Train Museums in Florida: Every Railroad Museum by Town

  • 15 museums
  • 15 towns
  • 6 with train rides
  • 3 free

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    The southernmost active railroad track in the continental United States runs behind the Gold Coast Railroad Museum in Miami, at about 25.62 degrees north. It is one stop in our guide to train museums across the country, and this page gathers 15 Florida rail museums, heritage railroads and historic sites in 14 towns, from the Panhandle to the Glades. Type your town into the finder below to see which ones are closest to you.

    Florida's rail story is mostly told by volunteers. They run the weekend trains to Willow in Parrish, the miniature railroad through a tunnel in Fort Myers, and the free depot museums in Milton, Winter Garden and Plant City. Two Gilded Age landmarks, in Tampa and Palm Beach, show how the men who built the state's railroads lived and traveled.

    Several stops are free, a few only open on event days, and one, the Orange Blossom Cannonball, no longer runs at all. The cards below note which is which, so check hours before you load the car.

    Look inside the book

    Big engines, little legs. 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 a Florida train museum.

    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.

    Quick picks: where to start in Florida

    • Best first visit with a toddler

      Railroad Museum of South Florida

      Fort Myers

      The 15 minute miniature train ride through a 100-foot tunnel is short enough for little riders, and kids ages 1 to 5 ride free with a ticket.

    • Biggest collection

      Gold Coast Railroad Museum

      Miami

      More than 40 historic rail cars, including the armored presidential car Ferdinand Magellan, sit beside model layouts and a narrow gauge Link train.

    • Best historic train ride

      Florida Railroad Museum

      Parrish

      Weekend diesel excursions run about 1.5 hours to Willow on six miles of former Seaboard track, in open-air or air-conditioned cars.

    • Best free stop

      Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum at the Plant City Union Depot

      Plant City

      Admission is free, and 15 to 20 trains a day roll past the viewing platform across the street.

    • Best for a steam train

      Sugar Express

      Clewiston

      Steam locomotive No. 148 pulls select trips through sugarcane country on U.S. Sugar's own freight railroad.

    • Best rainy day

      Central Florida Railroad Museum

      Winter Garden

      Climate-controlled galleries hold lanterns, bells, a motor car and more than 40 dining car china patterns, and entry is free.

    • Best Panhandle stop

      West Florida Railroad Museum

      Milton

      A free 1909 L&N depot with walk-through cabooses, model railroads and a riding train for kids ages 3 to 12.

    Every train museum in Florida, town by town

    15 museums in 15 towns, A to Z by town. Tap any museum for its own page: the full story, what to see, what kids can do, hours, tickets, contact details and 20 answers to the questions families ask.

    Boca Raton

    Depot museum

    Boca Express Train Museum

    Boca Raton's restored 1930 FEC station, operated by the Boca Raton Historical Society, with two 1947 Seaboard streamliner cars, a 1946 caboose and a 1930 Baldwin steam engine. Public hours are not posted, so call (561) 395-6766 before you go.

    Hours on the pageRail fans and architecture lovers

    Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQs

    Clewiston

    Heritage railroad with a museum

    Sugar Express

    Steam and diesel excursions through sugarcane country from Clewiston, with Santa trains, an Ice Cream Train and the full-day Lake Placid Limited. Trains run on set dates, so book from the season schedule.

    Hours on the pageTrain ridesFamilies and anyone who wants a real steam or diesel ride

    Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQs

    Fort Myers

    Outdoor rail park

    Railroad Museum of South Florida

    A volunteer-run museum and miniature railroad in Fort Myers' Lakes Park. The 15 minute train ride rolls through a 100-foot tunnel and past tiny Southwest Florida villages, and standard tickets are $5. Lights fill the route for the Halloween and Holiday Express.

    Hours on the pageTrain ridesFamilies with toddlers and young children

    Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQs

    Jacksonville

    Historic rail site

    Jacksonville Terminal (Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center)

    Jacksonville's 1919 union train station, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and reborn in 1986 as the Prime Osborn Convention Center. It is not a museum; you see it during events or from outside.

    Hours on the pageArchitecture and rail history fans

    Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQs

    Miami

    Railroad museum

    Gold Coast Railroad Museum

    A state railroad museum beside Zoo Miami with the presidential car Ferdinand Magellan, FEC steam locomotive 153, model railroads, Thomas play tables and short narrow gauge Link train rides. Open Wednesday to Sunday; call ahead to confirm rides.

    Hours on the pageTrain ridesFamilies with young kids and presidential history fans

    Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQs

    Milton

    Depot museum

    West Florida Railroad Museum

    A free, volunteer-run museum in Milton's historic L&N depot, with walk-through cabooses, an L&N dining car, HO and garden model railroads and a children's riding train for ages 3 to 12. Open Friday and Saturday, 10 am to 3 pm.

    Hours on the pageTrain ridesFreeFamilies with young kids and Panhandle history buffs

    Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQs

    Palm Beach

    Museum with a major rail exhibit

    Flagler Museum

    Henry Flagler's 1902 Palm Beach mansion, now a National Historic Landmark, with his private Railcar No. 91 displayed in a pavilion on the grounds. Open Tuesday to Sunday, with free docent tours included in admission.

    Hours on the pageHistory lovers, older kids and anyone curious about Flagler's railcar

    Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQs

    Parrish

    Heritage railroad with a museum

    Florida Railroad Museum

    A volunteer-run heritage railroad in Parrish where the exhibits are the train: weekend diesel excursions to Willow in open-air and air-conditioned cars, plus the North Pole Express each holiday season. Weekdays, only the ticket office, gift shop and model railroad are open.

    Hours on the pageTrain ridesFamilies who want to actually ride a historic train

    Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQs

    Plant City

    Depot museum

    Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum at the Plant City Union Depot

    A free railroad museum in Plant City's 1909 union depot, with a restored Seaboard caboose, a 1942 Whitcomb locomotive and a viewing platform where 15 to 20 trains pass each day. Open Tuesday to Saturday.

    Hours on the pageFreeFamilies with young train watchers and rail fans

    Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQs

    Tampa

    Museum with a major rail exhibit

    Henry B. Plant Museum

    A Gilded Age resort hotel turned museum on the University of Tampa campus, built by the man whose Plant System railroads opened up Florida's west coast. See original furnishings and the Age of Rail and Steam exhibit, Tuesday to Sunday.

    Hours on the pageHistory lovers and families with older kids

    Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQs

    Tavares

    Heritage railroad with a museumClosed

    Orange Blossom Cannonball

    A former excursion train that ran between Tavares and Mount Dora from 2011 to 2017. It no longer carries passengers, but the old citrus line it used is still the focus of local preservation efforts.

    Closed; no excursion trains operateRail history readers and Lake County locals

    Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQs

    Venice

    Depot museum

    1927 Historic Venice Train Depot

    A restored 1927 Mediterranean Revival train station in Venice, with a circus train car museum, a caboose and a railroad park on the same campus. Tours are run by the Venice Area Historical Society, so check ahead.

    Hours on the pageFlorida history fans, families and Legacy Trail riders

    Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQs

    Williston

    Heritage railroad with a museum

    Kirby Family Farm

    A nonprofit railroad and farm museum west of Ocala that works mainly with at-risk kids. The public gets in during themed events, best known for the October ScaryTrain and a Christmas train, so check the event pages first.

    Hours on the pageTrain ridesFamilies attending holiday train events

    Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQs

    Winter Garden

    Depot museum

    Central Florida Railroad Museum

    A free depot museum in historic downtown Winter Garden with railroad lanterns, bells, a motor car and more than 40 dining car china patterns from 25 railroads. Open Tuesday to Saturday, a block from Plant Street and the West Orange Trail.

    Hours on the pageFreeRail history fans and families exploring downtown Winter Garden

    Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQs

    Statewide and regional groups

    Rail preservation group

    Florida East Coast Railway Society

    A statewide volunteer group devoted to the Florida East Coast Railway, past and present. There is no museum building to tour; the public can meet members and watch them run trains at free events, and follow their public Facebook group.

    Hours on the pageFEC history fans, modelers and rail hobbyists

    Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQs

    Compare every Florida train museum side by side

    Type, train rides, admission, hours and who each one suits, in one table. Tap a column to sort it, or a museum to open its page.

    HoursBest for
    Boca Express Train MuseumBoca RatonDepot museumNoNot posted online for the train museum; call aheadNot posted online; call the Boca Raton Historical Society at (561) 395-6766Rail fans and architecture lovers
    Sugar ExpressClewistonHeritage railroadYesFares from $55 for two-hour trips, $60 for Santa Express and $85 for the Lake Placid Limited (as of October 2026)Scheduled departures only; most trips leave Clewiston between 10 am and 5 pm on posted datesFamilies and anyone who wants a real steam or diesel ride
    Railroad Museum of South FloridaFort MyersRail parkYesStandard train tickets $5 for ages 6 and up; ages 1 to 5 free with a ticketRegular train schedule Saturday and Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm; longer daily hours during holiday eventsFamilies with toddlers and young children
    Jacksonville Terminal (Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center)JacksonvilleHistoric siteNoNo museum admission; event tickets varyNo museum hours; the interior is open during scheduled eventsArchitecture and rail history fans
    Gold Coast Railroad MuseumMiamiRailroad museumYesAdults $12, ages 3 to 12 $10, seniors 65+ $8, 2 and under free; military freeWednesday to Friday 11 am to 4 pm; Saturday and Sunday 10 am to 4 pm; closed Monday, Tuesday and major holidaysFamilies with young kids and presidential history fans
    West Florida Railroad MuseumMiltonDepot museumYesFree; donations appreciatedFriday and Saturday, 10 am to 3 pm; closed Wednesday and Thursday until further noticeFamilies with young kids and Panhandle history buffs
    Flagler MuseumPalm BeachRail galleryNoAdults (13+) $28, children 6 to 12 $14, 5 and under free, members free (as of October 2026)Tuesday to Saturday 10 am to 5 pm; Sunday noon to 5 pm; closed MondaysHistory lovers, older kids and anyone curious about Flagler's railcar
    Florida Railroad MuseumParrishHeritage railroadYesWeekday visits to the gift shop and model railroad are free; train ticket prices vary by date, departure, class and ageTicket office, gift shop and model railroad Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am to 4 pm; train rides weekends onlyFamilies who want to actually ride a historic train
    Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum at the Plant City Union DepotPlant CityDepot museumNoFree; donations welcomeTuesday to Friday 11 am to 4 pm; Saturday 10 am to 4 pmFamilies with young train watchers and rail fans
    Florida East Coast Railway SocietyStatewide and regional groupsPreservation groupNoPosted events have been freeNo regular public hours; attend a posted eventFEC history fans, modelers and rail hobbyists
    Henry B. Plant MuseumTampaRail galleryNoPrices are listed on the museum's website; University of Tampa students, faculty and staff free with UT IDTuesday to Saturday 10 am to 5 pm; Sunday noon to 5 pm; closed MondayHistory lovers and families with older kids
    1927 Historic Venice Train DepotVeniceDepot museumNoNot posted online; ask the Historical Society when booking a tourTour times not posted online; check the Venice Area Historical Society's depot page or callFlorida history fans, families and Legacy Trail riders
    Kirby Family FarmWillistonHeritage railroadYesEvent tickets vary; field trips and group outings are free with a suggested donationNo regular public hours; open to the public during themed events and arranged visitsFamilies attending holiday train events
    Central Florida Railroad MuseumWinter GardenDepot museumNoFree; donations appreciatedTuesday to Friday 11 am to 3 pm; Saturday 10 am to 3 pm; closed Sunday and MondayRail history fans and families exploring downtown Winter Garden
    Orange Blossom CannonballTavaresHeritage railroadNoNot applicableClosed; no excursion trains operateRail history readers and Lake County locals

    Map of every train museum in Florida

    Every museum on this page, plotted. Tap a dot to jump to it. Diamonds mark the biggest cities.

    How far is each museum from Miami, Tampa and Orlando?

    Drive times are rough estimates without traffic, so add time for I-4 and I-95 rush hours.

    MuseumFrom MiamiFrom TampaFrom Orlando
    Gold Coast Railroad MuseumMiami25 min
    Flagler MuseumPalm Beach1 hr 30 min
    Sugar ExpressClewiston1 hr 50 min
    Railroad Museum of South FloridaFort Myers2 hr 40 min2 hr 20 min
    Henry B. Plant MuseumTampa10 min
    Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum at the Plant City Union DepotPlant City30 min1 hr 20 min
    Florida Railroad MuseumParrish30 min2 hr
    1927 Historic Venice Train DepotVenice1 hr 20 min
    Central Florida Railroad MuseumWinter Garden20 min

    How two railroad builders opened up Florida

    Much of Florida was hard to reach until the railroads came. In the 1880s Henry B. Plant pushed his Plant System lines into central and western Florida and built the 511-room Tampa Bay Hotel near the end of his track, which opened in 1891. On the east coast, Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway carried winter visitors south, and he finished his Palm Beach estate, Whitehall, in 1902. Smaller lines followed the money in citrus, phosphate, lumber and sugar, from the Golden Triangle around Mount Dora to the cane fields near Clewiston.

    Depots tied the towns together. Plant City's 1909 union depot served both the Atlantic Coast Line and the Seaboard Air Line, and one account says up to 44 passenger trains a day once stopped there. Venice got a Mediterranean Revival station in 1927, built by a labor union as part of a planned city. When passenger service faded in the late 1960s and early 1970s, local volunteers saved many of these buildings.

    To see the Plant side of the story, visit the Henry B. Plant Museum in Tampa; for Flagler, his private Railcar No. 91 waits at the Flagler Museum. The Florida Railroad Museum rides an old Seaboard line, the Plant City Union Depot tells the small-town depot story, and the West Florida Railroad Museum covers the L&N and Frisco in the Panhandle.

    Florida train day trips that pair well

    Holiday trains and seasonal days at Florida museums

    Holiday trains are where Florida's rail museums shine. The Florida Railroad Museum's North Pole Express runs on select evenings from November 27 to December 22 in 2026, Sugar Express sends Santa Express trains out of Clewiston and Sebring in December, and the Railroad Museum of South Florida lights its mile-long route for the Holiday Express. October brings the Pumpkin Patch Express in Parrish, the Halloween Express in Fort Myers and ScaryTrain nights at Kirby Family Farm. For dates and more picks, see our guides to Christmas train rides in Florida and Halloween train rides in Florida.

    What parents should know before a Florida train museum trip

    • Many collections sit outside in full sun, especially in Miami, Parrish and Fort Myers, so bring water, hats and a plan for shade breaks.
    • At the Florida Railroad Museum, trains run on weekends only; on weekdays you will find just the ticket office, gift shop and model railroad.
    • Rides at the Gold Coast Railroad Museum depend on volunteers and equipment, so call before you promise anyone a train.
    • The Flagler Museum does not allow strollers or backpacks inside, and there is no bag storage, so leave extras in the car.
    • In Fort Myers, every rider needs a ticket, even free children ages 1 to 5, and babies under one cannot ride.
    • Kirby Family Farm's October ScaryTrain is built to scare, so save it for teens and brave older kids.
    • The Orange Blossom Cannonball stopped running in 2017, so ignore older listings that still advertise rides.

    A note from Rally's family

    Watercolor of Rally the corgi looking out an arched train window at the ocean and a white bird
    From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

    Florida families, I picture your kids the way I picture mine around a train: pressed close to the window, waiting for the next thing to roll by. In our book, that is Rally at the arched window of the Pacific Surfliner, watching the ocean go by and a white bird keep pace with the train. Rally is our real corgi, and the story began as my mom's dream before we lost her in 2021. You can read how it came together on our story page, and if your little one needs something to do on the drive home, print a few train coloring pages.

    Train museums just over the Florida line

    From Pensacola, the free Foley Railroad Museum and its O scale layout are about 40 minutes west in Alabama; see more on our Alabama train museums page. From Jacksonville, the Georgia State Railroad Museum in Savannah, a pre-Civil War railroad repair complex, is about 3 hours north, and the rest of the state is on our Georgia train museums page.

    A train book for the drive

    If your family would rather arrive by train, our guide to the Silver Meteor with kids covers one of Amtrak's long-distance routes into Florida.

    Free for train families

    Print the Rally coloring pages before you go

    Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. They fit in a folder with a few crayons for the drive to the museum or the wait for the next train ride.

    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

    Florida train museum questions parents ask

    What is the biggest train museum in Florida?

    The Gold Coast Railroad Museum in Miami has the largest collection on this list, with more than 40 historic rail cars. Its headliner is the Ferdinand Magellan, the armored car used by four presidents, and it also keeps Florida East Coast steam locomotive 153. Model railroads, Thomas play tables and narrow gauge Link train rides round out a visit of about two to three hours.

    Are there free train museums in Florida?

    Yes, several Florida rail museums charge nothing at the door. The West Florida Railroad Museum in Milton, the Central Florida Railroad Museum in Winter Garden and the Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum in Plant City are all free, with donations welcome. Weekday visits to the gift shop and model railroad at the Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish are free too, though train rides cost extra.

    Where can kids ride a real train in Florida?

    The Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish runs diesel excursions to Willow most weekends year round. Sugar Express in Clewiston runs steam and diesel trips on set dates from October to March, and the Gold Coast Railroad Museum in Miami offers short Link train rides plus a standard gauge ride on the first Saturday of the month. Fort Myers has a miniature train ride for younger kids.

    What is the best Florida train museum for toddlers?

    The Railroad Museum of South Florida in Fort Myers is a strong first pick for toddlers. Its miniature train ride lasts about 15 minutes, goes through a 100-foot tunnel, and kids ages 1 to 5 ride free with a ticket. The Plant City depot is another good choice, since little ones can watch real trains pass the viewing platform across the street.

    Is there a train museum in Tampa?

    Yes, the Henry B. Plant Museum sits in Tampa on the University of Tampa campus. It fills part of the 1891 Tampa Bay Hotel, built by railroad builder Henry Plant, and includes an Age of Rail and Steam exhibit. For trains you can climb near or ride, the Plant City depot is about 21 miles away and the Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish is about 22 miles away.

    Train museums near Orlando?

    The closest is the Central Florida Railroad Museum in Winter Garden, about 20 minutes west of downtown Orlando. It is free, open Tuesday to Saturday, and sits in the old Tavares and Gulf depot a block from Plant Street. The Plant City Union Depot is roughly an hour and 20 minutes away, and the Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish is about two hours.

    Is there a train museum in Jacksonville?

    Jacksonville has no rail museum with regular hours, but its 1919 Jacksonville Terminal still stands. The old union station has been the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center since 1986, and you can see the interior during scheduled events. Kirby Family Farm in Williston is about 81 miles away and opens to the public for themed train events.

    Train museums near Miami for families?

    The Gold Coast Railroad Museum, next to Zoo Miami, is the top pick and about 25 minutes from downtown. Families can also drive about an hour and a half north to the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach to see Railcar No. 91, or roughly two hours west to ride Sugar Express from Clewiston on its posted dates.

    Is there a railroad museum in Fort Myers?

    Yes, the Railroad Museum of South Florida is in Lakes Regional Park in south Fort Myers. It pairs an interpretive center and a restored 1905 Atlantic Coast Line steam locomotive with a mile-long miniature railroad. As of October 2026, standard train tickets are $5 for ages 6 and up, and trains run Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.

    How much does the Gold Coast Railroad Museum cost?

    As of October 2026, adult admission is $12, ages 3 to 12 pay $10, seniors 65 and over pay $8, and children 2 and under get in free. Military visitors are free. Rides cost extra, including the $10 Link train and a $15 standard gauge coach ride on the first Saturday of each month. Call ahead to confirm which rides are running.

    When do trains run at the Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish?

    Train rides at the Florida Railroad Museum run on weekends only. The ticket office, gift shop and model railroad are open Wednesday to Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm, and weekday visits there are free. The best known trip is the 1.5 hour Willow Express, and ticket prices vary by date, departure, class and age, so book online first.

    Can you see Henry Flagler's private railcar in Palm Beach?

    Yes, Henry Flagler's private Railcar No. 91 is displayed at the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach. It sits in the Flagler Kenan Pavilion on the grounds of Whitehall, his 1902 mansion, and general admission includes it. As of October 2026, adults pay $28 and children 6 to 12 pay $14, while kids 5 and under get in free.

    What is the Ferdinand Magellan railcar in Miami?

    The Ferdinand Magellan is U.S. Car No. 1, an armored presidential railcar now kept at the Gold Coast Railroad Museum in Miami. It carried Presidents Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower and Reagan. The museum secured it after the federal government declared it surplus in 1958, and it remains the centerpiece of the museum's collection of more than 40 rail cars.

    Does Sugar Express in Clewiston use a steam engine?

    Yes, Sugar Express runs steam locomotive No. 148 on select trips, with U.S. Sugar diesels on others. The schedule lists whether each train is steam or diesel, so check before you book. As of October 2026, fares start at $55 for two-hour trips, and the season runs roughly October to March on U.S. Sugar's own freight tracks.

    Where is the North Pole Express in Florida?

    The North Pole Express runs at the Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish. It is a 45 minute train ride to a North Pole with campfires, storytelling, cookies, hot chocolate and a visit with Santa, where every child gets a gift. In 2026 it runs on select evenings from November 27 to December 22, and popular departures sell out.

    Are there Halloween train rides at Florida train museums?

    Yes, a few Florida rail museums run October trains. The Railroad Museum of South Florida in Fort Myers runs its lighted Halloween Express from October 9 to 31 in 2026, the Florida Railroad Museum in Parrish runs the Pumpkin Patch Express, and Kirby Family Farm in Williston hosts ScaryTrain nights. ScaryTrain is intense, so it suits teens more than small children.

    Is the Orange Blossom Cannonball still running in Mount Dora?

    No, the Orange Blossom Cannonball no longer carries passengers. It ran excursions between Tavares and Mount Dora from 2011 until early 2017 on an old Golden Triangle citrus line. A later service on the same corridor has ended as well. For a rail stop nearby, the Central Florida Railroad Museum in Winter Garden is about 19 miles away.

    Is there a train museum in Pensacola or the Panhandle?

    Yes, the West Florida Railroad Museum in Milton is about 20 minutes from Pensacola. It fills the 1909 Louisville and Nashville depot, a National Register building, and admission is free. Kids ages 3 to 12 can ride a children's train on Fridays and Saturdays, and the HO and garden model railroads are a hit with little ones.

    Where can you watch trains in Plant City?

    The best spot is the viewing platform across from the Plant City Union Depot. The Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum inside the 1909 depot is free, and 15 to 20 trains pass each day, including the Tropicana juice train and coal trains. The museum is open Tuesday to Saturday and has a restored Seaboard caboose and a 1942 Whitcomb locomotive outside.

    How did railroads change Florida history?

    Railroads opened much of Florida to settlement, farming and winter tourism in the late 1800s. Henry Plant's lines reached Tampa, where he opened the Tampa Bay Hotel in 1891, while Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway carried visitors down the east coast. Rail lines also hauled citrus from Lake County, phosphate and lumber from Plant City and sugarcane around Clewiston.

    Keep exploring

    More family train guides from Rally

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