Santa Fe Railway historical exhibits, New Mexico

Oct 19

Santa Fe, New Mexico · Updated October 19, 2026 · 9 min read

Outdoor rail parkFreeRailyard Park is public; check exhibit times locally

In the New Mexico capital, the Santa Fe Railyard keeps the history of the city's railroad in view, on grounds whose story starts in 1880 and that now hold a public park, gardens and year-round events.

Railyard history begins in 1880
Railyard Park with 28 gardens
Children's play area
Free events year-round

Santa Fe Railway historical exhibits at a glance

Hours: Railyard Park is public; exhibit hours not posted online
Admission: Free to walk the park; free events year-round
Plan for: About 1 hour
Best for: Families with young kids and walkers
Best ages: Toddlers and up

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

Contact and directions

WhereSanta Fe, New Mexico(opens in a new tab)

Directions(opens in a new tab)

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Santa Fe Railway historical exhibits? 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 Santa Fe.

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.

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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.

The rail grounds that shaped modern Santa Fe

The history of the Santa Fe Railyard begins in 1880, when the railroad reached the city, and it runs straight through to how Santa Fe looks and works today. The yard tied the old capital to the national rail network and the trade, travelers and growth that came with it.

Today the former rail grounds are a public district. Railyard Park, with 28 individual gardens of native plantings, rotating public art and a children's play area, invites visitors to learn about the neighborhood and the history of the Santa Fe Railroad while they walk. Specific indoor exhibit spaces, hours and admission are not posted online, so check with the Railyard or the city's visitor center to see what is open on your day.

Walking the Railyard

Plan this as an outdoor walk through Railyard Park and the surrounding district, with time in the gardens and at the public art, and a stop at the play area if you have kids along. Check the Railyard's events calendar for free programs, which run throughout the year.

Don’t miss

Railyard ParkTwenty-eight gardens of native plants laid out on the old rail grounds, with public art that changes over time.
The children's play areaA good break for little train fans while the grown-ups read up on the yard's history.

Gardens, open space and a playground

Kids get room to move here: a children's play area, gardens to wander and free events through the year. Bring sun protection and water, since most of the visit is outdoors.

Plan your visit: tips for Santa Fe Railway historical exhibits

Check the Railyard's event calendar for free programs before you go.
Most of the visit is outdoors; bring water and sun protection.
Pair it with a ride on Sky Railway, which is about a mile away.

A public space for the whole city

The Railyard is a shared public district rather than a volunteer museum, and it welcomes visitors with free events year-round. Taking part in those events and supporting the local businesses around the park helps keep the old rail grounds lively.

More trains in and around Santa Fe

Sky Railway is about a mile away and runs excursion trains. About 57 miles south in Albuquerque, the New Mexico Steam Locomotive & Railroad Historical Society looks after Santa Fe 2926, and the WHEELS Museum sits in the old Santa Fe shops. See all New Mexico train museums.

Every train museum in New Mexico

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor view from inside a dark tunnel looking out at a sunny beach and cliffs — From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

In our book, the train slips into a dark tunnel and comes out into a big bright light while everyone cheers. A sunny walk through the Railyard gardens after a morning indoors feels a bit like that to me. Rally would want to sniff all 28 gardens. My mom imagined that cheerful burst of light, and you can find the story behind it 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.

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More for train families

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Every Amtrak route with kids

Work or volunteer at Santa Fe Railway historical exhibits?

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.

Santa Fe Railway history in Santa Fe: 20 questions

Where can I see Santa Fe Railway history in Santa Fe, New Mexico?

The Santa Fe Railyard district is the best place to start. The rail grounds there date to 1880, and Railyard Park now shares the history of the Santa Fe Railroad along with its gardens and public art. Indoor exhibit hours are not posted online, so check locally before you go.

When did the railroad come to Santa Fe?

The history of the Santa Fe Railyard begins in 1880, when the railroad arrived in the city. From then on the yard connected the capital to the wider rail network and helped shape modern Santa Fe, a story the Railyard district still tells today.

Are the Santa Fe Railway historical exhibits free?

Walking Railyard Park is free, and the Railyard hosts free events year-round. No admission price is posted for indoor railroad exhibits, so if a specific exhibit space is open when you visit, confirm any cost on site.

What are the hours for the Santa Fe Railway exhibits?

Hours for indoor railroad exhibits are not posted online. Railyard Park is a public space, so you can walk the grounds and gardens during normal park hours. Check with the Railyard or the Santa Fe visitor center for any exhibit opening times on your day.

What is Railyard Park in Santa Fe?

Railyard Park is a public park on the city's old rail grounds with 28 individual gardens of native plantings, rotating public art and a children's play area. It also hosts free events year-round and is a place to learn about the neighborhood and the history of the Santa Fe Railroad.

Is the Santa Fe Railyard good for kids?

Yes. Railyard Park has a children's play area, open space and gardens to explore, and free events through the year. It is a relaxed stop for toddlers and young kids, with room to run after a train ride or a museum visit.

Can you ride a train at the Santa Fe Railyard?

No rides are part of the history exhibits themselves. Sky Railway, which runs excursion trains, is about a mile away, so families can pair a walk around the Railyard with a ride. Check Sky Railway's own schedule for trips.

How long should I spend at the Santa Fe Railyard?

Plan about an hour to walk Railyard Park, see the gardens and public art, and let kids use the play area. If a free event is running, or you are pairing the visit with a nearby train ride, set aside half a day.

Is there parking at the Santa Fe Railyard?

Parking details are not posted with the exhibit information. The Railyard is a busy public district, so check the Railyard's own information or the city visitor center before you go, and allow extra time on event days.

Is the Santa Fe Railyard wheelchair accessible?

Accessibility details for the railroad exhibits are not posted online. Railyard Park is a public outdoor space, but path surfaces in the gardens may vary. Contact the Railyard or the city visitor center ahead of time to ask about accessible routes.

What events happen at the Santa Fe Railyard?

The Railyard hosts free events year-round, and Railyard Park features rotating public art. Specific railroad-history programs are not listed on a regular schedule, so check the Railyard's events calendar for what is on during your trip.

Is there a Santa Fe railroad museum in Santa Fe, New Mexico?

No single railroad museum building with posted hours is listed here. Santa Fe's railroad history is shared through the Railyard district and Railyard Park. For a dedicated rail museum, the WHEELS Museum in Albuquerque sits in the old Santa Fe Railway shops, about 58 miles away.

What is the best time to visit the Santa Fe Railyard?

Most of the visit is outdoors, so mild days are the most comfortable. Mornings are cooler in summer, and the Railyard's free events can add something extra on weekends. Bring water and sun protection whatever the season.

Can I bring a picnic to Railyard Park?

Picnic rules are not posted with the exhibit information. Railyard Park is a public park with gardens and open space, so check posted signs when you arrive or ask the Railyard before planning a picnic for a group.

Is Santa Fe a good stop for a New Mexico rail trip?

Yes. The Railyard covers the city's railroad history, and Sky Railway is about a mile away. Albuquerque's rail sites are roughly 57 miles south, and the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad in Chama is about 91 miles north, so Santa Fe makes a handy base.

Are there group tours of Santa Fe railroad history?

No group tour program is posted for the railroad exhibits. For a group visit to the Railyard, contact the Railyard or the Santa Fe visitor center to ask whether guided walks or talks are available.

Are dogs allowed at Railyard Park?

Pet rules are not posted with the railroad exhibit information. Railyard Park is a public park, so check the signs at the entrances or ask the Railyard before bringing a dog, especially on busy event days.

What is there for train-loving toddlers in Santa Fe?

Railyard Park gives toddlers a play area and room to explore on the old rail grounds, and Sky Railway's trains run about a mile away. That pairing makes an easy half day for small train fans.

Who looks after the Santa Fe Railyard?

The Railyard is run as a shared public district rather than a volunteer museum. Questions about events, park rules and any railroad exhibits are best directed to the Railyard's own information channels or the Santa Fe visitor center.

What train museums are near Santa Fe, New Mexico?

Sky Railway is about a mile away. In Albuquerque, about 57 miles south, you will find the New Mexico Steam Locomotive & Railroad Historical Society and the WHEELS Museum. The Belen Harvey House Museum is about 85 miles south, and the Cumbres & Toltec in Chama is about 91 miles north.

Keep exploring

More family train guides from Rally

Kelsey Cecil