Southern Arizona Transportation Museum in Tucson, Arizona

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Tucson, Arizona · Updated October 19, 2026 · 11 min read

Depot museumFree

The Southern Arizona Transportation Museum tells the story of how the railroad remade Tucson, from the first train in March 1880 onward, in the old records vault of the Southern Pacific depot with Mogul locomotive 1673 standing outside.

  • Free admission
  • Steam locomotive 1673, built 1900
  • In the historic SP depot
  • Silver Spike Festival each March
  • Bilingual Spanish and English signs

Southern Arizona Transportation Museum at a glance

Hours
Not posted on an official site; a local directory lists Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday 11 am to 3 pm, Friday and Saturday 10 am to 4 pm. Call to confirm.
Admission
Free; guided tours for a small fee by appointment
Seasonal events
Silver Spike Festival, Downtown historic walking tours (October to March)
Plan for
About 45 minutes to 1 hour
Best for
Families downtown and Old West history fans
Best ages
Ages 3 and up
Parking
Pull-through bus parking is available for groups; call for car parking details

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Southern Arizona Transportation 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 Tucson.

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.

How the railroad's arrival in 1880 changed Tucson

The first train reached Tucson in March 1880, and the town was never the same. The Southern Arizona Transportation Museum exists to collect, preserve, exhibit and interpret that history, with a focus on the historic depot and the locomotive displayed beside it. Its home is the former records vault building of the Southern Pacific depot, which the City of Tucson renovated in 2004. The depot itself is still a working station: its lobby serves as the waiting room for Amtrak passengers, and other parts of the depot complex are leased to local businesses.

The museum's work reaches well past its exhibit space. It runs community events, downtown historic walking tours from October through March, railroad safety education, an oral history program that records the memories of people who lived the railroad era, and an active collections department that preserves artifacts tied to transportation across southern Arizona.

Each March the museum marks the anniversary of the railroad's arrival with the Silver Spike Festival. The 2014 festival drew Mayor Jonathan Rothschild and Arizona Daily Star columnist David Leighton, featured a reenactment by descendants of early Tucson pioneers including Estevan Ochoa, P.R. Tully and Robert Leatherwood, and had music from the 4th United States Cavalry Regiment Band.

Locomotive 1673, the depot model and trains going by

Outside stands Southern Pacific locomotive No. 1673, a 2-6-0 M-4b Mogul built by the Schenectady Locomotive Works in New York in November 1900 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Tourism listings note it appeared in the 1955 film Oklahoma. Inside, exhibits cover the impact of the railroad on Tucson, with a model of the depot, interactive displays, audio phones to listen to, and signs in both Spanish and English.

Look too for the sculpture of Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp, and note that the museum offers living history programs. Because the depot sits on an active main line, freight and passenger trains pass right by, and visitors often mention feeling the ground shake as a long train rolls through.

Don’t miss

  1. Southern Pacific No. 1673A Mogul steam locomotive built in 1900 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the centerpiece of the museum.
  2. The depot modelA model of the historic depot helps kids picture the station complex as it once worked.
  3. Audio phones and interactive exhibitsPick up a phone to hear stories about the railroad's effect on Tucson.
  4. The Holliday and Earp sculptureA sculpture of Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp, two of the best-known names of the Old West, is part of the museum's displays.
  5. Live trains on the main lineThe depot is still in use, so a passing freight or Amtrak train can be part of your visit.

A steam engine, phones to listen to and rumbling trains

For young kids the big draws are simple: a real steam locomotive up close, a model of the depot, audio phones to pick up and press to their ears, and the thrill of a real train passing. The bilingual signs make it easy for Spanish-speaking families to read along together.

Admission is free, which makes it an easy stop to pair with lunch downtown. Most of the locomotive viewing is outdoors, so in the warmer months plan an early visit and bring water.

Plan your visit: tips for Southern Arizona Transportation Museum

  • Call (520) 623-2223 to confirm hours before you go.
  • Book guided tours ahead; the museum handles groups from 1 to 150 people.
  • Visit in March for the Silver Spike Festival.
  • Linger near the platform to catch a passing train.

The Silver Spike Festival each March is the museum's signature event, with reenactments, guests and music marking the day the railroad reached Tucson in 1880. From October through March the museum also leads downtown historic walking tours. For holiday rides around the state, see our guide to Christmas train rides in Arizona.

Keeping Tucson's transportation story

The museum runs an active collections department and an oral history program, and it depends on community support to keep admission free. Visitors can help by booking a guided tour, attending the Silver Spike Festival or joining a walking tour. Call (520) 623-2223 to ask about volunteering or donating.

Other rail history in southern Arizona

Old Pueblo Trolley, which preserves Tucson's streetcars and buses, is only about 2 miles away. The Benson Visitor Center and historic depot is about 43 miles east, and the Arizona Railway Museum in Chandler is about 89 miles north. Browse every train museum in Arizona for more.

Every train museum in Arizona

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.

This museum shares its depot with the Amtrak waiting room, so real travelers sit nearby with their bags while kids look at an old steam engine. That makes me think of Rally packing his suitcase in our book: his turtle toy, his green bone and his yellow ball, all ready for the trip with Mom and Dad. Every bag in a waiting room has a little story like that. My mom loved that part, and you can read about her 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
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 Southern Arizona Transportation 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.

Southern Arizona Transportation Museum: 20 common questions

Where is the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum?

The Southern Arizona Transportation Museum is at 414 N. Toole Avenue in downtown Tucson, Arizona 85701, at the historic Southern Pacific depot. It occupies the depot's former records vault building, and the Amtrak waiting room is in the depot lobby next door. Call (520) 623-2223 for directions.

Is the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum free?

Yes. The museum does not charge for admission, so you can walk in and see the exhibits and locomotive 1673 at no cost. Guided tours of the facility are available for a small fee, by appointment only. Donations help keep it free, so consider leaving one if your family enjoys the visit.

What are the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum hours?

The museum does not post hours on an official website. A local directory lists Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 11 am to 3 pm, and Friday and Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm, but those may have changed. Call (520) 623-2223 before you go to confirm the current schedule.

Is there a train museum in southern Arizona?

Yes. The Southern Arizona Transportation Museum in downtown Tucson is the area's railroad museum, focused on the Southern Pacific depot and steam locomotive 1673. Nearby, Old Pueblo Trolley in South Tucson preserves streetcars and buses, and the Benson depot is about 43 miles east.

What locomotive is at the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum?

Southern Pacific No. 1673 is on display. It is a 2-6-0 M-4b Mogul steam locomotive built by the Schenectady Locomotive Works of Schenectady, New York in November 1900, and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Tourism listings say it also appeared in the 1955 film Oklahoma.

What is there to see at the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum?

Expect indoor and outdoor exhibits about how the railroad changed Tucson: locomotive 1673, a depot model, interactive displays, audio phones, a sculpture of Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp, and living history programs. Signs are in Spanish and English. Trains on the active main line also pass right by the depot.

What do visitors say in Southern Arizona Transportation Museum reviews?

Visitors often mention the free admission, the chance to see a 1900 steam locomotive up close, and the excitement of real trains passing, with one guide describing the ground shaking as a train rolls through. It is a compact museum, so most people pair it with other downtown Tucson stops.

How long should I spend at the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum?

Most families need about 45 minutes to an hour to see locomotive 1673, the exhibits and the depot grounds. Allow extra time if you want to wait for a passing train, book a guided tour, or join one of the downtown historic walking tours offered from October through March.

Does the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum offer guided tours?

Yes. Guided tours of the facility are offered for a small fee by appointment only. Tourism listings say the museum can host tours for groups from 1 to 150 people and that other days and times are possible if you call ahead at (520) 623-2223. Pull-through bus parking is available.

What is the Silver Spike Festival in Tucson?

The Silver Spike Festival is the museum's yearly March event celebrating the arrival of the railroad in Tucson in March 1880. Past festivals have included a reenactment by descendants of pioneer families such as Estevan Ochoa, P.R. Tully and Robert Leatherwood, guest speakers and music from the 4th United States Cavalry Regiment Band.

Does the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum run walking tours?

Yes. The museum leads downtown historic walking tours from October through March, when the weather is cooler. They explore the history around the depot and downtown Tucson. Call (520) 623-2223 to ask about current dates, meeting points and any fee.

Is the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum good for kids?

Yes, especially for young train fans. Kids can see a real steam engine up close, look at the depot model, try the audio phones and watch live trains go by. Free admission makes a short visit easy. Bring water and sun protection, since the locomotive is displayed outdoors.

Can you ride a train at the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum?

The museum itself does not offer train rides; locomotive 1673 is a static display. Because the depot is a working Amtrak station, though, it is the place to catch a real passenger train in Tucson. Check Amtrak for current schedules if you want to plan a ride.

Is the Tucson train depot still used by Amtrak?

Yes. The lobby of the historic Southern Pacific depot is used as the waiting room for Amtrak passengers, while the museum occupies the former records vault building and other parts of the depot complex are leased to businesses. That means you may see travelers and trains during your visit.

When was the Tucson depot building renovated?

The City of Tucson renovated the historic Southern Pacific depot complex, including the former records vault building that now houses the museum, in 2004. The restored depot continues to serve Amtrak passengers today, and the museum interprets its history alongside locomotive 1673.

Are the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum signs in Spanish?

Yes. Tourism listings describe the museum's signs as bilingual, in Spanish and English, which makes the exhibits easy for many Tucson families to enjoy together. If you are booking a guided tour for a group, ask about language options when you call (520) 623-2223.

Does the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum have educational programs?

Yes. Along with exhibits, the museum offers railroad safety education, an oral history program that records the memories of people who lived Tucson's railroad history, community events and an active collections department that preserves transportation artifacts from across southern Arizona. Schools can call to arrange a visit.

Is there parking at the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum?

Tourism listings note pull-through bus parking for groups at the depot. Downtown street and lot parking details for cars are not posted online, so call (520) 623-2223 for the best option on the day you visit, especially during festival weekends.

How can I support the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum?

Because admission is free, donations and paid guided tours help the museum keep running its collections, oral history and education programs. Attending the Silver Spike Festival or a walking tour also helps. Call (520) 623-2223 to ask about volunteering or giving.

What train attractions are near the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum?

Old Pueblo Trolley in South Tucson is about 2 miles away and preserves historic streetcars and buses. The Benson Visitor Center and historic railroad depot is about 43 miles east, and the Arizona Railway Museum in Chandler is about 89 miles north, open on weekends from September to May.

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