Tooele Valley Museum and Historical Park, Utah

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Tooele, Utah · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Railroad museumFreeOpen late May to late September, Wednesday to Saturday

The Tooele Valley Museum and Historical Park fills more than three acres of the old Tooele Valley Railroad Complex, where smelter workers and railroaders who loved this town started a museum in 1983 to keep the story of its mines, smelter and short line alive.

  • Free admission
  • Steam engine No. 11
  • 1909 depot complex
  • National Register of Historic Places
  • Opened in summer 1983
  • More than three acres

Tooele Valley Museum and Historical Park at a glance

Hours
May 27 to September 26, Wednesday to Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm
Admission
Free; donations welcome
Plan for
About 1 to 2 hours
Best for
Families, school groups and anyone curious about mining and railroad history
Best ages
Ages 5 and up

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Tooele Valley Museum and Historical Park? 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 Tooele.

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.

Smelter workers and railroaders save their depot

The Tooele Valley Railroad Complex at 35 North Broadway dates from 1909. Its short line, the Tooele Valley Railway, tied the town to the wider world through connections with the Union Pacific, Western Pacific and Southern Pacific, and it served the International Smelting and Refining Company, which arrived in Tooele in 1910. By 1940 more than 600 county residents worked at the smelter, some in permanent jobs and others "rustling": waiting on a bench outside the office in hopes of a day's work. That same year the company was chosen to build a zinc plant in Tooele to support wartime ammunition production.

When the railway closed in 1982, people in town wanted its story, and the story of mining in Tooele County, to last. Atlantic Richfield, which owned the railway by then, donated the entire depot complex to Tooele City along with some rolling stock. Workers from the smelter and the railway founded the museum and gave its first artifacts, and the Tooele Valley Museum opened in the summer of 1983. The complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

The museum has kept growing since. It now collects mining, smelter, military and local government history, from boom towns like Ophir, Mercur and Bauer to artifacts spanning World War I to the present. Work on the grounds continues too, including deck restoration on the depot in 2019, and a permanent exhibit on Tooele's city and county history is being built in the Station House.

A depot, a steam engine and three acres of Tooele history

The museum spreads across more than three acres of the original railroad complex. Outside stands steam engine No. 11 from the Tooele Valley Railway, which staff use to teach about train history and the power of steam. Nearby, an Air Force rail car holds the museum's permanent military display, with artifacts and photos covering Tooele County's long military history.

Inside the depot, exhibits follow the International Smelting and Refining Company through its 60 years of operation: the jobs, the smelting process, environmental monitoring equipment and items from the smelter's International Hospital, which included a maternity clinic. There is always an exhibit on the smelter and the Carr Fork mine, plus a rock and mineral collection with a hands-on station for learning to identify specimens. A display on the 20,000-foot aerial tramway that carried ore over the Oquirrh Mountains from the Highland Boy Mine is a highlight. Visitors also mention a tour of the caretaker house and a mock mine tunnel.

Don’t miss

  1. Steam engine No. 11The Tooele Valley Railway's own steam locomotive, described as the last steam engine in Utah revenue freight service, now teaches visitors how steam works.
  2. The 1909 depotThe heart of the National Register listed railroad complex, now home to the smelter and mining galleries.
  3. Air Force rail carA rail car turned permanent military exhibit, with artifacts from World War I to the present.
  4. Aerial tramway storyOre once rode over the mountains in 1,200-pound buckets on a four-mile cable, and one worker of 43 years remembered riding it as a frightening thrill.
  5. Rocks and minerals stationA hands-on activity station where kids learn to identify the minerals found in Tooele County.

Steam, rocks and a mine tunnel for curious kids

Kids can stand next to a real steam locomotive, sort rocks at the mineral identification station, and walk through a mock mine tunnel that visitors often mention. Admission is free, so a short visit with little ones costs nothing but time, and the grounds give them room to move between buildings.

Families, homeschool groups and friends can also book a field trip for 5 to 35 people, Wednesday to Friday, with 45 or 60 minute programs and scavenger hunts. Call two weeks ahead to schedule.

Plan your visit: tips for Tooele Valley Museum and Historical Park

  • Let the museum know ahead if you are bringing more than 15 people.
  • Book field trips at least two weeks in advance by calling (435) 882-2836.
  • Online exhibits and a historic tour are available year-round on the museum's site.
  • The museum is seasonal, so check dates before planning an off-season trip.

A city museum started by the people who worked here

Tooele City owns and runs the museum through its Parks and Recreation Department, with a museum advisory board and the city's Historical Preservation Commission. It was founded by smelter and railway workers, and admission is still free. Donations help the staff develop new exhibits and care for the collection.

Rail history across the Salt Lake Valley

Salt Lake City's two great depots, the Historic Denver and Rio Grande Western Depot and the Historic Salt Lake City Union Pacific Depot, are about 26 miles away. The S&S Shortline Railroad Park and Museum in Farmington is about 37 miles. Find more in our guide to train museums in Utah.

Every train museum in Utah

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor view from inside a dark tunnel looking out at a sunny beach and cliffs
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

Visitors to Tooele talk about walking through a pretend mine tunnel, and that made me smile, because the tunnel is my favorite page to read aloud. The train in our book goes dark for a moment, then bursts into a big bright light and everyone cheers. My mom imagined that moment long before I painted it. Her story is 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 Tooele Valley Museum and Historical Park?

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.

Tooele Valley Railroad Museum: 20 common questions

What is the Tooele Valley Railroad Museum?

The Tooele Valley Railroad Museum is now called the Tooele Valley Museum and Historical Park. It is a free city museum on more than three acres of the 1909 Tooele Valley Railroad Complex, preserving the town's railroad, mining, smelter and military history, with steam engine No. 11 as its best-known piece of equipment.

Where is the Tooele Valley Railroad Museum?

The museum is at 35 North Broadway Street, Tooele, Utah 84074, on the site of the original Tooele Valley Railroad Complex near downtown. Call the museum at (435) 882-2836 or the Tooele City Parks and Recreation Department at (435) 843-2143 if you need directions.

What are the Tooele Valley Museum hours?

As of October 2026, the museum lists its season as May 27 to September 26, open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. Outside that season the buildings are closed, though its online exhibits and historic tour remain available. Check museum.tooelecity.gov for next year's dates.

How much does the Tooele Valley Railroad Museum cost?

Admission is free. The museum does accept donations, which help it develop new exhibits and care for its collection of railroad, mining, smelter and military artifacts. A donation box visit or a call to (435) 882-2836 is the easiest way to ask how to give.

Is the Tooele Valley Museum open in winter?

No. As of October 2026 the museum's posted season runs from late May to late September. During the off season you can still explore its online exhibits and historic tour on museum.tooelecity.gov, and you can call (435) 882-2836 with questions about group visits or next season's opening.

What is Tooele Valley Railway steam engine No. 11?

Engine No. 11 is a steam locomotive that ran on the Tooele Valley Railway and now sits on the museum grounds, where staff use it to teach about train history and steam power. It is described as the last steam engine in Utah revenue freight service, which makes it a favorite with rail fans.

When did the Tooele Valley Museum open?

The museum opened in the summer of 1983. The Tooele Valley Railway had closed in 1982, and its owner at the time, Atlantic Richfield, donated the whole depot complex and some rolling stock to Tooele City. The complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

How old is the Tooele Valley Railroad depot?

The Tooele Valley Railroad Complex at 35 North Broadway dates from 1909 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The depot is still the center of the museum, and its deck was restored in 2019. It once linked Tooele to the Union Pacific, Western Pacific and Southern Pacific.

What exhibits are at the Tooele Valley Museum?

Exhibits cover the International Smelting and Refining Company, the Carr Fork mine and county mining districts, a rock and mineral collection, railroad history and steam engine No. 11, and military history in an Air Force rail car. A local government exhibit is being built in the Station House on the grounds.

What was the International Smelting and Refining Company in Tooele?

It was the smelter that shaped Tooele for 60 years. The company arrived in 1910, employed more than 600 county residents by 1940, and built a zinc plant in 1940 for wartime needs. The museum shows workers' tools, the smelting process and items from the smelter's International Hospital and maternity clinic.

Is the Tooele Valley Railroad Museum good for kids?

Yes, especially for school-age kids. They can see a real steam locomotive, try the rock and mineral identification station and walk through a mock mine tunnel that visitors mention. Free admission makes it an easy stop with young children, and families can book a small group field trip too.

Can I bring a field trip to the Tooele Valley Museum?

Yes. School field trips run Wednesday through Friday, 10 am to 4 pm, with 45 or 60 minute programs and scavenger hunts tied to Utah curriculum standards. Families, homeschool networks and friends can book groups of 5 to 35. Call (435) 882-2836 at least two weeks before your date.

Do I need to call ahead for a group visit to the Tooele Valley Museum?

Yes, for groups of more than 15 people the museum asks you to let it know the date and time in advance. That way it can have enough staff on hand and plan any special activities your group wants. Call (435) 882-2836 or email tooelevalleymuseum@tooelecity.gov.

Can you go inside the train cars at the Tooele Valley Museum?

One of the museum's rail cars, a former Air Force car, holds its permanent military exhibit, so visitors go inside to see it. Steam engine No. 11 is displayed on the grounds for teaching about steam power. Ask staff on arrival which other buildings and cars are open that day.

What military history is at the Tooele Valley Museum?

The museum has artifacts and photos spanning World War I to the present, reflecting the military's role in forming Tooele County and the county's part in national and international history. A permanent display of military items is housed in an Air Force rail car on the grounds.

Does the Tooele Valley Museum have online exhibits?

Yes. The museum's online exhibits and its historic tour are available any time on museum.tooelecity.gov, even when the buildings are closed for the season. They are a good way to prepare kids before a summer visit or to explore Tooele's history from home.

Who runs the Tooele Valley Railroad Museum?

Tooele City runs the museum through its Parks and Recreation Department, with guidance from a museum advisory board and the city's Historical Preservation Commission. It was founded by workers from the International Smelter and the Tooele Valley Railway, who also donated its first artifacts.

Does the Tooele Valley Museum have mining history?

Yes, mining was the reason the museum was founded. Tooele County had 22 mining districts and boom towns such as Ophir, Mercur and Bauer, and the museum displays the minerals taken from across the county. It always keeps an exhibit on the smelter and the Carr Fork mine.

Is there parking at the Tooele Valley Museum?

The museum does not post parking details online. It sits at 35 North Broadway Street on the grounds of the old railroad complex. If you are bringing a bus or a large group, call (435) 882-2836 ahead and ask where to park.

What train museums are near Tooele, Utah?

Salt Lake City's Historic Denver and Rio Grande Western Depot and Historic Union Pacific Depot are both about 26 miles away. The S&S Shortline Railroad Park and Museum in Farmington is about 37 miles, the Heber Valley Railroad about 45 miles, and Ogden Union Station about 50 miles.

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