Portage Station Museum, Pennsylvania
Depot museumHours are not posted online; check the Facebook page before you go
The Portage Station Museum fills the town's old railroad station with two floors of artifacts that show how inclined planes, the Pennsylvania Railroad and coal mining built Portage.
- Housed in Portage's old station
- Original ticket office on view
- Two floors of exhibits
- Railroad and coal mining history
- Run by a historical society
Portage Station Museum at a glance
- Hours
- Not posted online; check the Facebook page
- Admission
- Not posted online; ask the historical society
- Plan for
- About 1 to 2 hours
- Best for
- Local history fans and rail fans
- Best ages
- Ages 7 and up
- Accessibility
- Exhibits are on two floors; ask ahead about access
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- WherePortage, Pennsylvania(opens in a new tab)
- Websitefacebook.com/Portageareahistoricalsociety(opens in a new tab)
Follow Portage Station Museum
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Portage Station 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 Portage.
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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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
A town at the foot of Inclined Plane No. 2
Portage, in Cambria County, grew up at the foot of Inclined Plane No. 2 on the Allegheny Portage Railroad, the system that hauled canal boats and cargo over the mountains. Later the Pennsylvania Railroad and the coal mines shaped the borough, and the town's main train station became its front door.
Today the Portage Area Historical Society cares for that station and uses it to tell the whole story of the community: coal mining, railroads, steel, forests, water and recreation. The society says its work is about preservation, education and exploring Portage's past, and its Facebook page, followed by more than 11,000 people, shows how much the town cares about that history. One regional tourism site dates the restored station to 1926.
Two floors inside the old depot
The building was Portage's main train station, and the old ticket office on the first floor keeps its original features. From there, two floors are filled with railroading and coal mining artifacts, photographs and memorabilia, including exhibits on the Pennsylvania Railroad and the Allegheny Portage Railroad, and model trains are part of the displays. Visitors can also watch a documentary about the 1940 Sonman Mine explosion. Reviewers often say there is a lot to read, so allow more time than you might expect for a small museum.
Don’t miss
- The original ticket officeThe station's old ticket office survives with its original features on the first floor.
- The Sonman Mine documentaryA film about the 1940 Sonman Mine explosion tells a hard chapter of the town's coal mining story.
- Allegheny Portage Railroad exhibitsDisplays explain the inclined planes that gave Portage its name and its start.
Model trains and a real ticket window
Kids who love trains can look for the model trains and peek at the old ticket office where travelers once bought their tickets. The museum is mostly artifacts and reading, so it suits school-age children more than toddlers. The Sonman Mine documentary covers a deadly disaster, so parents may want to preview it.
Plan your visit: tips for Portage Station Museum
- Message the Portage Area Historical Society on Facebook to confirm open days before driving out.
- Plan time for reading: visitors say the displays are packed with items.
- Combine your visit with a walk around the Portage Historic District.
- The Allegheny Portage Railroad site is only about 8 miles away.
The Portage Area Historical Society
The museum is operated by the Portage Area Historical Society, which works to preserve, teach and explore the town's history. The best ways to help are visiting, following and sharing the society's Facebook page, and asking there about membership, donations or volunteering.
More inclined planes, tunnels and curves nearby
The Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site is about 8 miles away and tells the inclined plane story in full. Gallitzin Tunnels Park and Museum is about 9 miles off, and the Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona is about 17 miles away. See our Pennsylvania train museum guide for the rest.
- Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic SiteGallitzin / Cresson, PA · about 8 mi
- Gallitzin Tunnels Park & MuseumGallitzin, PA · about 9 mi
- Everett RailroadHollidaysburg, PA · about 15 mi
- Railroaders Memorial MuseumAltoona, PA · about 17 mi
- Horseshoe Curve National Historic LandmarkAltoona, PA · about 17 mi
- Altoona Works historic railroad exhibitsAltoona, PA · about 17 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
An old ticket office still standing in a small town station makes me smile, because it is where every trip used to begin. In our book, Mr. Conductor in his blue uniform holds out a hand to welcome Rally aboard, and that moment feels like the same kind of hello. Small stations like this one were full of those welcomes.
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
- Train museums in Pennsylvania: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Pennsylvania
- Halloween train rides in Pennsylvania
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Portage Station 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
- Portage Station Museum official website(opens in a new tab)
- Portage Station Museum on Facebook(opens in a new tab)
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Portage Station Museum: 20 questions before you visit
What is the Portage Station Museum?
The Portage Station Museum is a local history museum in Portage, Pennsylvania, housed in the town's former main train station. The Portage Area Historical Society runs it, and its two floors cover railroading, coal mining and the other industries that shaped the community, including the Allegheny Portage Railroad and the Pennsylvania Railroad.
Where is the Portage Station Museum?
The museum is in the borough of Portage in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, inside the town's historic railroad station. The museum does not list a street address online, so check the Portage Area Historical Society's Facebook page for directions before you set out.
What are the Portage Station Museum hours?
The museum does not post its hours on a website. The Portage Area Historical Society shares updates on its Facebook page, so check there or send a message before you go, especially if you are driving in from out of town.
How much does the Portage Station Museum cost?
The museum does not post admission prices online. Small historical society museums often keep costs low or ask for donations, but confirm current details by messaging the Portage Area Historical Society on Facebook before your visit.
Who runs the Portage Station Museum?
The Portage Area Historical Society operates the museum. The society describes its mission as the preservation, education and exploration of Portage's history, and its Facebook page has more than 11,000 followers who share photos and memories of the town.
Is the Portage Station Museum in an old train station?
Yes. The building was originally Portage's main train station, a Pennsylvania Railroad station, and the old ticket office on the first floor is open to explore with its original features. One regional tourism guide describes it as a restored 1926 station.
What exhibits are at the Portage Station Museum?
The museum has two floors of railroading and coal mining artifacts, photographs and memorabilia. Exhibits cover the Pennsylvania Railroad, the Allegheny Portage Railroad, coal mining and local industry, and model trains are part of the displays. There is also a documentary on the 1940 Sonman Mine explosion.
What was the Sonman Mine explosion shown at the Portage Station Museum?
The Sonman Mine explosion was a 1940 coal mine disaster connected to the Portage area, and the museum shows a documentary about it. The film and the museum's volunteers are the best way to learn the full story.
How long should I spend at the Portage Station Museum?
Plan about an hour or two. Reviewers say the old station is full of antiques and collectibles from the town's past and that you can easily spend hours reading about everything on display, so rail fans and history lovers may want extra time.
Is the Portage Station Museum good for kids?
It works best for school-age kids who enjoy looking at old objects, model trains and the original ticket office. Much of the museum is reading and artifacts, so very young children may lose interest quickly. The Sonman Mine documentary covers a deadly disaster, so preview it for little ones.
Are there model trains at the Portage Station Museum?
Yes. A regional tourism listing mentions model trains among the museum's displays, alongside authentic railroad and mining artifacts. The museum does not describe the size of the layout online, so ask the historical society if a working layout matters to your visit.
What is the connection between Portage and the Allegheny Portage Railroad?
Portage grew up at the foot of Inclined Plane No. 2 on the Allegheny Portage Railroad, the inclined plane system that carried canal traffic over the mountains. The museum has exhibits on that railroad, and the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site is only about 8 miles away.
Is the Portage Station Museum wheelchair accessible?
The museum does not post accessibility details online. Exhibits are spread across two floors of the historic station, so contact the Portage Area Historical Society through Facebook before visiting to ask about entrances, the upper floor and any help that may be available.
Is there parking at the Portage Station Museum?
The museum does not list parking details online. The museum sits in the small borough of Portage, near the Portage Historic District, so ask the historical society on Facebook where visitors usually park, especially for group trips.
Can groups or school classes visit the Portage Station Museum?
The museum does not advertise a formal group or school program online. The historical society focuses on education, so it is worth messaging them on Facebook to ask about arranging a group visit or a time when volunteers can show students around.
Does the Portage Station Museum have a gift shop?
The museum does not mention a gift shop online. Small historical society museums often keep a shelf of local history books or keepsakes, so it is worth asking. If you are hoping to buy local history books or souvenirs, ask the Portage Area Historical Society on Facebook what is available at the museum.
How can I volunteer at or support the Portage Station Museum?
The museum is run by the Portage Area Historical Society, so support starts there. Visit, share their Facebook posts, and message the society to ask about membership, donating artifacts or photos, or volunteering at the station. Ask the society directly about membership options.
What else is there to see near the Portage Station Museum?
After your visit you can wander the Portage Historic District nearby. For more railroad history, the Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site is about 8 miles away and Gallitzin Tunnels Park and Museum about 9 miles, both easy to pair with Portage in one day.
Is the Portage Station Museum worth visiting?
Visitors describe it as a wonderful small museum of Portage and railroading, packed with items from the town's past. It is especially rewarding if you are already exploring the inclined planes, tunnels and Horseshoe Curve area and want to see how a railroad and coal town lived.
What train museums are near Portage, Pennsylvania?
The Allegheny Portage Railroad site is about 8 miles away and Gallitzin Tunnels Park about 9 miles. The Everett Railroad is about 15 miles off, and the Railroaders Memorial Museum and Horseshoe Curve in Altoona are both about 17 miles away, making this a strong rail history area.
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