Sioux City Railroad Museum, Iowa

Oct 19

Sioux City, Iowa · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Historic rail siteTrain ridesFreeOpen Thursday to Sunday; free admission; weather can close outdoor areas

Inside the former Milwaukee Road engine terminal and car shops on the edge of Sioux City, the Sioux City Railroad Museum honors the railroad workers who kept trains running, with free admission, a working roundhouse and a grand scale train that carries families around the grounds.

Free admission, leashed pets welcome
Weekend grand scale train rides
Great Northern steam engine No. 1355
75 by 15 foot HO model railroad
Nearly 50,000 visitors a year
Concrete trail system, ADA accessible

Sioux City Railroad Museum at a glance

Hours: Thursday to Saturday 10 am to 4 pm; Sunday noon to 4 pm; closed major holidays
Admission: Free; donations welcome; special rates may apply for events
Train rides: Grand scale miniature train rides on Saturdays and Sundays, weather permitting; diesel cab rides start date to be announced
Plan for: About 2 to 3 hours
Best for: Families with kids of all ages and rail history fans
Best ages: Ages 3 and up
Accessibility: ADA accessible, with a concrete trail system and an ADA accessible car on the miniature train

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

Contact and directions

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Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Sioux City Railroad 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 Sioux 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.

Saving Ironhorse, then saving the shops

The museum began with one steam locomotive. Great Northern No. 1355, built in 1909 and rebuilt in 1924, was retired in 1955 and given to Sioux City as thanks for the city's support of the railroad. When the city decided to move the engine from its downtown spot in 1984, local rail fans organized to save it, and that effort grew into the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association and the museum.

In 1995 the association took ownership of a site worthy of the engine: the former Sioux City Engine Terminal and Car Repair Shops of the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railway, the Milwaukee Road. Built between 1916 and 1918, the terminal once employed 560 workers at its World War II peak, overhauling steam locomotives and servicing more than 70 trains a day. After dieselization, the workforce shrank, most buildings came down, and by 1987 the property had fallen into disrepair.

Members, volunteers and donors have spent decades turning the old railyard into a fully operating museum complex, a tribute to the shopmen whose work shaped Sioux City's industrial heritage. Their work earned the site a place on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018 as the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District, and the museum now welcomes nearly 50,000 visitors a year, including a growing number from around the world. After a flood in June 2024, staff and volunteers have been restoring and renovating parts of the complex, and new projects are always underway.

Roundhouse, shops and a mile of miniature track

Sign in at the Welcome Kiosk, then start in the roundhouse. A concrete trail system connects almost every building on the 32-acre complex, and you are free to explore at your own pace past vintage locomotives, railcars, machinery and equipment. The Machine and Blacksmith Shop buildings show the tools that shopmen used, including a Corliss steam engine that volunteers have brought back to life, along with a railroad safety exhibit that puts you in an engineer's point of view.

On weekends, the grand scale Sioux City & Dakota Railroad, modeled after the Milwaukee Road's Olympian Hiawatha, carries up to 32 riders on a trip of nearly a mile past Cargill Station, over a small bridge, across a track diamond and through several grade crossings to corners the walking route misses. Indoors, the Nebraska Central Model Railroad is a 75 by 15 foot HO layout, and the Holocaust Rails exhibition, created with Tolerance Week, uses survivor accounts, artifacts and a replica railcar to teach the history of the Holocaust.

Don’t miss

Steam Locomotive No. 1355, IronhorseListed on the National Register itself, it is the sole survivor of the Great Northern's rebuilt H5 class and the reason the museum exists.
The Sioux City & Dakota RailroadThe grand scale miniature train runs weekends and reaches parts of the historic district you will not see on foot, with an ADA accessible car.
The roundhouseOnce 30 stalls and now six, it is where every visit starts.
Nebraska Central Model RailroadA 75 by 15 foot HO-scale layout that rewards a long look.
The Corliss steam engineRestored to life by volunteers in the Machine and Blacksmith Shop buildings.
Holocaust Rails exhibitionA sober exhibit built around a replica railcar and survivor accounts, best for older children and adults.

Ride, climb and explore

The museum calls itself very hands-on and interactive, and the weekend miniature train is the highlight for most kids. Wide concrete trails make strollers easy, the model railroad is a reliable crowd pleaser, and leashed family dogs are welcome too. Diesel locomotive cab rides are planned, with a start date still to be announced.

Because much of the museum is outdoors, dress for the weather and check Facebook on stormy days. The Holocaust Rails exhibit deals with difficult history, so parents of young children may want to preview it first.

Plan your visit: tips for Sioux City Railroad Museum

Come on a Saturday or Sunday if you want the miniature train ride.
Join a free guided docent tour on Saturdays at 10 am, noon or 2 pm, starting at the Welcome Kiosk.
Check the museum's announcements or Facebook before you go, since weather and flood recovery work can cause closures.
Veterans, active duty service members and museum members are always admitted free, even at special events.

The museum posts its full calendar of special events, including seasonal programs, on the events page of its website, and special rates may apply for those. If your family is planning a holiday outing, also look at our guides to Christmas train rides in Iowa and Halloween train rides in Iowa.

The Siouxland Historical Railroad Association

The Siouxland Historical Railroad Association owns the complex and runs the museum with staff and volunteers. Since admission is free, memberships ($5 a month or $50 a year, with a 10 percent gift shop discount), donations, sponsorships and volunteer hours keep it going. Donation stations are on site, and you can also give online or by mail.

Rail history around Siouxland

The museum grounds are the Milwaukee Railroad Shops Historic District, so the visit itself is a walk through that history. The Sioux Falls railroad history exhibits are about 71 miles north, and the Nebraska Railroad Museum in Fremont is about 75 miles south. For more, see the full list of Iowa train museums.

Every train museum in Iowa

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 little Sioux City & Dakota train rolls past spots you cannot reach on foot, and I can imagine kids turning their heads at every crossing. That is the window page in our book: Rally leans toward an arched window, sees the ocean and says hello to a white bird. My kids always look for that bird. If yours like to color, you can find that scene on our coloring pages.

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 Iowa: every museum by town, with a map
Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
Christmas train rides in Iowa
Halloween train rides in Iowa
Every Amtrak route with kids

Work or volunteer at Sioux City Railroad 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.

Sioux City Railroad Museum: 20 questions families ask

Where is the Sioux City Railroad Museum?

The Sioux City Railroad Museum is at 3400 Sioux River Road, Sioux City, Iowa 51109, on the grounds of the former Milwaukee Road engine terminal and car shops. The site sits along Highway 12 between the Loess Hills and the Big Sioux River. Call (712) 233-6996 for directions.

What are the Sioux City Railroad Museum hours?

As of October 2026, the museum is open Thursday through Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm and Sunday from noon to 4 pm. It is closed on major holidays. Private and special group tours are available by scheduled appointment.

Have the Sioux City Railroad Museum hours changed?

The museum asks visitors to check its announcements or Facebook page before every visit, because its indoor and outdoor setting means weather can cause cancellations and closures. It is also still restoring and renovating parts of the complex after the June 2024 flood. Posted hours as of October 2026 are Thursday to Sunday.

How much does the Sioux City Railroad Museum cost?

General admission is free for all guests as of October 2026, and friendly leashed pets are welcome too. Donations are accepted at on-site Donation Stations, online or by mail. Special rates may apply for special events and tours, but veterans, active duty and members always get in free.

Can you ride a train at the Sioux City Railroad Museum?

Yes. The grand scale miniature train, the Sioux City & Dakota Railroad, runs on Saturdays and Sundays, weather permitting. It seats up to 32 riders, including an ADA accessible car, and travels nearly a mile around the historic district. Diesel locomotive cab rides are planned, with a start date to be announced.

Does the Sioux City Railroad Museum have a Christmas event?

The museum lists its seasonal and special events, including any Christmas programs, on the events page of its website, and special rates may apply. Holiday details change from year to year, so check the full event schedule online or call (712) 233-6996 in the fall.

What is the 12 Days of Christmas at the Sioux City Railroad Museum?

Families search for a 12 Days of Christmas event at the museum, but details for this year are not posted in its current visitor information. Check the events page on the museum's website or its Facebook page closer to the holidays, or call (712) 233-6996 to ask about dates.

Does the Sioux City Railroad Museum have a Halloween event?

Seasonal events, including any Halloween programs, appear on the museum's full event schedule online and on its Facebook page. Since outdoor activities are weather dependent, confirm the date and any ticket price before you go by checking those pages or calling (712) 233-6996.

Can I have a wedding at the Sioux City Railroad Museum?

The museum welcomes private and special group visits by appointment, and many couples search for it as a wedding setting. Rental details are not posted in its visitor information, so email information@siouxcityrailroadmuseum.org or call (712) 233-6996 to ask about weddings and private events.

What do reviews say about the Sioux City Railroad Museum?

The museum draws nearly 50,000 visitors a year, and travel listings describe it as a historic site between the Loess Hills and the Big Sioux River. Its Facebook page has more than 11,000 followers. For recent reviews, see its Tripadvisor and Facebook pages.

Are there photos of the Sioux City Railroad Museum?

Yes. The museum's website has a pictorial history called Through the Years: The Milwaukee Railroad Shop, and its Facebook and Instagram pages share current photos. Popular photo spots include the roundhouse, steam locomotive No. 1355 and the miniature train.

What is steam locomotive No. 1355 at the Sioux City Railroad Museum?

No. 1355, called Ironhorse, was built in 1909 and rebuilt by the Great Northern in 1924. It is the sole surviving H5 rebuilt with the latest steam technology of its day and is listed on the National Register. In 2024, the museum announced plans with the American Heartland Railroad Society to restore it to operation.

How did the Sioux City Railroad Museum start?

It started with engine No. 1355, which the Great Northern gave to Sioux City after retiring it in 1955. When the city wanted it moved from downtown in 1984, rail fans organized to save it. The Siouxland Historical Railroad Association took ownership of the old Milwaukee Road shops in 1995 and built the museum there.

Is the Sioux City Railroad Museum good for toddlers?

Yes. Admission is free, the concrete trails are easy for strollers, and the weekend miniature train is a big hit with little ones. The model railroad is another favorite. The Holocaust Rails exhibit covers difficult history, so parents of young children may want to preview it.

Is the Sioux City Railroad Museum wheelchair accessible?

Yes, the museum lists itself as ADA accessible. A concrete trail system connects almost all buildings and main points of interest, and the grand scale miniature train includes an ADA accessible car. Call (712) 233-6996 with specific questions.

Are dogs allowed at the Sioux City Railroad Museum?

Yes. Admission is free for all guests and friendly leashed pets, so the family dog can join you on the trails. Keep pets on a leash throughout the complex, and plan for the weather since much of the museum is outdoors.

Does the Sioux City Railroad Museum offer guided tours?

Yes. Docent-led guided tours run on Saturdays every two hours, starting at 10 am, noon and 2 pm, and begin and end at the Welcome Kiosk. Schools and groups can arrange private tours by appointment by calling (712) 233-6996.

How long does a visit to the Sioux City Railroad Museum take?

Most visitors spend about two to three hours walking the 32-acre complex, touring the roundhouse and shops, seeing the model railroad and riding the miniature train. Add time on a Saturday if you join a two-hour guided tour.

How can I become a member of the Sioux City Railroad Museum?

Memberships cost $5 a month or $50 a year as of October 2026. Members get free general admission to annual and special events, a 10 percent gift shop discount and museum newsletters. Sign up on the museum's website, where corporate memberships and sponsorships are also described.

What train museums are near the Sioux City Railroad Museum?

The Sioux Falls railroad history exhibits are about 71 miles away, and the Nebraska Railroad Museum and Fremont and Elkhorn Valley Railroad in Fremont are about 75 miles. The Durham Museum and the Union Pacific Railroad Museum in the Omaha area are about 93 miles away.

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Kelsey Cecil