South Dakota State Railroad Museum in Hill City, South Dakota

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Hill City, South Dakota · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Railroad museumPermanently closed after 16 years in Hill City

The South Dakota State Railroad Museum, Ltd. was a volunteer-supported nonprofit in Hill City devoted to the people, places and trains of South Dakota, from the farm towns east of the Missouri River to the mining country of the Black Hills. It welcomed visitors for 16 years before closing permanently.

  • Incorporated in 1994
  • Opened May 1, 2010
  • Engine-house-style building in Hill City
  • Caboose #1208 on exhibit
  • Now permanently closed

South Dakota State Railroad Museum at a glance

Hours
Permanently closed
Admission
Not applicable; the museum has closed
Seasonal events
Trees and Trains
Best for
Rail history readers and South Dakota rail 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 South Dakota State 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 Hill 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.

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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.

People, places and trains: sixteen years on Railroad Avenue

The South Dakota State Railroad Museum, Ltd. incorporated in 1994 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and on May 1, 2010 it opened its doors in an engine-house-shaped building at 222 Railroad Avenue in Hill City, right beside the 1880 Train. Its mission was to preserve, teach and interpret railroad equipment, memorabilia and history specific to South Dakota and the American railroads tied to it, for visitors of every age and level of interest. The staff liked to sum it up more simply: People, Places, and Trains.

That story ran the width of the state. Railroads carried the economy of the fertile farm country east of the Missouri and the mineral-rich Black Hills in the west, and in towns large and small the depot was the window to the outside world. Today lines such as the Rapid City, Pierre and Eastern still haul ethanol, grain and cement out of South Dakota, and the museum made a point of connecting that working railroad to the history behind it.

The museum ran on donations, memberships, grants and modest admission fees. Director and curator Rick Mills thanked the board, members and volunteers for their stewardship and humor, and the board drew on deep local roots: Lesta V. Turchen, a retired history professor and university president, led it from 2016; Mikal Lewis, a self-described train nut, represented the Black Hills Central Railroad and served as treasurer; and Bonnie Guerre served as secretary from 2022.

Although it carried the name, the museum was never officially designated by state law as South Dakota's state railroad museum. Late in its run the organization was told it had to leave its building, and it announced it would close in October. Its farewell message thanked visitors for 16 great years.

What filled the museum hall

Visitors to the museum hall found a set of exhibits that each told part of the state's rail story: Caboose #1208, a railroad depot exhibit, a model railroad, a Time Rail display that walked through the history in order, and changing art shows such as the 2025 Ledger Art exhibit. The museum also kept a library and archives, a section on the Rapid City, Pierre and Eastern, and a photo contest held in memory of Rick Mills.

Each winter the museum hosted Trees and Trains, its holiday event, and in its final seasons it was still adding to the collection, announcing the arrival of SDSRM hopper cars. Children 10 and under always got in free, with adult admission at $5.

Don’t miss

  1. Caboose #1208The caboose was one of the museum's main exhibits and the piece of full-size equipment many visitors remember best.
  2. The model railroadThe museum's model layout has moved to Rapid City, where the Black Hills Model Railroad Society displays it at the South Dakota Stockman's Association building.
  3. Trees and TrainsThe museum's annual holiday event paired decorated trees with trains and ran right up to the museum's final years.
  4. Library and archivesA research collection on South Dakota railroads that sat alongside the public galleries.

Free for the youngest rail fans

The museum always let children 10 and under in free, and its model railroad and caboose gave young visitors something to look at closely. That model railroad lives on in Rapid City with the Black Hills Model Railroad Society, so families can still see it there.

For a ride on real rails in Hill City today, the 1880 Train still steams between Hill City and Keystone.

Plan your visit: tips for South Dakota State Railroad Museum

  • The museum is permanently closed, so do not plan a visit to the Railroad Avenue building.
  • To see the former museum model layout, look up the Black Hills Model Railroad Society display in Rapid City.
  • The 1880 Train still operates from Hill City for anyone wanting a steam ride.

Trees and Trains was the museum's holiday tradition, and it is no longer held in Hill City now that the museum has closed. Families looking for a seasonal outing can browse our list of Christmas train rides in South Dakota.

The board, curator and volunteers who kept it going

The South Dakota State Railroad Museum, Ltd. was a private nonprofit that relied on members, volunteers, donors and grants. Its curator, Rick Mills, and a volunteer board of retired educators, rail fans and community leaders carried it for 16 years. With the museum closed, the best way to honor that work is to visit the pieces that live on, such as the model railroad in Rapid City.

Rail history that is still open near Hill City

The Black Hills Central Railroad and its 1880 Train still runs steam trains from Hill City to Keystone. The Historic Deadwood Railroad Depot is about 32 miles away in the northern Hills. For more, see every train museum in South Dakota.

Every train museum in South Dakota

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi dreaming about his toy turtle, green bone and yellow ball
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Before our train trip in the book, Rally packs his turtle toy, his green bone and his yellow ball, the things he can't leave behind. I think about that when I read how the Hill City museum packed up after 16 years and sent its model railroad on to Rapid City. Some treasures are too loved to stay in a box. My own little readers are learning that every trip starts with deciding what comes along.

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
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

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

Work or volunteer at South Dakota State 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.

South Dakota State Railroad Museum: 20 questions answered

Is the South Dakota State Railroad Museum closed?

Yes. The South Dakota State Railroad Museum in Hill City is permanently closed. Its website now carries a closing notice thanking visitors for 16 great years. The organization had been told to leave its building, and it announced it would close in October. Do not plan a trip to the Railroad Avenue building expecting exhibits.

Why did the South Dakota State Railroad Museum close?

The organization that ran the museum was told to leave the building it occupied beside the 1880 Train in Hill City, and it announced it would close in October. The museum has not posted a longer public explanation. For questions, the last listed contacts are office@sdsrm.com and (605) 574-9000.

What is the South Dakota State Railroad Museum, Ltd.?

The South Dakota State Railroad Museum, Ltd. is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit that ran the Hill City museum. It was set up to preserve, interpret and teach the history of railroad equipment, memorabilia and records tied to South Dakota and related American railroads, with a focus it summed up as People, Places, and Trains.

Was it the official state railroad museum of South Dakota?

No. Although the Hill City museum used the name South Dakota State Railroad Museum, it was never officially designated as the state's railroad museum by state law. It was an independent, privately run nonprofit that depended on donations, memberships, grants and admission fees rather than state funding.

When did the South Dakota State Railroad Museum open?

The museum opened on May 1, 2010, in an engine-house-shaped building at 222 Railroad Avenue in Hill City. The nonprofit behind it had incorporated much earlier, in 1994. It welcomed visitors for 16 years before closing, and in early 2025 its curator wrote that the museum was starting its 15th year of welcoming visitors.

What was in the South Dakota State Railroad Museum collection?

The main exhibits included Caboose #1208, a railroad depot exhibit, a model railroad, a Time Rail history display, and art shows such as the 2025 Ledger Art exhibit. The museum also kept a library and archives, material on the Rapid City, Pierre and Eastern, and late in its run it announced the arrival of hopper cars.

Where did the South Dakota State Railroad Museum model railroad go?

The museum's model railroad layout moved to Rapid City, where the Black Hills Model Railroad Society displays it as part of its collection at the South Dakota Stockman's Association building. That makes it the easiest piece of the former museum for families to see today. Check with the society for its open hours.

Can I buy South Dakota State Railroad Museum tickets?

No. Because the museum has permanently closed, it no longer sells tickets. When it was open, adult admission was $5 and children 10 and under got in free. If you found an old listing with ticket details, it is out of date. The 1880 Train in Hill City still sells tickets for its steam rides.

What did reviews say about the South Dakota State Railroad Museum?

Travel listings described it as a look at the state's railroad history, with artifacts and educational exhibits for guests of all ages, and its Facebook page gathered thousands of followers as a meeting place for rail fans and historians. Reviews now describe a place that has closed, so read them as history rather than planning advice.

Where can I find photos of the South Dakota State Railroad Museum?

The museum's Facebook page at facebook.com/SDSRM is the best place to look for photos of the building, Caboose #1208, the model railroad and events such as Trees and Trains. Its website also showed exhibit pages and news posts, including the arrival of the museum's hopper cars.

Is there a Wikipedia page for the South Dakota State Railroad Museum?

The museum appears on Wikipedia's list of South Dakota museums, described as a railroad museum in Hill City with railroad memorabilia and model trains from across South Dakota and Mid-America. For fuller history, the museum's own website and its Facebook page carry the most detail about its exhibits and the people who ran it.

Where was the South Dakota State Railroad Museum located?

The museum was at 222 Railroad Avenue, Building A, in Hill City, South Dakota 57745, in an engine-house-style building beside the 1880 Train's operations. The building no longer houses the museum. Hill City is in the Black Hills of western South Dakota, in Pennington County.

What was Trees and Trains at the South Dakota State Railroad Museum?

Trees and Trains was the museum's yearly holiday event, pairing decorated trees with its train exhibits. It ran through the museum's final seasons, with posts about getting ready for Trees and Trains in 2025 and 2026. With the museum closed, the event is no longer held in the Hill City building.

Who ran the South Dakota State Railroad Museum?

Rick Mills served as director and curator, and a volunteer board guided the museum. Lesta V. Turchen, a retired history professor and university president, was board president from 2016. Mikal Lewis served as treasurer and represented the Black Hills Central Railroad, and Bonnie Guerre was board secretary from early 2022.

What was Caboose #1208?

Caboose #1208 was one of the main exhibits the South Dakota State Railroad Museum listed for public viewing in Hill City. It gave visitors a full-size piece of railroad equipment to see alongside the depot and model railroad displays. The museum has not posted where the caboose will go after the closing.

Was the South Dakota State Railroad Museum good for kids?

It aimed to be: the mission called it a destination for all ages, and children 10 and under always got in free. Its model railroad was a natural draw for young visitors, and that layout is now on display with the Black Hills Model Railroad Society in Rapid City, which is the best stop for young fans today.

Does Amtrak go to South Dakota?

Check Amtrak's own route map for current service and the stations nearest South Dakota before planning a rail trip, since routes and stops change. Once you reach the Black Hills, the closest train ride to the former museum is the 1880 Train in Hill City, a narrated steam excursion to Keystone and back.

Can I still donate to the South Dakota State Railroad Museum?

The museum relied on donations, memberships and grants while it was open, but it has now closed and has not posted a new giving program. To ask about the collection or past memberships, email office@sdsrm.com or call (605) 574-9000, the contacts listed on its closing notice.

What railroads did the South Dakota State Railroad Museum cover?

The museum covered railroads across South Dakota and the related American lines that served it, from the farm country east of the Missouri River to the Black Hills. It kept a section on the Rapid City, Pierre and Eastern, which still hauls ethanol, grain and cement, and told how depots connected small towns to the wider world.

What train attractions are near Hill City?

The 1880 Train of the Black Hills Central Railroad runs steam excursions between Hill City and Keystone, right where the museum stood. The Historic Deadwood Railroad Depot is about 32 miles away. The former museum's model railroad can be seen with the Black Hills Model Railroad Society in Rapid City.

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Kelsey Cecil
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