that collects objects and artifacts showing the history of Montana's railroad systems. Exhibits use tools, photographs and other pieces to explain the transcontinental railroads that crossed Montana and the many rail lines that served its towns. It is part of the Great Falls Museum Consortium.
What are the Montana Museum of Railroad History hours?
As of October 2026, the Great Falls museum consortium lists summer hours of Saturday, 12 pm to 4:30 pm, with winter visits by appointment. A Cascade County listing gives Saturdays from mid-April to mid-October, plus Thursday evenings. Because the listings differ, call 406-453-3025 in the evening to confirm before you go.
How much does the Montana Museum of Railroad History cost?
Admission is free. The museum welcomes donations, and since it charges nothing at the door, a few dollars in the donation box is one of the best ways to help it keep its exhibits open and its collection cared for. There is no ticket to buy ahead of time.
Can I see photos of the Montana Museum of Railroad History?
Yes. The museum posts updates and pictures on its Facebook page, which is the best place to see what the exhibits look like before you visit. Historic railroad photographs are also part of the collection itself, so expect to see plenty of them on the walls when you go.
Is the Montana Museum of Railroad History open in winter?
Winter visits are by appointment, according to the Great Falls museum consortium. Call 406-453-3025 in the evening to set up a time. A Cascade County listing says the museum is open year round on Thursday evenings as well, so ask about that when you call.
Can you schedule a private visit to the Montana Museum of Railroad History?
Yes, visits by appointment are offered outside the regular Saturday hours. Call 406-453-3025, which is answered in the evenings, to arrange a time. Cascade County also lists a second contact number, 406-315-3875, for scheduling appointments. Groups such as summer camps have visited this way.
What can you see at the Montana Museum of Railroad History?
The museum shows artifacts, tools, photographs and exhibits that tell the history of Montana's railroads. Visitors learn about the transcontinental lines that crossed the state and the branch lines that reached its towns. It is an indoor collection of objects rather than a yard of full-size locomotives.
Can you ride a train at the Montana Museum of Railroad History?
No train rides are listed for the Montana Museum of Railroad History; it is an indoor collection of railroad artifacts. For a ride in central Montana, the Charlie Russell Chew Choo near Lewistown runs dinner train excursions. Check that railroad's own schedule before you plan around it.
Is the Montana Museum of Railroad History good for kids?
It works best for school-age kids who already love trains. A summer camp group toured it and spent the afternoon learning about Montana's railroads through artifacts, tools and photographs. The museum does not list a dedicated kids area, so keep the visit short with toddlers and ask what children can touch.
How long should I plan at the Montana Museum of Railroad History?
About an hour is a sensible plan for a family visit, a little more if you like to read every label or talk with the volunteers on duty. Because the museum sits inside Montana ExpoPark in Great Falls, it is easy to pair with other stops in the city the same day.
Is there parking at the Montana Museum of Railroad History?
The museum is on the Montana ExpoPark grounds at 400 3rd Street NW, but it does not post parking details online. Call 406-453-3025 in the evening before your visit to ask where to park and which entrance to use, especially if an event is running at ExpoPark that day.
Is the Montana Museum of Railroad History wheelchair accessible?
The museum does not post accessibility details online. If you are bringing a wheelchair, walker or stroller, call 406-453-3025 in the evening and ask about the entrance and the layout inside, so you know what to expect before you drive to Montana ExpoPark.
Can the public attend Montana Museum of Railroad History meetings?
Yes. The museum holds meetings every Thursday evening at 7:30 pm, and the public is welcome. It is a good way to meet the people who run the museum, hear about current projects and find out how to help. Call 406-453-3025 to confirm the meeting is on before you come.
How can I volunteer at the Montana Museum of Railroad History?
The easiest first step is to attend one of the museum's Thursday evening meetings at 7:30 pm, which are open to the public. You can also call 406-453-3025 in the evening or send a message through the museum's Facebook page to ask what help is needed.
How do I donate to the Montana Museum of Railroad History?
Admission is free and donations are welcome, so the simplest way is to give during your visit. For larger gifts, or to offer railroad artifacts or photographs for the collection, call 406-453-3025 in the evening or message the museum on Facebook to talk with someone first.
Is the Montana Museum of Railroad History part of Montana ExpoPark?
The museum is located within Montana ExpoPark at 400 3rd Street NW in Great Falls, which is why some people know it as the railroad museum at the fairgrounds. It is also a member of the Great Falls Museum Consortium, which promotes the city's museums and interpretive centers together.
What railroads does the Montana Museum of Railroad History cover?
The museum covers the railroad systems of Montana as a whole, including the transcontinental railroads that crossed the state and the various rail lines that served its communities. It does not post a list of every company it covers online, so ask the volunteers on duty about any particular line you are curious about.
What other museums are in Great Falls, Montana?
The Montana Museum of Railroad History is one of several members of the Great Falls Museum Consortium, a group of local museums and interpretive centers that promote one another. The consortium's website lists the other members, which makes it easy to build a full day of museum stops in Great Falls.
What train museums are near the Montana Museum of Railroad History?
The Central Montana Rail and Judith Basin railroad heritage exhibits are about 56 miles away, the Charlie Russell Chew Choo near Lewistown is about 93 miles, and the Butte, Anaconda and Pacific Railway historic collection is about 119 miles. The Livingston Depot Center and Fort Missoula are both a little over 130 miles away.
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