The National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis County, Missouri

Written By Kelsey Cecil

St. Louis County, Missouri · Updated October 19, 2026 · 14 min read

Railroad museumTrain ridesHours change by season; often closed Mondays and Tuesdays in fall and winter

Founded in 1944 around a single mule-drawn streetcar, the National Museum of Transportation now cares for more than 190 major rail and transit exhibits on Barrett Station Road, from an 1833 passenger coach to Union Pacific's Big Boy #4006.

  • Founded in 1944
  • More than 190 major exhibits
  • Union Pacific Big Boy #4006
  • Miniature train rides in season
  • On the Missouri Pacific right-of-way
  • Party room for ages 1 to 5

The National Museum of Transportation at a glance

Hours
Seasonal; typically closed Mon and Tue in fall and holidays, Mon to Wed in winter
Admission
Admission fee charged; see the museum's Hours and Admission page for current prices
Train rides
Wm. F. Ross Special Miniature Train during its season, weather permitting
Seasonal events
Holiday Happiness Festivities, Route 66 100th Anniversary exhibition, Trick-or-Treating, Car shows, Santa visits
Plan for
Half a day
Best for
Families, rail fans and anyone who loves big machines
Best ages
Toddlers to age 12
Parking
On-site lot; visitors report parking is free

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to The National Museum of Transportation? 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 St. Louis County.

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.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

From one mule-drawn streetcar to a 42-acre campus

The museum began in 1944, when a group of history-minded St. Louis citizens acquired a mule-drawn streetcar called the "Bellefontaine." That one car became the seed of everything that followed, and it is still on display today in the William R. and Laura Rand Orthwein Education and Visitor Center.

In 1948 the founders incorporated the Transport Museum Association as a nonprofit educational organization so the museum could raise money and organize volunteers. The association acquired land on Barrett Station Road in St. Louis County, right along the historic Missouri Pacific Railroad right-of-way, and over the following decades the streetcar was joined by hundreds of other significant pieces. The campus today covers about 42 acres on the edge of Kirkwood, and many people still know it as the St. Louis Museum of Transportation.

On September 1, 1979, the St. Louis County Department of Parks and Recreation took over operating and developing the museum, and the founders formally gave it to the county in February 1984. The arrangement lasted until January 1, 2017, when the museum went back to being a private institution under the Transport Museum Association. In August 2018 the association took its present name, The National Museum of Transportation.

The museum describes its work as a "drive wheel" of eight equal parts, from education and exhibits to restoration, preservation, and its library and archives. Volunteers carry a real share of that load, down to the gardens on all three levels of the grounds, planted with native species for birds, butterflies and other pollinators. As a private museum, it depends on members and donors to keep growing, and it is now raising funds to expand its aviation collection.

Big Boy, Centennial and a coach from 1833

The rail collection is the heart of the place. Union Pacific #4006, a Big Boy, is the largest successful steam locomotive ever built, and nearby stands Union Pacific #6944, the 6,600-horsepower, two-engine "Centennial" diesel that General Motors' Electro-Motive Division built in 1971. At the other end of the timeline is a Boston & Providence Railroad passenger coach from 1833. Freight cars fill in the everyday story of railroading: a 1904 Rock Island wooden caboose that survived five wrecks, a 1929 ice-cooled refrigerator car, and the 1965 "Whale Belly," a 97-foot tank car the museum calls the world's largest.

Beyond the rails, the Earl C. Lindburg Automobile Center holds more than 200 road vehicles, including a 1901 St. Louis Motor Carriage Co. car and a Chrysler turbine car the museum says is the only operating one on public display. Outside, you can walk the decks of the H.T. Pott tugboat and see a 1943 Douglas military transport believed to have flown in the D-Day invasion. Bring a phone: QR codes on the grounds tell each artifact's story. Some pieces are in storage or the shop at any given time, so call ahead if you are coming for one in particular.

Don’t miss

  1. Union Pacific #4006 "Big Boy"The museum's headline locomotive, from the class of the largest successful steam engines ever built. Standing next to its drivers is the best sense of scale you will get anywhere.
  2. Union Pacific #6944 "Centennial"A 6,600-horsepower diesel with two engines under one long hood, built by EMD in 1971.
  3. Boston & Providence coach of 1833One of the oldest pieces in the collection, a reminder of how small and simple the first passenger cars were.
  4. The "Bellefontaine" streetcarThe mule-drawn car that started the whole museum in 1944, now in the Orthwein Education and Visitor Center.
  5. G.A.T.X. #96500 "Whale Belly" tank carA 60,000-gallon experimental car so long, at 97 feet, that it could not clear curves. The museum calls it the world's largest tank car.
  6. Wm. F. Ross Special Miniature TrainThe small train that carries visitors around part of the grounds in season, weather permitting, leaving from a station beside the Pollinator Junction garden.

A miniature train, Speedy McWheels and a creation station

Small visitors get a real ride here: the Wm. F. Ross Special Miniature Train runs during its season, weather permitting, and its station sits right next to the Pollinator Junction garden. The museum also offers downloadable Speedy McWheels Adventures to turn a walk around the grounds into a game, and it posts a park map so you can plan which levels to cover with a stroller or wagon.

For the youngest train fans, the Major Lee Berra Creation Station can be rented for birthday parties for children ages 1 to 5. School classes in kindergarten through fifth grade can book facilitated field trips with a hands-on lesson, and larger groups can choose a School Discovery Visit with a scavenger hunt and picnic tables. Much of the collection is outdoors across three levels, so dress for the weather.

Plan your visit: tips for The National Museum of Transportation

  • Check the posted operating schedule before you go; hours shift by season.
  • Call ahead if you are coming to see one specific artifact, since some pieces rotate into storage or the shop.
  • Bring a charged phone to scan the QR codes that tell each artifact's history.
  • The museum is closed on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
  • Download the park map and Speedy McWheels Adventures from the museum's Plan Your Visit page.

Special event days are marked on the museum's calendar, from car shows and trick-or-treating to Santa Claus and big trucks. In 2026 the calendar lists Holiday Happiness Festivities starting November 27 and a one-day "66" admission price on November 11 to mark the Route 66 centennial. For more holiday ideas around the state, see our guides to Christmas train rides in Missouri and Halloween train rides in Missouri.

Members, donors and a lot of volunteers

Since 2017 the museum has been a private institution run by the nonprofit that began as the Transport Museum Association, and it relies on members, donors and volunteers, who even tend the gardens. You can help by buying a membership, giving to Fund-A-Need or the restoration fund for cars that still need work, or signing up to volunteer. The museum also runs a podcast, A Museum on the Move.

More rail history around St. Louis

The Wabash, Frisco & Pacific Railroad runs its small steam trains about 9 miles away in Glencoe. In the city, the St. Louis Mercantile Library railroad collection is about 12 miles off, and the St. Louis Union Station historic exhibits about 14. For a longer list, see all of Missouri's train museums.

Every train museum in Missouri

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a dad lifting Rally the corgi up the big stairs of a red train car
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Big Boy #4006 is the largest successful steam locomotive ever built, and I can only imagine Rally standing beside those drivers with his short corgi legs. In our book he cannot even manage the steps onto a regular train, so Dad gives him a boost. My kids are learning to read now, and that page always gets a giggle. If yours have train fever too, try our train books for toddlers list.

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 The National Museum of Transportation?

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.

National Museum of Transportation: 20 questions families ask

Where is the National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis?

The National Museum of Transportation is at 2933 Barrett Station Rd, St. Louis, MO 63122, in west St. Louis County on the edge of Kirkwood. It sits along the historic Missouri Pacific Railroad right-of-way on a campus of about 42 acres. Call (314) 965-6212 if you need directions during business hours.

What are the National Museum of Transportation hours?

Hours change through the year, and the museum posts a current operating schedule on its Hours and Admission page. It says it is typically closed Mondays and Tuesdays during the fall and holiday season, and Mondays through Wednesdays over the winter. Check the schedule or call (314) 965-6212 before you drive out.

How much are National Museum of Transportation tickets?

The museum charges an admission fee, and some activities can cost extra. It does not show a price list on the pages most visitors land on first, so check the Hours and Admission page at tnmot.org for current ticket prices, or call (314) 965-6212. The site also has a Deals and Discounts page worth a look before you buy.

Is the National Museum of Transportation free?

No, general admission is not free. The museum is a private institution that depends on admissions, members and donors, and it charges an entry fee with possible extra fees for some activities. Watch for special pricing days, like the one-day "66" admission price on November 11, 2026 marking the Route 66 centennial.

Can you buy National Museum of Transportation tickets online or with a discount?

The museum's website has a Deals and Discounts page under Plan Your Visit, which is the best place to look for current offers before you go. It does not mention Groupon on its own pages. Members get in as part of their membership, so a family that plans more than one visit may want to compare that cost.

Is there a train ride at the National Museum of Transportation?

Yes. The Wm. F. Ross Special Miniature Train gives rides around part of the grounds during its operating season, weather permitting. Its station sits next to the Pollinator Junction garden. The big locomotives in the collection are display pieces and do not run, so the miniature train is the ride most kids remember.

Does the National Museum of Transportation have a Big Boy locomotive?

Yes. Union Pacific #4006, a Big Boy, is on display, and the museum describes it as the largest successful steam locomotive ever built. It shares the rail collection with the Union Pacific #6944 Centennial diesel and an 1833 Boston & Providence passenger coach. Call ahead if you want to be sure a particular piece is on view.

How big is the collection at the National Museum of Transportation?

The museum's rail and transit collections include more than 190 major exhibits, and its road vehicle collection holds over 200 items. The museum says its collection is recognized as the largest collection of transportation vehicles in the world. Most of it can be seen on the grounds, though some pieces are in storage or maintenance at any time.

Can I book a birthday party at the National Museum of Transportation?

Yes, for little ones. The Major Lee Berra Creation Station can be rented for birthday parties for children ages 1 to 5. Details and booking information are on the museum's contact page under Creation Station Rentals, or you can call (314) 965-6212 to ask about dates and what the rental includes.

What is the Route 66 exhibition at the National Museum of Transportation?

In 2026 the museum is marking the 100th anniversary of Route 66, from 1926 to 2026, with a special exhibition. It also scheduled a one-day special "66" admission price on November 11, 2026 to celebrate the centennial. Check the museum's website for the exhibition's run and what is on display.

What upcoming events does the National Museum of Transportation have?

The museum hosts special event days through the year, including car shows, trick-or-treating, visits from Santa Claus and big truck days, marked with orange circles on its online calendar. As of October 2026, the calendar lists the "66" admission day on November 11 and Holiday Happiness Festivities starting November 27.

Does the National Museum of Transportation do anything for Christmas?

Yes. Santa Claus visits are among the museum's special event days, and in 2026 the calendar lists Holiday Happiness Festivities beginning November 27. The museum is closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, so plan holiday visits around those dates. Event details are posted on its Special Events page.

How long does it take to tour the National Museum of Transportation?

Plan on about half a day. The campus covers roughly 42 acres on three levels, with locomotives, cars, aircraft, a tugboat and the automobile center to walk through, plus the miniature train in season. Rail fans who read every QR code and sign can easily stay longer.

Is there parking at the National Museum of Transportation?

Yes, the museum has its own main parking lot, with a rain garden at the far end of it. Visitors report that parking is free, and the museum does not list a parking fee online. If you are bringing a bus or a large group, call (314) 965-6212 ahead of time.

Who owns the National Museum of Transportation?

It is a private, nonprofit museum. St. Louis County Parks ran it from 1979 and owned it from 1984, but on January 1, 2017 it returned to private status under the Transport Museum Association. That association took the name The National Museum of Transportation in August 2018 and runs the museum today.

When was the National Museum of Transportation founded?

The museum was founded in 1944 by a group of St. Louis citizens who had acquired the mule-drawn streetcar "Bellefontaine." In 1948 they incorporated the Transport Museum Association as a nonprofit and bought land on Barrett Station Road. The Bellefontaine is still on display in the Orthwein Education and Visitor Center.

What is there besides trains at the National Museum of Transportation?

Plenty. The Earl C. Lindburg Automobile Center holds more than 200 road vehicles, including a 1901 St. Louis Motor Carriage Co. car and a running Chrysler turbine car. You can walk the decks of the H.T. Pott tugboat and see a 1943 Douglas military transport, the first F/A-18 E1 Super Hornet and a Virgin Hyperloop pod.

How do I get a membership at the National Museum of Transportation?

Memberships are sold through the Join and Give section of tnmot.org, which also has options to donate, give to Fund-A-Need projects and volunteer. The museum says members and donors are essential to maintaining and growing a private institution. Call (314) 965-6212 with questions about membership levels.

Are there jobs or volunteer roles at the National Museum of Transportation?

The museum has a Volunteering page in its Join and Give section, and volunteers help with everything from restoration to the gardens on all three levels. It does not post job openings on its main visitor pages, so contact museum@tnmot.org or call (314) 965-6212 to ask about current openings.

What train museums are near the National Museum of Transportation?

The Wabash, Frisco & Pacific Railroad in Glencoe is about 9 miles away and runs small steam trains. The St. Louis Mercantile Library railroad collection is about 12 miles off and the St. Louis Union Station historic exhibits about 14. The Iron Mountain Railway in Jackson is about 93 miles south.

Keep exploring

More family train guides from Rally

Kelsey Cecil
Previous

Southern California Railway Museum in Perris, California
Next

Old Pueblo Trolley in South Tucson, Arizona