National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Green Bay, Wisconsin · Updated October 19, 2026 · 14 min read

Railroad museumTrain ridesOpen year-round; train rides May to October

The National Railroad Museum in Green Bay grew from a 1956 volunteer effort into one of the oldest and largest rail museums in the United States, with more than 70 locomotives and cars, over 100,000 artifacts and a working loop line along the Fox River.

  • Founded by volunteers in 1956
  • More than 70 pieces of rolling stock
  • Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4017
  • Train rides May to October
  • Open year-round
  • Walk-through locomotives and cars

National Railroad Museum at a glance

Hours
Open year-round. April to December: Mon 9 am to 5 pm, Tue 9 am to 8 pm, Wed to Sat 9 am to 5 pm, Sun 11 am to 5 pm. January to March: closed Mon, Tue 9 am to 8 pm, Wed to Sat 9 am to 4 pm, Sun 11 am to 4 pm
Admission
Ages 13 and up $15, seniors 62+ and college students $12, ages 2 to 12 $10, under 2 free; members free
Train rides
Diesel-pulled loop train, $6 per person with paid admission, daily May to September and weekends in October
Seasonal events
The Polar Express Train Ride, Festival of Trees, Holidays on the Rails, Lantern Tours, Rails & Ales Brewfest, Railroading Merit Badge
Plan for
About 2 to 3 hours, more with a train ride and film
Best for
Families, rail fans and history lovers
Best ages
Ages 3 and up
Accessibility
The museum has an accessibility page on its website; contact the front desk for details.

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to National 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 Green Bay.

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.

Seventy years since Green Bay volunteers started a rail museum

The National Railroad Museum traces its roots to 1956, when community volunteers in the Green Bay area set out to preserve and interpret the nation's railroad history. The museum sits in Ashwaubenon, just south of downtown Green Bay, on grounds that run down to the Fox River shoreline, and in 2026 it is marking 70 years under the banner of Legacy in Motion.

Early on, the museum landed a piece of international history. On April 27, 1964, the British Railways Board presented the London and North Eastern Railway A4 locomotive No. 60008, built in 1934 and renamed for General Dwight D. Eisenhower after World War II. It arrived in Green Bay on Memorial Day that year, and Eisenhower himself came to see it that September. Two LNER passenger cars that had been converted for his use during the war, Nos. 1591 and 1592, came with it.

The collection kept growing. Today the museum counts more than 70 pieces of rolling stock and more than 100,000 artifacts, from Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4017 to the General Motors Aerotrain and a Pennsylvania Railroad GG-1 electric. In 2012 the museum loaned the Eisenhower locomotive to the National Railway Museum in York, England, for a 2013 gathering of every surviving A4. The English museum gave it a cosmetic restoration, and it came home in June 2014.

Restoration work has continued at home too. The museum's own team restored the two Eisenhower cars, finishing No. 1591 as it looked after the war and returning No. 1592 to its wartime appearance with armor plating. Its staff and volunteers now welcome more than 100,000 visitors a year.

Big Boy, Eisenhower's train and a loop along the Fox River

The museum mixes indoor galleries with outdoor display tracks, and many locomotives and cars are open to walk through. Inside the Lenfestey Center, the Dwight D. Eisenhower locomotive stands with its two command cars. Other named exhibits include Union Pacific No. 4017 Big Boy, Pennsylvania Railroad No. 4890, the General Motors Aerotrain, the Pullman Porters: From Service to Civil Rights exhibit with the Lake Mitchell car, the Bauer Drumhead Gallery and the Wisconsin 40&8 boxcar. The 2026 photography exhibit, Seldom Seen Scenes of Railroading by Kevin Hass, focuses on the small details of rail equipment.

From May through September, and on October weekends, a diesel-pulled train leaves the Children's Discovery Depot for a 25-minute, two-mile ride: two laps of a one-mile loop through woods and along the Fox River, with the conductor pointing out equipment and talking about railroad safety and hobo culture. The theater runs short films daily, including Last of the Giants about Big Boy locomotives and A Brief History of Railroad Snowplows.

Don’t miss

  1. Union Pacific No. 4017 Big BoyOne of the giant Big Boy steam locomotives, and the headline of the museum's home page. Catch the Last of the Giants film in the theater to learn the story of the class.
  2. Dwight D. Eisenhower locomotive No. 60008The museum says it is the only A4 class locomotive in the United States. It crossed the Atlantic in 2012 to join its surviving sisters at York before returning in 2014.
  3. Eisenhower command cars Nos. 1591 and 1592Two LNER cars converted for Eisenhower's wartime trains in England, one of which served as his quarters and staff meeting space. No. 1592 wears its wartime armor plating.
  4. General Motors AerotrainA futuristic 1950s passenger train design that guides make a point of including on group tours.
  5. Pullman Porters: From Service to Civil RightsAn exhibit built around the Lake Mitchell car that tells the story of the Pullman porters and their place in civil rights history.
  6. The two-mile loop train rideA 25-minute ride behind a diesel along the Fox River shoreline, with the conductor narrating, offered May through October weekends.

Climbing aboard, the Discovery Depot and a real train ride

Kids can walk through many of the locomotives and cars instead of just looking at them from the platform, which visitors often single out in reviews. The Children's Discovery Depot is where the seasonal train ride boards, and the two-mile loop through the woods and along the river is a good length for little riders at about 25 minutes.

For preschool groups, the museum's I Went to the Museum program is built for ages 3 to 5, with a sing-along story called Whistle on the Train and imaginary photos that turn into coloring sheets. Railroad Activity Time covers pre-K through 8th grade. The museum has exhibits inside and out, so dress for the weather, wear comfortable shoes, and bring a picnic for the grounds, since food stays out of the exhibit areas. Note that the October Lantern Tours are recommended for ages 16 and up.

Plan your visit: tips for National Railroad Museum

  • Be at the Children's Discovery Depot at least 10 minutes before your train departs.
  • Tuesdays run late (until 8 pm), with an extra 6 pm train in ride season.
  • Food and drinks are not allowed in exhibit areas, but there are picnic spots on the grounds.
  • During Polar Express season the museum closes one hour before that day's first show.
  • Admission prices change on special event days.

Holiday season is the museum's busiest time. The Polar Express Train Ride runs from November 20 to December 13, 2026 (this year's shows are already sold out), the Festival of Trees fills the museum from November 19, 2026 to January 3, 2027, and Holidays on the Rails runs December 8 to 10. In October, the adults-and-teens Lantern Tours explore the darker history of four cars by lantern light. For more ideas, see our list of Christmas train rides in Wisconsin and our guide to Halloween train rides in Wisconsin.

Staff, volunteers and members who keep it rolling

Community volunteers founded the museum, and today a staff working alongside volunteers keeps the collection, the loop railroad and the education programs going. Members get free daily admission and save on special events, and visitors support the museum through tickets, event nights, group tours, venue rentals and the museum shop.

More Wisconsin rail stops after Green Bay

The Wisconsin Automotive Museum railway exhibits in Hartford are about 82 miles south. Farther west, the Riverside & Great Northern Railway in Wisconsin Dells is about 104 miles away, and the Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom about 115 miles. Plan a longer trip with our guide to train museums in Wisconsin.

Every train museum in Wisconsin

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of a conductor in a blue suit shaking Rally's paw on the train
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

On the loop ride here, the conductor talks about the trains you pass and about railroad safety as you roll along the river. That is exactly the kind of grown-up I wanted Mr. Conductor to be in our book, in his blue uniform, reaching out a hand to Rally. My mom imagined that kindness first. If your little one wants to color him in afterward, he is waiting on our coloring pages.

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 National 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.

National Railroad Museum in Green Bay: 20 questions families ask

Where is the National Railroad Museum in Wisconsin?

The National Railroad Museum is at 2285 South Broadway, Green Bay, WI 54304, in the village of Ashwaubenon on the south side of the Green Bay area. From I-41, the museum's directions use the Ashland Avenue exits and Cormier Road, then a turn onto South Broadway. Call the front desk at (920) 437-7623 if you need help.

What are the National Railroad Museum hours?

As of October 2026, from April through December the museum is open Monday 9 am to 5 pm, Tuesday 9 am to 8 pm, Wednesday to Saturday 9 am to 5 pm and Sunday 11 am to 5 pm. From January to March it closes Mondays and closes at 4 pm except Tuesdays. It is closed on major holidays including Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.

How much are National Railroad Museum tickets?

As of October 2026, admission is $15 for adults and children 13 and older, $12 for college students and seniors 62 and older, $10 for ages 2 to 12, and free under age 2. Members get in free every day. Prices can differ on special event days, and you can buy online or at the ticket desk.

Does the National Railroad Museum offer discounted admission?

Yes. The museum takes part in Museums for All, offering $5 admission for up to four people with a SNAP EBT card and photo ID. Blue Star Museums gives active-duty military families free admission from Armed Forces Day to Labor Day, and reciprocal members of ASTC, NARM and ROAM get free admission under each program's rules.

Can you ride a train at the National Railroad Museum?

Yes, in season. A diesel-pulled train runs daily from May through September and on weekends in October, with no rides November to April. Each ride lasts about 25 minutes and covers two miles. As of October 2026 rides cost $6 per person on top of paid admission, departing at 10 am (not Sundays), noon, 2 pm and 4 pm.

Does the National Railroad Museum do The Polar Express?

Yes. The Polar Express Train Ride runs at the museum from November 20 to December 13, 2026, and the museum reports that all 2026 shows are sold out. On Polar Express days the museum itself closes one hour before the first show. Watch the museum's website and social pages for next year's ticket release.

What Christmas events does the National Railroad Museum hold?

Besides The Polar Express, the museum hosts the Festival of Trees: A Community Celebration from November 19, 2026 to January 3, 2027, a good bet if you searched for its Christmas trees. Holidays on the Rails runs December 8 to 10, 2026. Check nationalrrmuseum.org for times and tickets.

Does the National Railroad Museum sell Christmas cards?

The museum's website links to a shop but does not mention Christmas cards specifically. If you are hoping for holiday cards featuring the museum's trains, check the online shop linked from nationalrrmuseum.org or call the front desk at (920) 437-7623 to ask what is in stock this season.

What upcoming events are at the National Railroad Museum?

As of October 2026, the calendar lists Lantern Tours on October 8, 15, 22 and 29, a Railroading Merit Badge day on November 7, the Festival of Trees, The Polar Express, Holidays on the Rails in December, and the Rails & Ales Brewfest on February 6, 2027, with tickets on sale November 6.

What are the Lantern Tours at the National Railroad Museum?

Lantern Tours are after-hours guided visits to four cars, including the Eisenhower car, a Milwaukee Road caboose, the Joseph Lister hospital car and a 40&8 boxcar, focused on hard true stories from rail history. They are recommended for ages 16 and up. As of October 2026 tickets are $16, or $25 with a souvenir lantern, with 20 guests per night.

Is the Big Boy at the National Railroad Museum?

Yes. Union Pacific No. 4017, one of the Big Boy steam locomotives, is on display in Green Bay and is one of the museum's best known pieces. The theater shows a film called Last of the Giants about Big Boy locomotives, usually at 12:30 pm and 4:30 pm, plus 6:30 pm on Tuesdays.

What is the Dwight D. Eisenhower locomotive at the National Railroad Museum?

It is LNER A4 locomotive No. 60008, built in Britain in 1934 and renamed for General Eisenhower after World War II. The museum says it is the only A4 in the United States. It arrived on Memorial Day 1964, and it is displayed in the Lenfestey Center with two cars converted for Eisenhower's use during the war.

Is the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay the same as the one in York or Baltimore?

No. The National Railroad Museum is in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The National Railway Museum in York is in England, and borrowed the Green Bay museum's Eisenhower locomotive from 2012 to 2014 for an A4 gathering. Baltimore's large rail museum is a separate institution. Green Bay's museum is not a hall of fame or an underground railroad site.

Why is the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay?

The museum began in the Green Bay area in 1956 as a community volunteer project, and it grew where its founders started it. Over seven decades it became one of the oldest and largest rail museums in the country, which is how a Wisconsin city ended up home to Big Boy and Eisenhower's wartime train.

How long should I spend at the National Railroad Museum?

Plan on at least two to three hours to see the indoor galleries and outdoor tracks, walk through the cars and catch a film. Add about 25 minutes for the train ride in season, plus boarding time. The museum asks school groups to allow at least two hours for a basic program.

Is the National Railroad Museum good for toddlers and young kids?

Yes. Kids can walk through many locomotives and cars, ride the loop train in season, and start at the Children's Discovery Depot. Admission is free under age 2. The museum's I Went to the Museum program is designed for ages 3 to 5. Exhibits are inside and outside, so dress little ones for the weather.

Does the National Railroad Museum host field trips and group tours?

Yes. Youth groups can book I Went to the Museum for ages 3 to 5 or Railroad Activity Time for ages 4 to 14, and youth tours include a train ride. Adult groups can book guided tours of highlights such as Big Boy and the Aerotrain. Contact the Education Department at (920) 437-7623 or nrrmeducation@nationalrrmuseum.org.

Can I bring food or a picnic to the National Railroad Museum?

Yes, the museum encourages snacks or a picnic and says there are several picnic spots on the grounds. Food and drinks are not allowed in the exhibit areas, so plan to eat outdoors or between galleries. Comfortable shoes and clothes for the weather are also on the museum's list of things to bring.

Is the National Railroad Museum worth visiting, and what do reviewers say?

Reviewers quoted on the museum's site praise how much of the collection you can walk inside, the clean and well organized layout, and the detailed exhibit plaques. One family described their six-year-old's delight at finally seeing a Big Boy. The museum welcomes more than 100,000 visitors a year, and TripAdvisor reviewers often recommend adding the loop train ride.

What train museums are near the National Railroad Museum?

The Wisconsin Automotive Museum's railway exhibits in Hartford are about 82 miles away, the Milwaukee County Zoo Railway about 100 miles, and the Riverside and Great Northern Railway in Wisconsin Dells about 104 miles. The Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom, about 115 miles away, makes a good second stop for steam fans.

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