Nevada State Railroad Museum, Boulder City, Nevada

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Boulder City, Nevada · Updated October 19, 2026 · 14 min read

Heritage railroad with a museumTrain ridesWeekend train rides September to June; no regular rides in July and August

The Nevada State Railroad Museum in Boulder City tells how railroads built Nevada and made Hoover Dam possible, and it lets families ride that history on a 10-mile round trip over the original Boulder City Branch Line.

  • 10-mile round-trip train ride
  • Original Boulder City Branch Line
  • Kids 3 and under ride free
  • Live steam miniature railroad
  • Model railroad in a vintage chair car
  • Santa Trains in December

Nevada State Railroad Museum, Boulder City at a glance

Hours
Display pavilion Thursday to Monday, 9 am to 3:30 pm; closed Tuesdays, Wednesdays and some state holidays
Admission
Train rides $15 adults, $6 children, free ages 3 and under (ticket required); train tickets include museum admission
Train rides
45-minute excursions Saturdays and Sundays, September to June; no rides in July and August or between Christmas and Martin Luther King weekend
Seasonal events
Halloween Express, North Pole Express, Santa Train, Railroad Roundup, Story Time Trains
Plan for
About 2 hours with a train ride
Best for
Families with young kids and Hoover Dam history fans
Best ages
Toddlers to age 12

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Nevada State Railroad Museum, Boulder City? 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 Boulder City.

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.

The branch line that helped build Hoover Dam

Building Boulder City and Hoover Dam was such a big job that it took three railroads to make it happen. The Boulder City Branch Line was part of that effort, and today the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Boulder City runs its excursion trains over that original line. Many people still know the operation by its longtime name, the Nevada Southern Railway, which is how it appears on older signs and city listings.

The museum is an agency of the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs and part of the family of state museums, with a sister museum in Carson City. Its mission is to tell the story of railroading and of how transportation shaped Nevada's history and culture, by collecting, preserving and exhibiting railroad artifacts. The state has built the collection through both purchases and donations.

The campus has grown step by step. The maintenance facility went up in 1996 and the passenger platform in 2000, and today the grounds stretch about a mile long and a city block wide. In the two-track shop on the west end, an overhead crane, a work pit and a machine shop let the museum's small crew, including a railroad restoration specialist, keep the excursion train running and take on future restoration work. In 2024 the museum marked a first ride on a train linking Boulder City and Henderson by rail once more, and a new visitor center project has been moving forward with exhibit bids.

A pavilion, a mile of campus and a train to catch

The main display pavilion is an open-air area with two tracks of locomotives and rolling stock, self-guided, with interpretive signs inside and outside the cars. Permanent exhibits include the Ellsmere, a private car built in 1899 by the Wagner Palace Car Company for its president, Dr. William Seward Webb; a Hoover Dam construction exhibit; the Jackass & Western Railroad, which served the Nuclear Rocket Development Station at Jackass Flats on the Nevada Test Site from the mid-1950s; and Nevada: Built By Rail, which traces railroads from statehood in 1864 onward. The changing gallery has featured a 1947 Merci Car and a 5/8 scale stagecoach replica.

The excursion train is the big draw: a 45-minute, 10-mile round trip between Boulder City and Paradise Hills behind a historic diesel-electric locomotive, in early 20th century cars. Pick a climate-controlled coach or open-air seating. Near the pavilion exit, a Union Pacific Harriman chair car from the Oregon Short Line, once No. 1342, holds an HO scale model of the 1930s Boulder City yard and Las Vegas Strip plus an O scale layout, and the 7.5 inch gauge live steam railroad runs out front on select Saturdays.

Don’t miss

  1. The Boulder City Branch Line excursionA 45-minute ride on the original line toward Paradise Hills, with a choice of climate-controlled coaches or open-air seats.
  2. The EllsmereBuilt in 1899 by the Wagner Palace Car Company for its own president, it shows how the wealthy traveled by rail.
  3. Model railroad chair carInside former Oregon Short Line car No. 1342, an HO model recreates the Boulder City yard and the Las Vegas Strip of the 1930s, and it is free to visit.
  4. Jackass & Western Railroad exhibitThe story of a railroad built for the Nuclear Rocket Development Station at Jackass Flats, a piece of Cold War history found in few rail museums.
  5. Live steam miniature railroadTen-minute rides on a 7.5 inch gauge railroad in front of the pavilion, included with admission or a train ticket on scheduled Saturdays.
  6. Cab and caboose ridesFor a limited number of riders, ask at the ticket office about riding with the engineer or in the caboose.

Open-air seats, little steam trains and a Strip in miniature

For young riders, the 45-minute excursion is a good length, and open-air seating lets them feel the wind and watch the desert roll by. Children 3 and under ride free, though they still need a ticket so the museum can track capacity. On the second and fourth Saturdays in season, the live steam miniature railroad gives short 10-minute rides, and the model railroad car is free and usually open on weekends from 10 am to 3 pm as staffing allows.

Families with older kids can ask about a cab ride with the engineer, which requires riders to be at least 7, since the historic cabs have no air conditioning. The museum also runs Story Time Trains and school tours. Summer heat is serious here, which is why regular trains stop in July and August.

Plan your visit: tips for Nevada State Railroad Museum, Boulder City

  • Buy train tickets ahead through the museum's ticket sales page, and get a ticket even for kids 3 and under.
  • Regular trains do not run in July and August because of extreme heat.
  • Ask at the ticket office on the day about cab rides ($40, ages 7 and up) or caboose rides ($25).
  • Adults in groups of 12 or more pay $12 each.
  • The main phone, (702) 486-5952, is answered Monday to Friday only.

October brings the Halloween Express, when families come in costume for festive train rides and activities on select weekends, and from the weekend after Thanksgiving through the weekend before Christmas the Santa Trains roll with holiday music and a visit from Santa. The museum also lists a North Pole Express and the Railroad Roundup on its events menu. Compare more options in our guides to Halloween train rides in Nevada and Christmas train rides in Nevada.

A small state crew keeping the branch line running

The museum is run by the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs with a small staff that covers everything from the ticket office and store to grounds and railroad restoration. Model railroaders and live steamers volunteer their weekends to run the model car and miniature railroad. You can help by becoming a member, donating through the museum's website or shopping the museum store for railroad and Nevada themed gifts.

More rail stops near Boulder City

The Las Vegas Railroad Society and its preservation collections are about 21 miles away in the Las Vegas area. Across the Arizona line, the Kingman Railroad Museum is about 70 miles off, and a longer drive into California reaches the Western America Railroad Museum in Barstow, about 144 miles away. For more, browse every train museum in Nevada.

Every train museum in Nevada

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.

The open-air seats on this train make me smile, because so much of our book happens at a window. Rally presses his nose to an arched window, looks out at the ocean and says hello to a white bird. Here the view is desert instead of surf, but I can picture a small rider doing the same thing, waving at whatever goes by. My kids would want to count every bird. Our train books for toddlers list has a few more window stories.

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 Nevada State Railroad Museum, Boulder City?

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.

Nevada State Railroad Museum, Boulder City: 20 questions riders ask

Where is the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Boulder City?

The museum lists its address as 1000 Boulder City Pkwy, Boulder City, Nevada 89005. Older listings use 601 Yucca Street, and the museum's directions say to turn onto Yucca Street, where the open-air display pavilion is on the right. Call (702) 486-5952 on a weekday if you are unsure where to park.

How much are Nevada State Railroad Museum Boulder City tickets?

As of October 2026, regular train ride tickets are $15 for adults and $6 for children, and kids 3 and under ride free but still need a ticket. Adults in groups of 12 or more pay $12. Every train ticket includes museum admission. Cab rides ($40) and caboose rides ($25) are extra and limited.

What are the Nevada State Railroad Museum Boulder City hours?

As of October 2026, the outdoor display pavilion is open Thursday through Monday from 9 am to 3:30 pm and closed on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and select state holidays. The museum store in the visitor center is open 9 am to 4 pm on those same days. Train rides run on weekends in season.

When does the Boulder City train ride run?

Excursion trains run on Saturdays and Sundays from September through June. Rides are suspended in July and August because of extreme heat, and again between Christmas and Martin Luther King weekend for annual inspections and maintenance. Check the museum's ticket sales page for departure times on the day you plan to go.

How long is the train ride at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Boulder City?

The excursion is about 45 minutes, a 10-mile round trip between Boulder City and Paradise Hills on the original Boulder City Branch Line. A historic diesel-electric locomotive pulls early 20th century cars, and you can choose a climate-controlled coach or open-air seating when you book.

Is the Nevada State Railroad Museum the same as the Nevada Southern Railway?

Yes. Nevada Southern Railway is the longtime name for the railroad operation in Boulder City, and you will still see it on some local listings. Today the museum and its excursion train go by the Nevada State Railroad Museum, Boulder City, run by the Nevada Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs.

Is the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Boulder City or Carson City?

Both have one. This museum is in Boulder City in southern Nevada, near Las Vegas, and a separate Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City in northern Nevada focuses on the Virginia & Truckee Railroad. They have different hours, tickets and events, so double check which site you are booking before you pay.

Is there a Nevada State Railroad Museum in Ely?

This page covers the Boulder City museum in southern Nevada. Ely is in eastern Nevada, several hours away, and its railroad history is shown at separate sites on the grounds of the Nevada Northern Railway, each with its own hours and tickets. Our Nevada state page lists every rail museum in the state so you can plan a route.

Does the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Boulder City offer tours?

The outdoor display pavilion is self-guided, with interpretive signs inside and outside the cars, and the train ride is the main way to experience the line. The museum also offers school tours, which you can arrange through its website. The maintenance shop on the west end of campus is closed to the public.

What events are coming up at the Nevada State Railroad Museum Boulder City?

The museum's events menu lists the Halloween Express, North Pole Express, Santa Train and Railroad Roundup, and its calendar shows monthly Story Time Trains. In 2026 the Halloween Express ran on the weekends of October 10 to 11, 17 to 18 and 24 to 25. Check the events calendar online for current dates.

Does the Boulder City railroad museum run Santa Trains?

Yes. As of October 2026, Santa Trains cost $12 per person and run from the weekend after Thanksgiving through the weekend before Christmas. Each is a 45-minute ride with holiday music and a visit from Santa. Buy tickets early through the museum's website, since December weekends are popular.

Can you ride in the locomotive cab in Boulder City?

Sometimes. As of October 2026, cab rides cost $40 and put you with the engineer for the full 45-minute run. Riders must be at least 7, the historic cabs have no air conditioning, and cab rides are offered at the engineer's discretion. Caboose rides are $25, at the brakeman's discretion. Ask at the ticket office that day.

What is the live steam railroad at the Boulder City museum?

It is a miniature 7.5 inch gauge railroad run by live steam volunteers in front of the display pavilion. Rides last about 10 minutes and are included with museum admission or a train ticket. They run on the second and fourth Saturdays in season, as staffing and weather allow, and not in the summer heat.

Is there a model railroad at the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Boulder City?

Yes. Model railroaders run layouts inside a Union Pacific Harriman chair car, once Oregon Short Line No. 1342, near the pavilion exit. It includes an HO scale model of the old Boulder City yard and the Las Vegas Strip in the 1930s, plus an O scale layout. It is free and open most weekends, 10 am to 3 pm.

Is the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Boulder City good for toddlers?

Yes, for short visits. The 45-minute ride suits small attention spans, kids 3 and under ride free with a ticket, and the model railroad car and live steam rides are easy extras. Most of the display area is outdoors, so in warm months bring water and hats, and plan around the summer heat.

What can you see at the Boulder City railroad museum?

The open-air pavilion holds locomotives and rolling stock on two tracks, and exhibits cover the Ellsmere private car from 1899, Hoover Dam construction, the Jackass & Western Railroad of the Nevada Test Site and Nevada: Built By Rail. The changing gallery has shown a 1947 Merci Car and a stagecoach replica.

What do reviews say about the Nevada State Railroad Museum Boulder City?

Travel guides point families to its weekend train rides, close-up looks at locomotives, cars and cabooses, and its Hoover Dam history. The holiday trains are a frequent favorite. For the best experience, visit between September and June, when the trains run, and choose open-air seats on mild days.

Does the Boulder City museum offer group rates?

Yes. As of October 2026, adults in a group of 12 or more pay $12 each for a regular train ride instead of $15. School groups can book through the museum's School Tours page. Call (702) 486-5952 on a weekday to arrange a group visit, since the line is answered Monday through Friday only.

Is the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Boulder City hiring?

The museum is a state agency, and its contact page lists a small staff including a director, restoration specialist, grounds and maintenance workers and store staff. Openings are filled through Nevada state hiring. For current opportunities, or to help as a model railroader or live steam volunteer, call (702) 486-5952 on a weekday.

How can I support the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Boulder City?

You can become a member or donate through the museum's website, both listed on its main menu. Buying train tickets, booking holiday trains and shopping in the museum store, which carries railroad and Nevada themed merchandise and museum apparel, also helps keep the collection and the excursion train in working order.

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Kelsey Cecil
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