Phoenix Trolley Museum, Arizona
Trolley and streetcar museumSaturdays 11 am to 3 pm, October 1 to May 30, plus selected First Fridays
The Phoenix Trolley Museum, incorporated as the Arizona Street Railway Museum, preserves the original streetcars of Phoenix and tells how a mule-drawn car on Washington Street in 1887 helped build what became the fifth largest city in America.
- Established in 1975
- 1928 Birney streetcar No. 116
- Phelps Dodge calcine locomotive
- Open Saturdays, October to May
- Selected First Friday evenings
Phoenix Trolley Museum at a glance
- Hours
- Saturdays 11 am to 3 pm, October 1 to May 30; selected First Fridays
- Admission
- Not posted on the museum's site; donations welcome. Call ahead to confirm.
- Seasonal events
- Saturday Trolley Talks, First Friday open evenings
- Plan for
- About 1 hour
- Best for
- Streetcar fans and Phoenix history lovers
- Best ages
- Ages 5 and up
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Phoenix Trolley 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 Phoenix.
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.
From mule cars on Washington Street to a museum on Grand Avenue
In 1887 the first mule-drawn streetcar rolled down freshly laid rails on Washington Street, and Phoenix became the first city in Arizona to embrace mass transit. The system grew with the city. At its peak in the 1920s, rails ran for more than thirty miles of city streets, and in 1929 alone the cars carried over 6.6 million passengers. That era ended suddenly in 1947, when a fire at the trolley barn destroyed all but six cars, and within a year buses had become the backbone of transit in the Valley.
The museum was established in 1975 and incorporated as the Arizona Street Railway Museum, with a mission to save original Phoenix trolley cars and memorabilia and to show their place in the city's history. Founder Larry Fleming led it for decades. When he retired in 2005, Ernie Workman (1942 to 2024) took over as president, and he stayed on as an advisor when the City of Phoenix redesigned Hance Park and the museum had to move.
A new group of volunteers came to the rescue and organized that move to 1117 Grand Avenue, where the museum is rebuilding bit by bit. Its plans call for a new, modern museum as community contributions allow, and the next big step, the Yard Activation Project, is already underway. Along the way the volunteers have recorded oral histories from people who once rode the streetcars and partnered with Valley Metro on a digital story map, The History of Phoenix Streetcar and Light Rail.
Streetcars, a smelter locomotive and stories of old Phoenix
The museum on Grand Avenue displays artifacts brought over from its former home at Hance Park, while volunteers work toward a larger museum. The heart of the collection is Streetcar No. 116, a Birney Safety Car built by the American Car Company in St. Louis in 1928 for $13,700. It entered service on Christmas Day 1928, was later renumbered 508, and was one of the last three Phoenix cars to run. It is about 95% restored, and getting it fully operational as living history is a major goal.
The collection also includes the long-lost Streetcar No. 509, once thought to have burned in the barn fire, and a 300-volt calcine electric locomotive donated by Phelps Dodge in the mid 1980s. That 20-ton engine moved hot ore at the Douglas Reduction Works until the plant closed in 1987, and it later helped move No. 116. On Saturdays, Trolley Talks from the volunteers help bring the old system to life.
Don’t miss
- Birney Safety Car No. 116A 1928 Phoenix streetcar, 95% restored, that was among the last three cars to operate in the city.
- The lost streetcar No. 509A Phoenix car long believed destroyed in the barn fire, whose rediscovery made headlines in the Arizona Republic.
- Phelps Dodge calcine locomotiveA 20-ton electric engine from the Douglas smelter, donated with spare parts that help restore trolleys.
- Saturday Trolley TalksVolunteer talks that connect the streetcar story with the city Phoenix became.
- The oral history videoA twenty-five-minute film, shared on the museum's website, in which people who once rode the Phoenix streetcars describe the experience.
Streetcar stories for young riders
Kids who love trolleys can see real Phoenix streetcars and a hefty electric locomotive up close, and the website invites families to meet Motorman Max, a good warm-up before the trip. The Saturday hours are short, so it fits easily into a morning in central Phoenix.
This is a small, volunteer-built museum in the middle of a rebuild, so expect a compact visit focused on the cars and the stories rather than rides. Older kids may enjoy the oral history video, where people who rode the streetcars describe what it was like.
Plan your visit: tips for Phoenix Trolley Museum
- Plan your visit for a Saturday between October and May.
- Check the museum's calendar for which First Fridays it opens.
- Watch the oral history video on the website before you go.
- Explore the online story map with Valley Metro for the full streetcar timeline.
Volunteers rebuilding a museum
The Phoenix Trolley Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit run by volunteers and a volunteer board, with support from corporate sponsors, grants and memberships. The museum asks for help in time, talent and treasure: you can become a member, volunteer, apply for the board, or donate toward the new museum and the restoration of No. 116.
Valley rail stops beyond Grand Avenue
The McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale, about 11 miles away, adds train and carousel rides. The Arizona Railway Museum in Chandler is about 19 miles southeast and has a Toronto PCC streetcar among its full-size cars, and the Superstition Narrow Gauge Railroad is about 34 miles east. See Arizona's train museums for more.
- McCormick-Stillman Railroad ParkScottsdale, AZ · about 11 mi
- Arizona Railway MuseumChandler, AZ · about 19 mi
- Superstition Narrow Gauge RailroadApache Junction, AZ · about 34 mi
- Verde Canyon RailroadClarkdale, AZ · about 79 mi
- Southern Arizona Transportation MuseumTucson, AZ · about 108 mi
- Old Pueblo TrolleyTucson, AZ · about 109 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
The museum's website invites families to meet Motorman Max, and that made me smile, because in our book Rally is welcomed by Mr. Conductor in his blue uniform, who holds out a hand to help him aboard. Every rail story seems to need that kind person at the door. For Rally, riding with Mom and Dad, that hand meant the trip was really starting. You can read how the story began on our story page.
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
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- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
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- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Phoenix Trolley 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.
Phoenix Trolley Museum: 20 questions answered
Where is the Phoenix Trolley Museum?
The Phoenix Trolley Museum is at 1117 Grand Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85007. It moved there from its old home on the north side of Hance Park and is rebuilding on Grand Avenue bit by bit. Call (623) 252-5602 or email phoenixtrolley@hotmail.com if you need directions or want to confirm it is open.
What are the Phoenix Trolley Museum hours?
As of October 2026, the museum holds Saturday open houses from 11 am to 3 pm between October 1 and May 30, and it also opens on selected First Fridays listed on its calendar. It is closed in the summer months. Since it is volunteer run, check phxtrolley.org before you go.
How much does the Phoenix Trolley Museum cost?
The museum does not post an admission price on its website, and donations are welcome to support the restoration work. Call (623) 252-5602 or email phoenixtrolley@hotmail.com to confirm current admission before your visit, especially if you are bringing a group.
Is the Phoenix Trolley Museum the same as the Arizona Street Railway Museum?
Yes. Arizona Street Railway Museum is the museum's incorporated name, and it does business as the Phoenix Trolley Museum. Both names refer to the same nonprofit on Grand Avenue, established in 1975 to preserve original Phoenix trolley cars and memorabilia.
When was the Phoenix Trolley Museum founded?
The museum was established in 1975 and incorporated as the Arizona Street Railway Museum. Founder Larry Fleming led it until he retired in 2005, when Ernie Workman became president. Later, a new group of volunteers organized its move from Hance Park to Grand Avenue.
Why did the Phoenix Trolley Museum move from Hance Park?
When the City of Phoenix redesigned Hance Park, the museum was asked to move from its location on the park's north side. Volunteers organized the move to 1117 Grand Avenue, where the museum now displays artifacts from the old site while it works toward a new, modern museum.
What streetcars does the Phoenix Trolley Museum have?
The best known is Streetcar No. 116, a 1928 Birney Safety Car built by the American Car Company in St. Louis, about 95% restored. The collection also includes the long-lost Streetcar No. 509 and a calcine electric locomotive donated by Phelps Dodge from its Douglas smelter.
What is a Birney Safety Car?
A Birney Safety Car is a small, light streetcar designed to give frequent service at a lower cost than larger cars. One safety feature was an interlocking door that kept the car from starting if the door was open. Phoenix bought its Birneys in 1928, and No. 116 is the museum's showpiece.
What happened to the Phoenix streetcars?
The system ran from 1887, when the first mule-drawn car rolled down Washington Street, until 1947, when a trolley barn fire destroyed all but six cars. Over the following year buses became the backbone of transit in the Valley. The museum works to save the few cars that survived.
What is Streetcar No. 509 at the Phoenix Trolley Museum?
No. 509 is a Phoenix streetcar long thought lost in the 1947 trolley barn fire. Its rediscovery was one of the museum's big surprises, covered in an Arizona Republic story by Donna Reiner titled Historic Phoenix Streetcar Resurfaces. It is now part of the museum's collection.
Can you ride a trolley at the Phoenix Trolley Museum?
Not at this time. The museum does not offer rides at its Grand Avenue site. A major restoration goal is to get Streetcar No. 116 fully operational so it can become the living history part of the new museum. Supporting the museum helps move that project forward.
Is the Phoenix Trolley Museum good for kids?
Yes, for kids who like trains and trolleys. They can see real Phoenix streetcars and a 20-ton electric locomotive, and the website invites families to meet Motorman Max before they visit. It is a small museum, so a visit of about an hour suits short attention spans.
What are Saturday Trolley Talks?
Saturday Trolley Talks are special programs during the museum's Saturday open hours, when volunteers share the history of the Phoenix streetcar system and the city it helped shape. Check phxtrolley.org for upcoming topics and dates during the October to May season.
Is the Phoenix Trolley Museum open on First Fridays?
On selected First Fridays, yes. The museum opens on some First Friday evenings in addition to its Saturday hours, and lists which ones on its calendar. Check phxtrolley.org before heading over, since it does not open every First Friday and the schedule follows the October to May season.
How big was the Phoenix streetcar system?
At its peak in the 1920s, Phoenix streetcar rails ran for over thirty miles along city streets, and the cars carried more than 6.6 million passengers in 1929 alone. The 1928 Birney cars like No. 116 traveled a combined 15,673,140 miles in service on Phoenix streets.
Did workers find old trolley tracks on Washington Street?
Yes. Excavation on Washington Street revealed rails from 1928, a reminder of the line the first streetcar followed in 1887. The museum shares the project on its website, and its digital story map with Valley Metro traces the route from early streetcars to today's light rail.
What is the Phoenix Trolley Museum story map?
The History of Phoenix Streetcar and Light Rail is a digital story map created by Valley Metro and the Phoenix Trolley Museum through a grant. It walks through local transit from the horse-drawn cars of 1887 to the electric trolley era and today's light rail and modern streetcar.
How can I volunteer at the Phoenix Trolley Museum?
The museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit run by volunteers and welcomes help in time, talent and treasure. Its website has options to become a member, volunteer or apply for the board. You can also donate toward the new museum and the restoration of Streetcar No. 116.
Who was Ernie Workman?
Ernie Workman, who lived from 1942 to 2024, became president of the Phoenix Trolley Museum after founder Larry Fleming retired in 2005. When the Hance Park redesign forced a move, he stayed on as an advisor while new volunteers organized the relocation to Grand Avenue.
What train museums are near the Phoenix Trolley Museum?
McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park in Scottsdale is about 11 miles away, the Arizona Railway Museum in Chandler about 19 miles, and the Superstition Narrow Gauge Railroad at Goldfield about 34 miles. The Verde Canyon Railroad in Clarkdale is about 79 miles north.
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