Train Museums in Montana: Every Railroad Museum by Town
- 8 museums
- 7 towns
- 3 with train rides
- 2 free
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The Northern Pacific planned the whole town of Livingston as its gateway to Yellowstone National Park, and for about 25 years most park visitors stepped off the train at the depot that still stands there. This page gathers 8 Montana train museums, rail rides and historic sites across 9 towns, and it belongs to our guide to train museums for families in all 50 states. Type your town into the finder to see which stop is closest.
Distances are big here, so most Montana rail stops work best as part of a road trip. Families can ride the Alder Gulch Short Line between Virginia City and Nevada City, take the Charlie Russell Chew Choo through a half-mile tunnel near Lewistown, walk the colonnade at the Livingston Depot Center, or spend a free Saturday afternoon at the railroad museum in Great Falls.
Most of these stops are open only in summer, roughly Memorial Day to Labor Day, and a few post limited hours. Check each card before you set out on a long drive.
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 Montana train museum.
Rally Takes the Train
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Map of every train museum in Montana
Every train museum in Montana, town by town
8 museums in 7 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.
Butte
Historic rail site
Butte, Anaconda & Pacific Railway
The copper ore railroad between Butte and Anaconda, electrified in 1913 and listed as a 750-acre historic district in 1988. There is no museum building or ticket office, so plan to explore it through local history tours and markers.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsGreat Falls
Railroad museum
Montana Museum of Railroad History
A free railroad history museum inside Montana ExpoPark in Great Falls, filled with artifacts, tools and photographs from Montana's rail lines. Saturday afternoon hours in the warm months; at other times, call ahead to arrange a visit.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsLewistown
Heritage railroad with a museum
Charlie Russell Chew Choo
A four and a half hour dinner train near Lewistown with prime rib, live music and a staged train robbery, crossing three trestles and running through the Hoosac Tunnel. In winter, the shorter North Pole Adventure brings families aboard.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsLivingston
Depot museum
Livingston Depot Center
The restored 1902 Northern Pacific depot that once sent travelers on to Yellowstone, designed by the first architects of Grand Central. A seasonal museum runs May to September, Monday to Saturday, and the depot hosts festivals and markets the rest of the year.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsMissoula
Museum with a major rail exhibit
Historical Museum at Fort Missoula
Missoula County's history museum on 32 acres of old Fort Missoula, where the railroad's 1883 arrival, the timber industry and the Willamette sit alongside fort and World War II history. The grounds are always free to walk.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsStanford
Museum with a major rail exhibit
Central Montana Rail and Judith Basin Railroad Heritage
Rail heritage across Montana's Judith Basin, centered on the free Judith Basin County Museum in Stanford, open Wednesday to Sunday in summer, with train era displays, homestead history and Charlie Russell prints.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsVirginia City: 2 train museums
Virginia City has two linked rail listings: the Montana Heritage Commission's depot visitor center with town history exhibits, and the Alder Gulch Short Line that carries riders 1.5 miles to Nevada City. The train leaves from the depot, and half a day covers the ride and both towns.
Heritage railroad with a museum
Alder Gulch Short Line Railroad
A 30-inch narrow gauge train that runs a narrated 15-minute trip between Virginia City and Nevada City every summer day. Tickets are sold only in person on the day you ride, and kids 3 and under ride free.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsMuseum with a major rail exhibit
Montana Heritage Commission Railroad Exhibits
The state agency that runs Virginia City and Nevada City, with a depot visitor center, railroad history exhibits and the Alder Gulch Shortline train between the two towns. Open daily in summer, Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day.
Hours, tickets, contact and 20 FAQsCompare every Montana 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.
| Hours | Best for | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butte, Anaconda & Pacific RailwayButte | Historic site | No | No ticketed site | No posted hours; it is a historic district rather than a museum | Rail and mining history fans touring Butte and Anaconda |
| Montana Museum of Railroad HistoryGreat Falls | Railroad museum | No | Free; donations welcome | Summer Saturdays, 12 pm to about 4:30 pm; other times by appointment. Confirm before you go. | Rail history fans and school-age kids |
| Charlie Russell Chew ChooLewistown | Heritage railroad | Yes | 2026 dinner train: adults $151, children 13 and under $129; VIP $181 and $159 | Scheduled trains only; boarding opens one hour before departure at the Hanover Boarding Station | Couples, groups and families celebrating something special |
| Livingston Depot CenterLivingston | Depot museum | No | Not posted on the depot's website; call (406) 222-2300 | Museum: Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm, May to September. Office: weekdays 10 am to 4 pm. | Architecture and rail history fans on the way to Yellowstone |
| Historical Museum at Fort MissoulaMissoula | Rail gallery | No | Adults $5, seniors $4, students $3, family maximum $15; county residents, members and kids under 6 free | Galleries 11 am to 5 pm, closed Mondays; grounds always open | Families and history lovers who want rail history in a wider story |
| Central Montana Rail and Judith Basin Railroad HeritageStanford | Rail gallery | No | Free; free will donation | Memorial Day to Labor Day, Wednesday to Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm | Road-trippers between Lewistown and Great Falls |
| Alder Gulch Short Line RailroadVirginia City | Heritage railroad | Yes | Adults $10 round trip, $8 one way; youth 4 to 11 and seniors $8 round trip, $6 one way; 3 and under free | Daily May 23 to September 7, 2026; first trip 10:30 am from Nevada City, last 6 pm from Virginia City | Young train fans and families touring Virginia City |
| Montana Heritage Commission Railroad ExhibitsVirginia City | Rail gallery | Yes | Pay per attraction or buy a package; train from $6 one way | 10 am to 6 pm daily, Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day; Nevada City Museum has extended hours | Families and Old West history fans on a Yellowstone road trip |
No museum on this page matches every filter you picked.
Quick picks: where to start in Montana
Best first ride with a toddler
Alder Gulch Short Line Railroad
Virginia City
The narrated narrow gauge trip takes about 15 minutes each way, and kids 3 and under ride free.
Best special occasion train
Lewistown
The four and a half hour dinner train crosses three trestles, runs through the Hoosac Tunnel and includes a staged train robbery.
Biggest collection
Historical Museum at Fort Missoula
Missoula
More than 50,000 artifacts and over 20 historic buildings sit on 32 acres, and the main exhibit covers the Northern Pacific's 1883 arrival.
Free rail history museum
Montana Museum of Railroad History
Great Falls
Admission is free for a museum devoted to all of Montana's railroads, inside Montana ExpoPark in Great Falls.
Yellowstone road trip stop
Livingston
The 1902 Northern Pacific depot by the first architects of Grand Central holds a summer museum, and lunch is next door at the Beanery.
Free stop between Great Falls and Lewistown
Central Montana Rail and Judith Basin Railroad Heritage
Stanford
The Judith Basin County Museum in Stanford is free, air conditioned and has a train era display alongside Charlie Russell prints.
Montana rail day trips
Trip 1
Two gold rush towns and a narrow gauge train
- Montana Heritage Commission Railroad ExhibitsVirginia City
- Alder Gulch Short Line RailroadVirginia City
The Virginia City depot and the Alder Gulch Short Line share a starting point. Look through the depot exhibits, ride the train one way to Nevada City, explore the museum and music hall there, and ride back at the return time you picked. Tickets are sold only in person on the day you ride, and the train does not run in bad weather.
Trip 2
Central Montana rail day
- Montana Museum of Railroad HistoryGreat Falls
- Central Montana Rail and Judith Basin Railroad HeritageStanford
- Charlie Russell Chew ChooLewistown
Great Falls and Stanford are about 56 miles apart, and Stanford is about 38 miles from the Chew Choo near Lewistown. On a summer Saturday, visit the free railroad museum in Great Falls at noon, stop in Stanford for the Judith Basin County Museum, then finish with an evening dinner train if you have booked seats early.
Trip 3
Copper rails and gold camps
- Butte, Anaconda & Pacific RailwayButte
- Alder Gulch Short Line RailroadVirginia City
Butte and Virginia City are about 57 miles apart. Trace the old ore route through Silver Bow Canyon and find the historical marker in Anaconda, then drive south for an afternoon ride on the narrow gauge train between Virginia City and Nevada City.
Drive times from Billings, Missoula and Great Falls
These times are rough estimates without traffic or road work, and mountain passes and winter weather can add a lot more.
| Museum | From Billings | From Missoula | From Great Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Livingston Depot CenterLivingston | 2 hr 15 min | 3 hr | |
| Charlie Russell Chew ChooLewistown | 2 hr 15 min | 2 hr 5 min | |
| Alder Gulch Short Line RailroadVirginia City | 3 hr 50 min | 3 hr 20 min | |
| Historical Museum at Fort MissoulaMissoula | 10 min | ||
| Butte, Anaconda & Pacific RailwayButte | 2 hr 5 min | ||
| Montana Museum of Railroad HistoryGreat Falls | 10 min | ||
| Central Montana Rail and Judith Basin Railroad HeritageStanford | 1 hr 15 min |
How the railroads opened up Montana
Railroads decided where Montana's towns would grow. When the Northern Pacific reached Missoula in 1883, it turned a small trading post into the region's key trading center, and the same railroad built Livingston to send travelers to Yellowstone. Several transcontinental lines crossed the state, and branch lines reached out from them. In central Montana, the first Montana Railroad train arrived in Lewistown in 1903 on a line locals called the Jawbone, and the Milwaukee Road later built a spur across the ranch country toward Great Falls.
Rails also served Montana's mines. Copper king Marcus Daly built the Butte, Anaconda & Pacific to carry ore from Butte Hill to his smelter at Anaconda, and in 1913 it switched to a 2,400-volt electric system that ran until 1967. Gold rush Virginia City never got a real railroad at all; trains stopped at Alder, about ten miles down the gulch, until a preservationist laid a narrow gauge line for visitors in 1964.
Each stop tells a different chapter. The Livingston Depot Center and the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula cover the Northern Pacific, the Butte, Anaconda & Pacific route shows mining railroads, the Charlie Russell Chew Choo and the Judith Basin County Museum follow central Montana's lines, and the Montana Museum of Railroad History pulls the whole state together.
Good to know before you go
- Alder Gulch Short Line tickets cannot be reserved or bought by phone; buy them in person the day you ride and choose your return time.
- The Charlie Russell Chew Choo boards at the Hanover Boarding Station about 10 miles northwest of Lewistown, an hour before departure; every 2026 dinner train sold out, so book early.
- The Montana Museum of Railroad History lists different hours in different places, so call ahead; its phone line is answered in the evenings.
- Fort Missoula's grounds are always open and free, but its outbuildings open only May to October during museum hours.
- The Livingston Depot Center's museum is open Monday to Saturday from May to September and closed Sundays.
- The Butte, Anaconda & Pacific is a historic district, not a museum, so download the free Story of Butte app and bring snacks for short stops.
Packing the suitcase for a long drive
Before the train in our book, Rally helps pack. Into the suitcase go his turtle toy, his green bone and his yellow ball, because a corgi does not travel light. Rally is our real dog, and my kids, who are learning to read, love pointing to each toy on that page. Montana trips mean long miles between stops, and I think packing a few favorite things matters even more there. My mom dreamed up Rally's story before she died in 2021; you can read about her on our story page, and our free train coloring pages fit nicely in a backpack.
Holiday trains and seasonal days at Montana museums
Montana's biggest holiday rail event is the Charlie Russell Chew Choo's North Pole Adventure near Lewistown, an hour and a half of Christmas stories, snacks and a trip to the North Pole on 14 holiday trains, a much better fit for small children than the long dinner train. The same railroad runs a Harvest Dinner Train and a Wandering Wizard Train. In Missoula, the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula holds Holiday Lantern Tours, and the Livingston Depot Center hosts Light Up Livingston and a Winter Makers Market. As of October 2026, none of these stops lists a pumpkin train or Thomas day. For more ideas, see our Montana Christmas train rides and Montana Halloween train rides guides.
Train museums across the Montana line
From Missoula, the Wallace Depot Museum in Idaho's Silver Valley is about 2 hr 15 min west. The chateau-style 1901 Northern Pacific depot has a re-created station agent's room and a 1908 telephone kids can talk on. Find it and the 1909 Milwaukee Road depot in Avery on our Idaho train museums page.
From Billings, the Historic Sheridan Inn in Sheridan, Wyoming, a railroad hotel built for the Burlington line's arrival and later headquarters for Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, is about 2 hr 15 min south. See it with Cheyenne's depot museum on our Wyoming train museums page.
A train book for the drive
If a long-distance train trip is on your family's list, our guide to the Empire Builder with kids covers what to expect on board.
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
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 every state: search all 50 by town
- Christmas train rides in Montana: Santa trains and holiday rides
- Halloween train rides in Montana: pumpkin trains for next October
- The Empire Builder with kids: ride a real Amtrak train
- Every Amtrak route with kids: find a train by city or station
- Train books for toddlers for the drive home
Montana train museum questions
What is the best train museum in Montana?
The Montana Museum of Railroad History in Great Falls is the museum devoted to the railroads of the whole state, and it is free. For the largest collection, the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula holds more than 50,000 artifacts and over 20 historic buildings, with the Northern Pacific's arrival as part of its main exhibit. For a ride, families head to Virginia City.
Are there free train museums in Montana?
Yes, the Montana Museum of Railroad History in Great Falls and the Judith Basin County Museum in Stanford are both free, with donations welcome, as of October 2026. The grounds of the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula are always free to walk, and Missoula County residents and children under 6 get into its galleries free.
Where can kids ride a train in Montana?
Montana has two main train rides. The Alder Gulch Short Line runs a narrated narrow gauge trip of about 15 minutes between Virginia City and Nevada City every summer day. The Charlie Russell Chew Choo near Lewistown runs a four and a half hour dinner train and, at Christmas, the shorter North Pole Adventure for families.
What is the best Montana train ride for toddlers?
The Alder Gulch Short Line in Virginia City is the best train ride for toddlers in Montana. The trip takes about 15 minutes each way, and children 3 and under ride free. Riders can stop in Nevada City to explore before riding back, and public restrooms are at both the Virginia City Depot and the Bovey Visitor Center.
Is there a train museum in Missoula?
Yes, the Historical Museum at Fort Missoula covers Missoula's railroad history inside a larger county history museum. Its main exhibit shows how the Northern Pacific's arrival in 1883 made Missoula the area's key trading center, and the timber industry is another major theme. Galleries are open 11 am to 5 pm, closed Mondays, as of October 2026.
Are there train museums near Billings?
The closest Montana rail stops to Billings are the Livingston Depot Center and the Charlie Russell Chew Choo near Lewistown, each about 2 hours 15 minutes away without traffic. The Historic Sheridan Inn in Sheridan, Wyoming, built for the Burlington railroad, is also about 2 hours 15 minutes south.
What train museums are near Bozeman?
The Livingston Depot Center is about 30 minutes east of Bozeman, in the 1902 Northern Pacific depot that once greeted Yellowstone travelers. Virginia City, home of the Alder Gulch Short Line and the Montana Heritage Commission depot, is about 1 hour 10 minutes away. Both are best visited in summer.
Is there a railroad museum in Great Falls Montana?
Yes, the Montana Museum of Railroad History is inside Montana ExpoPark in Great Falls. It shows artifacts, tools and photographs from the many rail lines that served Montana, and admission is free. As of October 2026, it opens on summer Saturdays from noon to about 4:30 pm and by appointment at other times, so call ahead.
Is there a train ride in Virginia City Montana?
Yes, the Alder Gulch Short Line runs between Virginia City and Nevada City from May 23 to September 7, 2026. Trains leave Virginia City on the hour and Nevada City on the half hour, with the first trip at 10:30 am. The narrated ride lasts about 15 minutes each way, and tickets are sold only in person.
Can you see railroad history in Butte Montana?
Yes, the route of the Butte, Anaconda & Pacific Railway runs from Butte Hill through Silver Bow Canyon to Anaconda. The copper ore line went electric in 1913 and became a 750-acre historic district in 1988. There is no museum building, so use the historical marker in Anaconda and the free Story of Butte app's walking tours.
How long is the Charlie Russell Chew Choo dinner train?
The Charlie Russell Chew Choo's Montana Dinner Train runs about four and a half hours on a 56-mile round trip from the Hanover Boarding Station near Lewistown. Riders cross three historic trestles, pass through the Hoosac Tunnel and enjoy a prime rib dinner and a staged train robbery. Allow about 5.5 hours with boarding.
What steam engine does the Alder Gulch Short Line have?
The Alder Gulch Short Line owns Engine No. 12, a 1910 Baldwin 2-8-0 built for the Ferrocarril Mexicano's Zacatlan Branch. John Larkin's crew in Michigan spent more than two years restoring it before delivering it in 1999. Funding problems kept it off the rails in 2010, so ask at the Virginia City depot whether it is on display or running.
Who designed the Livingston depot in Montana?
The Northern Pacific hired Reed and Stem, the Minnesota firm that first designed New York's Grand Central Terminal, to design the Livingston depot. Dedicated in 1902, it is built of red and yellow brick with terra cotta lions' heads and the railroad's yin-yang emblem. A colonnade links the main building, a baggage building and the beanery.
Is there a Christmas train in Montana?
Yes, the Charlie Russell Chew Choo near Lewistown runs the North Pole Adventure on 14 holiday trains. The trip lasts about an hour and a half, with Christmas stories, snacks and a visit to the North Pole, and it suits children ages 2 to 10. Book early, since the railroad's dinner trains sold out in 2026.
Are Montana train museums open in winter?
Most Montana rail stops close or slow down in winter. The Alder Gulch Short Line and the Judith Basin County Museum run only from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and the Livingston museum is open May to September. The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula stays open year-round, closed Mondays, and the Chew Choo runs holiday trains.
When did the Northern Pacific reach Missoula Montana?
The Northern Pacific Railway reached Missoula in 1883. The town had started in 1866 as a small trading post, and the railroad made it the most important trading center in the area. The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula tells this story in its permanent exhibit, The Road to Today, along with the timber industry that followed.
Can kids ride the Charlie Russell Chew Choo?
Yes, children can ride the Charlie Russell Chew Choo, and 2026 dinner train fares were $129 for children 13 and under as of October 2026. The four and a half hour trip is long for small children, though the tunnel and the train robbery hold attention. For young kids, the 1.5-hour North Pole Adventure is a better fit.
How much does the Alder Gulch Short Line cost?
As of October 2026, an adult round trip on the Alder Gulch Short Line costs $10 and a one way ticket $8. Youth ages 4 to 11 and seniors pay $8 round trip or $6 one way, and children 3 and under ride free. Groups of 6 or more pay $8 each for a round trip.
Is the Livingston Depot Center open year-round?
The Livingston Depot Center's museum is open Monday to Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm, May to September, as of October 2026. Its office is open weekdays, and the depot hosts events the rest of the year, such as Light Up Livingston and the Winter Makers Market. Admission is not posted online, so call (406) 222-2300.
What is at the Judith Basin County Museum in Stanford?
The Judith Basin County Museum in Stanford mixes homestead history with a train era display, prints of Charles M. Russell paintings and Indian artifacts. It also keeps about 2,000 sets of salt and pepper shakers and about 5,000 buttons. It is free and open Wednesday to Sunday from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Keep exploring
More family train guides from Rally
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- OctoberHalloween Train RidesPumpkin trains and not-too-spooky rides for little ones, by state.
- NovemberThanksgiving Train RidesHoliday weekend train trips the whole family can share.
- AmtrakAmtrak With KidsWhich Amtrak routes work best with babies, toddlers and big kids.
- Plan a tripTrain Trips With KidsEvery Amtrak route, stop by stop, planned for families.