Southern Forest Heritage Museum in Long Leaf, Louisiana
Historic rail siteTrain ridesCheck the museum's News page or Facebook for closures
The Southern Forest Heritage Museum preserves the Crowell & Spencer Lumber Company mill at Long Leaf, which the museum calls the most complete historic sawmill complex in the South, roundhouse and steam locomotives included.
- Historic sawmill complex
- Roundhouse and machine shop
- Three steam locomotives
- Railbus rides on site
- National Register since 1995
Southern Forest Heritage Museum at a glance
- Hours
- Not posted online; check the website News page or Facebook before you go
- Admission
- Adults $8, ages 6 to 12 $5, 5 and under free
- Train rides
- Railbus train ride $6 per person, 5 and under free
- Best for
- Families, rail fans and lumber history buffs
- Best ages
- Ages 4 and up
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- Address77 Long Leaf Road, Long Leaf, LA 71448(opens in a new tab)
- Phone(318) 748-8404
- Emaildirector@forestheritagemuseum.org
- Alsosouthernforestheritagemuseum@gmail.com
- Websiteforestheritagemuseum.org(opens in a new tab)
Follow Southern Forest Heritage Museum
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Southern Forest Heritage 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 Long Leaf.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
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.
The lumber company town that railroads built and volunteers kept
Long Leaf sits in the piney woods about 3 miles south of Forest Hill, south of Alexandria and on the edge of the Alexander Forest Wildlife Management Area. Its mill belonged to the Crowell & Spencer Lumber Company, later known as Crowell Lumber Industries, and the plant included a planer mill, a power plant, a roundhouse, a machine shop and a car knocker's shed, where crews kept the logging railroad rolling.
Today the site is a nonprofit museum and research center that teaches visitors about the lumber era in American history. The complex was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 and raised to the national level of significance in 2008. Its research center holds the museum's archives, and its galleries now include a WWII feature built around the Terrel WWII Collection. The museum does not post a detailed founding history online, so call ahead if you are researching the mill.
Mill buildings, logging machines and a railbus
The 57-acre grounds hold buildings and equipment from the early 1900s. Rail fans will head for the roundhouse, the belt-and-shaft driven machine shop and the three steam locomotives. Two rare McGiffert log loaders and a Clyde skidder show how timber was pulled from the woods with steam. A rare M-4 railbus carries riders along about 2 miles of standard gauge track. The commissary and post office round out the company town, and the museum offers a driving tour of the grounds.
Don’t miss
- The roundhouseA working part of the mill's railroad, where the lumber company's locomotives were serviced.
- The M-4 railbus rideA rare self-propelled rail vehicle that takes visitors along about 2 miles of standard gauge track.
- McGiffert log loaders and Clyde skidderRare early steam logging machines that lifted and dragged logs out of the forest.
- The belt-and-shaft machine shopAn early 1900s shop where overhead belts drove the tools that kept the mill and railroad running.
A railbus ride through the pines
The railbus ride is the highlight for most kids, and children 5 and under ride free. Big steam logging machines and locomotives make a strong impression on young visitors. The grounds are spread out across 57 acres, so bring water and good walking shoes, and call ahead to ask about train times and any closures.
Plan your visit: tips for Southern Forest Heritage Museum
- Check the museum's News page or Facebook for closures before driving out.
- Train tickets are sold separately from museum admission.
- Long Leaf is about 3 miles south of Forest Hill.
- Call (318) 748-8404 to confirm hours and ride times.
A nonprofit museum in the pines
The Southern Forest Heritage Museum and Research Center is a nonprofit with a mission to educate the public about the South's lumber era. Visitors can support it through admission and train tickets, the gift shop, donations through the website, and by booking the grounds for weddings and tours.
Pairing Long Leaf with other Louisiana rail stops
The DeQuincy Railroad Museum, about 65 miles southwest, shows the passenger side of the railroad in a 1923 depot. The Louisiana Art & Science Museum in Baton Rouge is about 90 miles away, and the Kansas City Southern exhibits near Shreveport are about 125 miles north. See the full list of Louisiana train museums.
- DeQuincy Railroad MuseumDeQuincy, LA · about 65 mi
- Louisiana Railroad Heritage Trust / related preservation collectionsstatewide, LA · about 90 mi
- Louisiana Art & Science Museum historic railroad depotBaton Rouge, LA · about 90 mi
- Orange Depot MuseumOrange, TX · about 94 mi
- Kansas City Southern Railway historic exhibitsShreveport area, LA · about 125 mi
- McComb Railroad MuseumMcComb, MS · about 126 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
In our book, Rally presses his nose to an arched window and watches the ocean roll by until a white bird flies up to say hello. A railbus ride through the Louisiana pines would give a corgi a very different view, all tall trees and old mill buildings, but the same happy window time. My kids are learning to read, and they still point at that window page every night.
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 Louisiana: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Louisiana
- Halloween train rides in Louisiana
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Southern Forest Heritage 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
- Southern Forest Heritage Museum official website(opens in a new tab)
- Southern Forest Heritage Museum on Facebook(opens in a new tab)
- Southern Forest Heritage Museum on Instagram(opens in a new tab)
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Southern Forest Heritage Museum: 20 questions before you go
Where is the Southern Forest Heritage Museum in Louisiana?
The Southern Forest Heritage Museum is at 77 Long Leaf Road in Long Leaf, Louisiana 71448. Long Leaf is in the piney woods about 3 miles south of Forest Hill, south of Alexandria, on the edge of the Alexander Forest Wildlife Management Area. Call (318) 748-8404 if you need directions.
Is the Southern Forest Heritage Museum in Forest Hill, LA?
It is just outside Forest Hill. The museum's address is in Long Leaf, about 3 miles south of Forest Hill, which is why many people search for it under the Forest Hill name. Use 77 Long Leaf Road, Long Leaf, LA 71448 in your GPS to find the entrance.
How much are Southern Forest Heritage Museum tickets?
As of October 2026, museum admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 6 to 12, and free for children 5 and under. Train tickets are sold separately at $6 per person, with children 5 and under riding free. Check forestheritagemuseum.org before you go, since prices can change.
Can you ride a train at the Southern Forest Heritage Museum?
Yes. The museum offers rides on a rare M-4 railbus along about 2 miles of standard gauge track through the grounds. As of October 2026, train tickets are $6 per person, and children 5 and under ride free. The museum does not post a ride schedule online, so call (318) 748-8404 to ask about times.
What is the sawmill at the Southern Forest Heritage Museum?
The museum preserves the Long Leaf mill of the Crowell & Spencer Lumber Company, later called Crowell Lumber Industries. The complex included a planer mill, power plant, roundhouse, machine shop and car knocker's shed. The museum calls it the most complete historic sawmill complex in the South, with buildings dating to the early 1900s.
What are the Southern Forest Heritage Museum hours?
The museum does not post regular hours in an easy-to-find place online, and it asks visitors to check its News page or Facebook for closures. Call (318) 748-8404 before you drive out to confirm that the grounds and the train are running on the day you plan to visit.
Are there locomotives at the Southern Forest Heritage Museum?
Yes. The collection includes three steam locomotives, along with the roundhouse where the mill's engines were serviced and a belt-and-shaft driven machine shop. Rare steam logging equipment is also on display, including two McGiffert log loaders and a Clyde skidder, which show how the railroad and the timber crews worked together.
Where can I see Southern Forest Heritage Museum photos?
The museum's Facebook page, facebook.com/SouthernForestHeritageMuseum, and its Instagram account post photos of the mill, the locomotives and events. The website has pages on the Long Leaf mill and a driving tour of the grounds. The museum also shares items from its collection through an online catalog.
What do reviews say about the Southern Forest Heritage Museum?
The museum has a strong local following, with more than 5,000 people following its Facebook page and thousands checking in there. Visitors often talk about the size of the site and the railbus ride. For current reviews and photos from recent visitors, read the comments on its Facebook page and travel review sites.
How big is the Southern Forest Heritage Museum?
The museum covers 57 acres of historic sawmill grounds, with buildings and equipment from the early 1900s spread across the site. Because it is large and mostly outdoors, plan for plenty of walking, or use the museum's driving tour. Bring water and sturdy shoes, especially on hot Louisiana days.
Is the Southern Forest Heritage Museum on the National Register?
Yes. The museum's complex of historic buildings was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995, and it was raised to the national level of significance in 2008. That recognition reflects how much of the original sawmill town survives at Long Leaf.
Is the Southern Forest Heritage Museum good for kids?
Yes, especially for kids who like big machines. The railbus ride is a favorite, the steam locomotives and log loaders are impressive up close, and children 5 and under get in and ride free. The grounds are large and outdoors, so plan breaks and bring water.
What buildings can you see at the Southern Forest Heritage Museum?
The mill complex includes a planer mill, power plant, roundhouse, machine shop and car knocker's shed, along with the commissary and the post office of the company town. The museum's driving tour lists the full set of buildings, and its website has more about each one on the Long Leaf Mill page.
Does the Southern Forest Heritage Museum have a WWII exhibit?
Yes. The museum lists a current WWII feature, and its facilities include the Terrel WWII Collection in the commissary area. Exhibits can change, so check the website or Facebook page for what is on display during your visit.
Can you have a wedding at the Southern Forest Heritage Museum?
Yes. The museum lists weddings among its offerings, using its historic mill grounds as a setting. It does not post wedding packages or prices online, so call (318) 748-8404 or email director@forestheritagemuseum.org to ask about dates and arrangements.
Does the Southern Forest Heritage Museum offer group tours?
Yes. Tours are listed alongside the train on the museum's website. Groups such as schools and clubs should contact the museum in advance at (318) 748-8404 or director@forestheritagemuseum.org to plan a visit, confirm the train schedule and ask about group pricing.
Is there a gift shop at the Southern Forest Heritage Museum?
Yes, the museum has a gift shop. It does not list its stock online, but purchases support the nonprofit museum and its care of the mill buildings and equipment. Stop in before or after your railbus ride.
What is the Southern Forest Heritage Museum research center?
The Southern Forest Heritage Museum and Research Center keeps the museum's archives, which document the lumber industry and the Long Leaf mill. Researchers should contact the museum ahead of time at director@forestheritagemuseum.org or (318) 748-8404 to ask about access to the archive.
How can I support the Southern Forest Heritage Museum?
The museum is a nonprofit, and it welcomes donations through its website. Buying admission and train tickets, shopping in the gift shop, and booking a wedding or tour on the grounds all help. Following the museum's Facebook page is also a simple way to keep up with events and needs.
What train museums are near the Southern Forest Heritage Museum?
The DeQuincy Railroad Museum is about 65 miles away, and the Louisiana Art & Science Museum in Baton Rouge's old railroad depot is about 90 miles. The Orange Depot Museum in Texas is about 94 miles, and the Kansas City Southern exhibits near Shreveport are about 125 miles north.
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