Soo Line Depot and Railroad Museum in Rhinelander, Wisconsin
Depot museumPart of Pioneer Park Historical Complex; hours not posted online, call (715) 369-5004
Rhinelander's Soo Line depot now stands at Pioneer Park Historical Complex, restored to its original floor plan and used as the town's railroad museum alongside the logging and CCC museums.
- Restored to its original floor plan
- Part of Pioneer Park Historical Complex
- Hosted the 2023 Soo Line society convention
- Logging and CCC museums next door
Soo Line Depot and Railroad Museum at a glance
- Hours
- Not posted online; call (715) 369-5004
- Admission
- Not posted online; the railroad museum welcomes donations for upkeep
- Plan for
- 1 to 2 hours for the whole complex
- Best for
- Families exploring the Northwoods and Soo Line fans
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Soo Line Depot and 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 Rhinelander.
Rally Takes the Train
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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 Soo Line depot finds a new home in Pioneer Park
Rhinelander has a long history with the Soo Line, and its depot is the town's way of keeping that story close. Rail historians trace the building to 1892. It was moved from its original site to the Pioneer Park Historical Complex, where it was restored to its original floor plan and opened it as the Rhinelander Railroad Museum.
The restored depot has become a gathering place for Soo Line fans. In October 2023, the Soo Line Historical and Technical Society held its annual convention in Rhinelander, and the depot museum was one of its stops. The complex thanks visiting groups for donations toward the railroad museum's upkeep, a sign of how much the building depends on local support. Exhibits and opening days are not posted online, so call the complex before you plan a trip.
A depot among the Northwoods museums
The depot is one stop in a cluster of small museums at Kemp and Oneida Streets in Pioneer Park. Alongside the railroad museum, the complex includes a logging museum, a one-room school house and a Civilian Conservation Corps museum, and travel guides describe a historic logging camp and a ghost town sawmill as part of the grounds. The complex also holds what it calls the largest and oldest collection of authentic Hodag re-creations in the world, the horned creature of Rhinelander legend.
Don’t miss
- The restored depot interiorThe building was returned to its original floor plan when it moved to Pioneer Park.
- The logging museumPart of the same complex, it pairs naturally with the depot for anyone curious about the Northwoods.
- The Hodag re-creationsPioneer Park says its Hodag collection is the largest and oldest of its kind, a fun stop for kids after the depot.
Trains, lumberjacks and a legendary beast
Kids who come for the depot will find plenty more at Pioneer Park: a logging museum, a one-room school house and the Hodag displays. The complex does not post details about hands-on exhibits or accessibility online, so call (715) 369-5004 with questions about strollers or steps before you go.
Plan your visit: tips for Soo Line Depot and Railroad Museum
- Call ahead or email rhinelanderpphc@gmail.com to confirm the depot is open.
- Plan to see the logging museum and Hodag displays on the same visit.
- The Oneida County Fair is also held at Pioneer Park, so expect a busier site during fair week.
Kept up by Pioneer Park and its supporters
The depot is part of the Pioneer Park Historical Complex, which cares for the railroad museum along with its neighbors. Donations from visitors and visiting groups help with the railroad museum's upkeep. Reach the complex at rhinelanderpphc@gmail.com to ask about donating or volunteering.
Other rail stops within a long drive
Rhinelander's rail neighbors are a fair drive away. Ashland's own Historic Soo Line Depot is about 97 miles northwest, the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay is about 104 miles southeast, and Michigan's Iron Industry Museum is about 108 miles away. See Wisconsin's train museums to plan a longer route.
- Historic Soo Line DepotAshland, WI · about 97 mi
- National Railroad MuseumGreen Bay, WI · about 104 mi
- Michigan's Iron Industry Museum railway exhibitsNegaunee, MI · about 108 mi
- Wisconsin Great Northern RailroadTrego, WI · about 118 mi
- Riverside & Great Northern RailwayWisconsin Dells, WI · about 139 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
Before the trip in our book, Rally packs his own little bag: his turtle toy, his green bone and his yellow ball. I think about what travelers once carried through a small Northwoods depot like this one, trunks and parcels stacked by the door. If your kids like to pack their own bag for a day out, let them choose one toy to bring to Pioneer Park. Our free coloring pages make a good one for the car.
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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- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Soo Line Depot and 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.
Rhinelander Soo Line Depot: 20 questions visitors ask
Where is the Soo Line Depot in Rhinelander?
The depot stands in Pioneer Park Historical Complex at Kemp and Oneida Streets in Rhinelander, Wisconsin 54501. It shares the park with the logging museum, a one-room school house and the CCC museum. Call (715) 369-5004 if you need directions to the complex.
Is the Rhinelander Soo Line Depot a museum?
Yes. After the depot was moved to Pioneer Park Historical Complex, it was restored to its original floor plan and became the Rhinelander Railroad Museum. It is one of several small museums on the grounds. Exhibit details are not posted online, so call the complex at (715) 369-5004 to learn what is on display.
What are the hours of the Rhinelander Soo Line Depot Museum?
Pioneer Park Historical Complex does not post its hours online, and its listing invites visitors to rediscover local history soon. Call (715) 369-5004 or email rhinelanderpphc@gmail.com before you go to confirm the depot and the other buildings will be open on your day.
How much does it cost to visit Pioneer Park Historical Complex?
The complex does not post admission prices online. The railroad museum gratefully accepts donations toward its upkeep, and visiting groups have given in the past. Call (715) 369-5004 or email rhinelanderpphc@gmail.com to ask about current admission before you visit.
How old is the Rhinelander Soo Line depot?
Rail historians in an online Wisconsin depot group describe it as Rhinelander's 1892 Soo depot. The building was later moved to Pioneer Park Historical Complex and restored. The complex itself does not post a construction date online, so ask a volunteer on your visit for the full history.
Was the Rhinelander depot moved?
Yes. The depot was moved from its original trackside location to Pioneer Park Historical Complex. Once there, it was restored to its original floor plan and opened as the Rhinelander Railroad Museum. The move kept the building in town and placed it beside the area's other history museums.
What else is at Pioneer Park Historical Complex?
Besides the Soo Line Depot, the complex includes a logging museum, a one-room school house and a Civilian Conservation Corps museum. Travel guides also mention a historic logging camp and a ghost town sawmill. The complex is home to what it calls the largest, oldest collection of authentic Hodag re-creations in the world.
What is the Hodag at Pioneer Park in Rhinelander?
The Hodag is the horned creature of Rhinelander folklore, and Pioneer Park Historical Complex says it holds the largest and oldest collection of authentic Hodag re-creations in the world. The displays sit on the same grounds as the Soo Line Depot, so they are an easy add-on to a railroad museum visit.
Is the Rhinelander Soo Line Depot good for kids?
It works well as part of a family morning at Pioneer Park, where kids can also see the logging museum, a one-room school house and the Hodag displays. The complex does not post details about hands-on exhibits, so call (715) 369-5004 if you want to know what younger children can touch or explore.
Can you ride a train at the Rhinelander Soo Line Depot?
No train rides are listed for the depot. It is a restored station building that serves as a railroad museum, not an operating railroad. For a ride, look at the other Wisconsin railways listed on our state page, and call the complex to ask whether any special rail events are planned.
Is the Rhinelander Soo Line Depot wheelchair accessible?
Pioneer Park Historical Complex does not post accessibility information online. Call (715) 369-5004 before your visit to ask about entrances, steps and paths between the depot and the other buildings on the grounds, especially if you are bringing a wheelchair or a large stroller.
How long should I spend at Pioneer Park Historical Complex?
Plan on one to two hours to see the depot and the neighboring museums at a relaxed pace. Families who stop at every building, including the logging museum, the school house and the Hodag displays, may want a little longer. Call ahead to make sure each building is open that day.
What is the Soo Line Historical and Technical Society connection?
In October 2023 the Soo Line Historical and Technical Society held its annual convention in Rhinelander, and the restored depot museum at Pioneer Park hosted a visit. The complex welcomed the group and thanked them for a donation toward the railroad museum's upkeep.
How do I contact the Rhinelander Soo Line Depot?
Call Pioneer Park Historical Complex at (715) 369-5004 or email rhinelanderpphc@gmail.com. The complex runs the depot along with the logging museum, CCC museum and school house, so the same contact covers all of them. Email is a good option for group questions or donation offers.
Can groups tour the Rhinelander Soo Line Depot?
The complex has welcomed rail history groups in the past, including the Soo Line Historical and Technical Society. It does not post a group tour program online, so email rhinelanderpphc@gmail.com or call (715) 369-5004 to arrange a visit for a school, club or family reunion.
How can I donate to the Rhinelander Railroad Museum?
Donations help with the railroad museum's upkeep at Pioneer Park Historical Complex. Contact the complex at rhinelanderpphc@gmail.com or (715) 369-5004 to ask how to give, whether you want to make a gift during your visit or support the depot from afar.
Is there parking at Pioneer Park in Rhinelander?
The complex does not post parking details online. Pioneer Park also hosts the Oneida County Fair on Martin Lynch Drive, so the grounds are set up for visitors. Call (715) 369-5004 if you are bringing a bus or a large group and want to know where to park.
Is the Soo Line Depot open during the Oneida County Fair?
The Oneida County Fair is held at Pioneer Park, the same grounds as the historical complex, but the complex does not post whether its museums open during fair days. Call (715) 369-5004 ahead of fair week to ask, and expect the park to be busier than usual.
Are there other Soo Line depots to visit in Wisconsin?
Yes. Ashland also has a Historic Soo Line Depot, about 97 miles from Rhinelander, and it has its own page on this site. Wisconsin has several other preserved railroad sites as well, so a Soo Line fan could plan a multi-stop drive across the north of the state.
What train museums are near Rhinelander?
Rhinelander's nearest rail stops on our list are a drive away. The Historic Soo Line Depot in Ashland is about 97 miles, the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay about 104 miles, and Michigan's Iron Industry Museum in Negaunee about 108 miles. The Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad in Trego is about 118 miles.
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