Nacogdoches Railroad Depot, Texas
Depot museumFreeFree tours Thursday to Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm
Built by the Southern Pacific in 1911 after lightning destroyed its wooden predecessor, the Nacogdoches Railroad Depot is the last surviving passenger station on the old Houston East and West Texas line, and today it holds a free museum about the railroad and the people who rode and worked it.
- Opened April 3, 1911
- National Register listed in 1992
- Free tours, donations welcome
- Exhibit guide in Spanish
- Junior Engineer Days each summer
- December model train display
Nacogdoches Railroad Depot at a glance
- Hours
- Tours Thursday to Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm; closed major holidays
- Admission
- Free; donations welcome
- Seasonal events
- Junior Engineer Days (summer), Loblolly Model Train Display (early December)
- Plan for
- About 45 minutes to 1 hour
- Best for
- History lovers and school-age kids
- Best ages
- Ages 5 and up; all ages for the model train display
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Nacogdoches 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 Nacogdoches.
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.
Lightning, a new depot and the old Houston East and West Texas line
Nacogdoches calls itself the oldest town in Texas, founded in 1779, but its railroad era began in 1882, when the Houston East and West Texas Railroad arrived and the local economy shifted from farming toward trade and commerce. By the early twentieth century the line was part of the Southern Pacific system.
In May 1910 a wooden depot went up here. Less than a year later it was struck by lightning and burned to the ground, and the Southern Pacific replaced it with the depot that stands today, which opened on April 3, 1911. For more than four decades the station moved freight, passengers and even soldiers from Nacogdoches to places far away, until passenger service ended in 1954.
The depot outlasted its trains. It is the only surviving passenger station on the old Houston East and West Texas line, and in 1992 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its importance in transportation and architecture, as part of a group of historic Nacogdoches properties. The City of Nacogdoches now cares for the building through its Historic Sites Department, which turned it into a transportation museum that tells the story of the railroad, its passengers and the people who worked on it.
Inside the old passenger station
The depot holds a complete museum exhibit that walks through the railroad's history in Nacogdoches from three angles: the railroad itself, the passengers who traveled through, and the workers who kept the trains moving. It is the kind of exhibit that rewards reading, with the 1911 building as its frame.
Tours run Thursday through Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm and are free, with donations welcome. The city also offers a printed exhibit guide in Spanish, a thoughtful touch for bilingual families. Groups and schools can arrange larger tours through the Historic Sites Department, and the depot comes alive with special programs in summer and early December.
Don’t miss
- The 1911 Southern Pacific depotThe last passenger station left on the old Houston East and West Texas line, built to replace a depot lost to lightning.
- The railroad museum exhibitA full exhibit on the railroad, its passengers and its workers, including the soldiers who left Nacogdoches by train.
- The Spanish exhibit guideThe city provides a guide to the exhibit in Spanish, so more families can follow the story.
- Junior Engineer DaysA summer program at the depot aimed at young train fans.
- Loblolly Model Train DisplayAn early December model train display that turns the depot into a holiday outing.
Junior engineers and model trains
The depot plans two programs a year with young visitors in mind. Junior Engineer Days run in summer, and in early December the Loblolly Model Train Display brings running model trains into the depot, which is usually the best time for preschoolers and early elementary kids to come.
On a regular tour day the museum is an exhibit to read and look at rather than a place to climb, so it suits school-age children best. Because tours are free, it is easy to stop in for a short visit and leave when little legs are done.
Plan your visit: tips for Nacogdoches Railroad Depot
- Plan a Thursday, Friday or Saturday visit; the depot is not open for tours the rest of the week.
- Ask for the Spanish exhibit guide if it helps your family.
- Schools and large groups should book ahead with the city's Historic Sites Department.
- Visit in early December to see the Loblolly Model Train Display.
Each early December the depot hosts the Loblolly Model Train Display, a good holiday outing for families who want to watch trains run without a long drive. In summer, Junior Engineer Days are aimed at kids. If you are hoping to ride a full-size holiday train, see our guide to Christmas train rides in Texas.
Cared for by the City of Nacogdoches
The depot belongs to the City of Nacogdoches and is run by its Historic Sites Department, which keeps the museum open for free tours. Donations are welcome at the depot, and the department is the contact for school groups and large tours. Coming to Junior Engineer Days or the December model train show is a good way to show support.
East Texas rail stops near Nacogdoches
The Historic Depot Museum in Henderson is about 39 miles north, and the Texas State Railroad at Palestine and Rusk is about 55 miles away if the kids want a ride. The Texas & Pacific Railway Museum in Marshall is about 77 miles. Find more on our page of train museums in Texas.
- Historic Depot MuseumHenderson, TX · about 39 mi
- Texas State RailroadPalestine / Rusk, TX · about 55 mi
- Texas & Pacific Railway MuseumMarshall, TX · about 67 mi
- Historic Jefferson RailwayJefferson, TX · about 82 mi
- Kansas City Southern Railway historic exhibitsShreveport area, LA · about 85 mi
- DeQuincy Railroad MuseumDeQuincy, LA · about 108 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
Passengers waited in this Nacogdoches depot for more than forty years, and I picture them watching the piney woods from their seats once the train pulled out. Rally spends a lot of our book at the window, gazing at the ocean through an arched pane and saying hello to a white bird. Every child deserves a good window seat, whatever the view.
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 Texas: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Texas
- Halloween train rides in Texas
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Nacogdoches 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.
Nacogdoches Railroad Depot: 20 questions visitors ask
Is this the historic Southern Pacific depot in McAllen?
No. This page covers the historic Southern Pacific depot in Nacogdoches, in East Texas, which opened in 1911. McAllen is in the Rio Grande Valley and is a different town with its own railroad history. If you were searching for McAllen depot photos, look for that city's own listing instead.
Is the Nacogdoches depot the 1915 Southern Pacific railroad depot?
No. The Nacogdoches Railroad Depot opened on April 3, 1911, not 1915. The Southern Pacific built it to replace a wooden depot from May 1910 that burned after a lightning strike. A depot dated 1915 would be a different station, so check which town you are searching for.
When was the Nacogdoches Railroad Depot built?
The Southern Pacific Railroad built the current depot in 1911, and it opened on April 3 of that year. It replaced a wooden depot built in May 1910 that was struck by lightning and burned less than a year later. The 1911 building is the one you visit today.
What are the Nacogdoches Railroad Depot hours?
As of October 2026, tours run Thursday through Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm, and the depot is closed on major holidays. It is not open for regular tours Sunday through Wednesday, so plan your trip around those three days. Call (936) 462-8267 to confirm before you go.
How much does it cost to visit the Nacogdoches Railroad Depot?
Tours are free as of October 2026, and the city welcomes donations to help care for the depot and its museum. There is no ticket to buy in advance. Special programs such as Junior Engineer Days and the model train display are listed by the city, so check its site for any event details.
Where is the Nacogdoches Railroad Depot?
The city lists the depot at 101 Old Tyler Road, Nacogdoches, TX 75961, with a phone number of (936) 462-8267. Nacogdoches is in East Texas. The city's Historic Sites Department operates the depot, and its page on nactx.us has the latest visiting details.
What is inside the Nacogdoches Railroad Depot museum?
The depot holds a complete transportation museum exhibit that tells the story of the railroad in Nacogdoches, the passengers who traveled through the station and the people who worked on the railroad. The building itself, a 1911 Southern Pacific passenger depot, is part of the experience. An exhibit guide in Spanish is available.
When did passenger trains stop running at the Nacogdoches depot?
Passenger service at the depot ended in 1954. Before that, for more than four decades, the station handled goods, passengers and even soldiers heading from Nacogdoches to distant places. The museum inside explains what the depot meant to the town during those years.
Which railroad first came to Nacogdoches?
The Houston East and West Texas Railroad reached Nacogdoches in 1882, and it shifted the local economy from agriculture toward trade and commerce. The 1911 depot was built by the Southern Pacific, and it is the only surviving passenger station on the old Houston East and West Texas line.
Is the Nacogdoches depot on the National Register of Historic Places?
Yes. The Southern Pacific Railroad Depot in Nacogdoches was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. It was recognized for its significance in transportation and architecture, as part of a group listing of historic properties in Nacogdoches.
What are Junior Engineer Days at the Nacogdoches depot?
Junior Engineer Days are an annual summer event at the railroad depot aimed at young train fans. The city lists it among the depot's yearly events, but exact dates and activities change from year to year. Check the depot's page on the City of Nacogdoches website or call (936) 462-8267 for this summer's schedule.
Is there a Christmas model train display at the Nacogdoches depot?
Yes. In early December the depot hosts the Loblolly Model Train Display, one of its two annual events. It is a good fit for young children who love watching trains run. Dates are set each year, so check the city's website or call the depot at (936) 462-8267 as December approaches.
Is the Nacogdoches Railroad Depot good for kids?
School-age kids who like trains and history will enjoy it, and the free admission makes a short visit easy. Younger children usually have the most fun at the summer Junior Engineer Days or the early December model train display, when there is more to watch. Regular tour days focus on exhibits.
Can you ride a train at the Nacogdoches Railroad Depot?
No. The depot is a museum and does not offer train rides. For a ride in the region, the Texas State Railroad at Palestine and Rusk is about 55 miles away. The depot's December model train display is the closest thing to moving trains you will see here.
Can schools and groups tour the Nacogdoches Railroad Depot?
Yes. The city asks anyone planning a large tour or a school group visit to contact its Historic Sites Department to schedule it. Tours are free, which makes the depot a good field trip for local classes studying Texas or transportation history.
Is there a Spanish guide at the Nacogdoches Railroad Depot?
Yes. The city offers a guide to the depot's exhibit in Spanish, linked from the depot's page on the City of Nacogdoches website. It helps Spanish-speaking families and students follow the story of the railroad, its passengers and its workers.
Is the Nacogdoches Railroad Depot wheelchair accessible?
The city's depot page does not describe accessibility features. If you need details about entrances, ramps or restrooms, call the depot at (936) 462-8267 or the Historic Sites Department before your visit so they can tell you what to expect.
How long should I plan at the Nacogdoches Railroad Depot?
Most visitors spend about 45 minutes to an hour reading the exhibit and looking around the 1911 building. Plan a little longer on event days such as the model train display. The depot pairs well with other historic sites the city runs in Nacogdoches.
Who operates the Nacogdoches Railroad Depot?
The City of Nacogdoches operates the depot through its Historic Sites Department, which keeps the transportation museum open for free tours and hosts its annual events. Donations at the depot help with its care. Contact the department to schedule group or school visits.
What other train museums are near Nacogdoches?
The Historic Depot Museum in Henderson is about 39 miles away, and the Texas State Railroad at Palestine and Rusk is about 55 miles. The Texas & Pacific Railway Museum in Marshall is about 77 miles, and the Historic Jefferson Railway is about 82 miles from Nacogdoches.
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