National Streetcar Museum at Lowell, Massachusetts

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Lowell, Massachusetts · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Trolley and streetcar museumTrain ridesMuseum open Saturdays and Sundays, 11 am to 4 pm, year-round; park trolley rides are seasonal

The National Streetcar Museum at Lowell, a satellite of the Seashore Trolley Museum run in cooperation with Lowell National Historical Park and the City of Lowell, shows how street railways shaped American cities, a block from the park trolleys that still carry visitors through the mill city.

  • Open weekends year-round
  • Admission $3 or less
  • Hands-on exhibits for kids
  • Free seasonal park trolley rides
  • Satellite of Seashore Trolley Museum
  • Visits take 45 to 60 minutes

National Streetcar Museum at Lowell at a glance

Hours
Saturdays and Sundays, 11 am to 4 pm, year-round
Admission
$3 adults; $2 seniors and ages 3 to 12; under 3 and Seashore members free
Train rides
Free seasonal rides on Lowell National Historical Park trolleys, with a stop near the museum
Plan for
45 to 60 minutes in the museum
Best for
Families visiting Lowell National Historical Park
Best ages
Ages 3 to 10
Parking
Metered street parking in front; free parking daily in the National Park Service Visitor Center lot; Lowell meters are free on Sundays

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 Streetcar Museum at Lowell? 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 Lowell.

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.

How trolleys came back to the mill city

Lowell National Historical Park was established in 1978 to tell the story of the American Industrial Revolution through the textile mills that built the city, with a working cotton mill exhibit, canal boat tours and trolleys to move visitors around. As part of developing the park, trolley service returned to downtown Lowell. The park acquired open-car trolleys designed as replicas of cars that the J. G. Brill Company built for the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway, so riders see the city much as earlier generations did.

The National Streetcar Museum grew out of that revival. It belongs to the New England Electric Railway Historical Society, which operates the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine. That society was founded in 1939 by ten young enthusiasts and incorporated in 1941, and Seashore describes itself as the world's first and largest museum of its kind. Plans for Lowell called for Seashore to provide additional historic cars and open a satellite museum at the park, with the long-term idea of extending the trolley line through the compact downtown.

Today the museum operates in cooperation with Lowell National Historical Park and the City of Lowell. Knowledgeable volunteers staff it on weekends, ready to answer questions or give a guided walk through the displays, and they keep prices low on purpose so families can stop in after the park's Visitor Center.

Streetcars, cities and the Mack Building

The museum fills part of the Mack Building at 25 Shattuck Street, directly across from the Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center. Its main exhibit explains how street railways influenced the growth of American cities: how a nickel trolley ride let people live farther from the mills and how lines stitched neighborhoods together. Interactive displays and hands-on activities are aimed at children, and volunteers will lead a guided tour on request. Most families spend 45 minutes to an hour inside.

In season, step outside to catch one of the national park's trolleys, replicas of open Brill cars from the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway. Rides are free and one stop is near the museum, so a short trolley trip makes a natural second half of the visit. The National Park Service posts the trolley schedule on its website.

Don’t miss

  1. The street railway and the city exhibitThe museum's core display on how trolleys shaped where Americans lived, worked and shopped, with Lowell as a working example.
  2. Hands-on activitiesInteractive pieces built so children can learn by doing, which the museum calls a favorite with kids.
  3. Lowell's open trolleysThe national park's replica open cars, modeled on Brill cars from the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway, give free seasonal rides downtown.
  4. A volunteer-guided tourAsk the volunteer on duty to walk you through the displays; they are there to answer questions.

A short, low-cost stop for little trolley fans

The museum is small, inexpensive and built with children in mind: the volunteers point out that kids especially love the interactive exhibits and hands-on activities, and a full visit takes under an hour, about right for young attention spans. Children under 3 get in free and ages 3 to 12 pay $2.

In the warmer months the free park trolley ride is the highlight for most kids, since the open cars let them feel the breeze and hear the bell. Check the National Park Service trolley schedule before you promise a ride, because service is seasonal.

Plan your visit: tips for National Streetcar Museum at Lowell

  • Bring cash or a check; card payment is only available through the museum's Eventbrite page.
  • Park free in the National Park Service Visitor Center lot across the street.
  • Check the National Park Service website for the seasonal trolley schedule.
  • Seashore Trolley Museum members get in free.

Seashore volunteers in Lowell

The museum is run by the New England Electric Railway Historical Society, the nonprofit behind the Seashore Trolley Museum, whose positions are mostly filled by volunteers. Lowell volunteers staff the weekend hours and give tours. Joining Seashore as a member brings free admission in Lowell, and the society has a volunteer coordinator for anyone who wants to help.

More rail history near Lowell

The Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society is about a mile away, and the Heritage Rail Trail in Nashua is about 11 miles north. Trolley fans can also look up the Boston Street Railway Association, about 22 miles away. For the full list, see train museums across Massachusetts.

Every train museum in Massachusetts

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi looking out an arched train window at the ocean and a white bird
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Lowell's park trolleys are open cars, so the whole city becomes the window. In our book, Rally gets an arched train window, and when the ocean appears he spots a white bird and says hello like it's an old friend. Kids on an open trolley do the same with every pigeon and canal boat. For little readers just starting out, I keep a list of train books for toddlers.

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 Streetcar Museum at Lowell?

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 Streetcar Museum at Lowell: 20 questions visitors ask

What are the National Streetcar Museum at Lowell hours?

As of October 2026, the National Streetcar Museum at Lowell is open Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 4 pm, year-round. It is closed on weekdays. Because it is staffed by volunteers, it is worth checking the museum's page on trolleymuseum.org or its Facebook page before a holiday weekend visit.

How much does the National Streetcar Museum in Lowell cost?

As of October 2026, admission is $3 for adults and $2 for seniors and children ages 3 to 12. Children under 3 are free, and so are members of the Seashore Trolley Museum. The museum accepts cash and checks at the door and offers an Eventbrite page for anyone who wants to pay by credit card.

Does the National Streetcar Museum at Lowell take credit cards?

Not at the door. The museum accepts cash and checks only, explaining that card fees would force it to raise its very low prices. If you would rather pay by card, buy admission through the museum's Eventbrite page, linked from its page on the Seashore Trolley Museum website.

Where is the National Streetcar Museum in Lowell?

The museum is in the Mack Building at 25 Shattuck Street in downtown Lowell, Massachusetts, directly across the street from the Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center. Many visitors stop at the Visitor Center first, then walk over. A park trolley stop is also near the museum.

Where do I park for the Lowell National Historical Park trolleys and streetcar museum?

Parking is free every day in the National Park Service Visitor Center lot, across from the museum. Metered on-street parking is also available in front of the museum on Shattuck Street, and Lowell does not charge at its parking meters on Sundays.

Can you ride a trolley at Lowell National Historical Park?

Yes, in season. The National Park Service runs trolleys in downtown Lowell that visitors can ride for free, with a stop near the streetcar museum. Service is seasonal, so check the trolley schedule on the National Park Service's Lowell website before you go.

Are the Lowell National Historical Park trolleys real antiques?

The park's open cars are replicas, designed after trolleys that the J. G. Brill Company built for the Eastern Massachusetts Street Railway. The park acquired them when trolley service was brought back downtown as part of developing the park. They let visitors experience an open trolley ride in an authentic mill city setting.

Is the National Streetcar Museum at Lowell good for kids?

Yes. The museum says children especially love its interactive exhibits and hands-on activities, and the average family visit is 45 to 60 minutes, a comfortable length for young children. Admission is $2 for ages 3 to 12 and free under 3, and in season a free park trolley ride makes a fun add-on.

How long should I plan at the National Streetcar Museum in Lowell?

Plan 45 minutes to an hour for the museum itself, which is the average family visit. Add time for the Lowell National Historical Park Visitor Center across the street and, in season, a ride on one of the park's free trolleys. Many people make it part of a full day at the national park.

Who runs the National Streetcar Museum at Lowell?

The museum is owned by the New England Electric Railway Historical Society, the nonprofit that operates the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine. Lowell is Seashore's satellite museum, run in cooperation with Lowell National Historical Park and the City of Lowell, and volunteers staff it on weekends.

What is the Seashore Trolley Museum's connection to Lowell?

Seashore, in Kennebunkport, Maine, is the parent museum. It was founded in 1939 by ten young enthusiasts, incorporated in 1941, and calls itself the world's first and largest museum of its kind. Its satellite campus is the National Streetcar Museum in Lowell, and Seashore members get free admission there.

What exhibits are at the National Streetcar Museum at Lowell?

The main exhibit covers how street railways influenced the development of American cities, along with interactive displays about national streetcar history and hands-on activities for children. Volunteers on duty will answer questions and give a guided tour of the displays if you ask.

When was Lowell National Historical Park established?

Lowell National Historical Park was established in 1978 to preserve the story of the American Industrial Revolution in Lowell. It offers a working cotton mill exhibit, canal boat tours and trolley rides around the city. Trolley service downtown was reestablished as part of the park's development.

Is the National Streetcar Museum at Lowell open in winter?

Yes. As of October 2026, the museum is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 4 pm all year, so it makes a good indoor stop in the colder months. The national park's outdoor trolley rides are seasonal, so in winter expect the museum only.

Can my group visit the National Streetcar Museum in Lowell?

The museum invites groups who love railroads, history, transit and Lowell, and volunteers can give a guided tour. It does not post a group booking process for Lowell online, so email info@trolleymuseum.org or call the Seashore Trolley Museum at (207) 967-2800 to arrange a visit.

How do I contact the National Streetcar Museum at Lowell?

The Lowell museum asks visitors to email questions; the Seashore Trolley Museum's general address is info@trolleymuseum.org. Its main phone line, (207) 967-2800, rings at the parent museum in Kennebunkport, Maine. Most positions are filled by volunteers, so allow a little time for a reply.

Is the National Streetcar Museum at Lowell wheelchair accessible?

The museum does not post accessibility details for the Lowell location online. Because it is inside the Mack Building, call the Seashore Trolley Museum at (207) 967-2800 or email info@trolleymuseum.org before your visit to ask about entrances and getting around the exhibits.

Does the National Streetcar Museum in Lowell have trolleys inside?

The museum focuses on exhibits, displays and hands-on activities about streetcar history rather than a large car collection. To ride, step outside for the national park's seasonal trolleys. For a big collection of restored trolleys, the parent Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport, Maine, has three carhouses.

How can I volunteer with the National Streetcar Museum at Lowell?

The museum is staffed by volunteers of the Seashore Trolley Museum, which has a volunteer coordinator. Email volunteer@trolleymuseum.org to ask about helping in Lowell. Becoming a Seashore member is another way to support the work, and members get free admission to the Lowell museum.

What other train museums are near Lowell?

The Boston & Maine Railroad Historical Society is about a mile away, and New Hampshire's Heritage Rail Trail exhibits in Nashua are about 11 miles. The Boston Street Railway Association collection is roughly 22 miles away, and the Contoocook Railroad Museum in New Hampshire is about 45 miles north.

Keep exploring

More family train guides from Rally

Kelsey Cecil
Previous

Union Depot Railroad Museum in Mendota, Illinois
Next

Astoria Riverfront Trolley, Oregon