Tucumcari Railroad Museum, New Mexico
Depot museumOpen Wednesday to Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm
The Tucumcari Railroad Museum tells the railroad story of eastern New Mexico from inside the town's restored 1926 Union Station, a Mission Revival depot where Rock Island and Southern Pacific lines once met.
- Restored 1926 Union Station
- Depot centennial in 2026
- Rock Island and Southern Pacific history
- Mission Revival architecture
- Restoration began with a 2008 plan
- Open Wednesday to Saturday
Tucumcari Railroad Museum at a glance
- Hours
- Wednesday to Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm
- Admission
- Not posted online; call (575) 461-3701
- Seasonal events
- Union Station centennial (2026)
- Plan for
- About 1 hour
- Best for
- Rail fans, history lovers and Route 66 travelers
- Best ages
- Ages 6 and up
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- Address100 West Railroad Avenue, Tucumcari, NM 88401(opens in a new tab)
- Phone(575) 461-3701
- Emailtucmainstreetdirector@gmail.com
- Alsotucumcarirailroadmuseum@gmail.com
- Websitetucumcarirailroadmuseum.org(opens in a new tab)
Follow Tucumcari Railroad Museum
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Tucumcari Railroad 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 Tucumcari.
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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25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
A union station at a railroad crossroads
Tucumcari grew up where railroads met. The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific and the Southern Pacific, with predecessors such as the El Paso & Southwestern, built a rail corridor that stretched from El Paso, Texas, to Liberal, Kansas, and Tucumcari became a division point and a transfer stop for through transcontinental service. In 1926 the town got a fitting gateway: a Mission Revival Union Station that handled passengers, railroad crews, mail and freight for eastern New Mexico. Over the decades those lines changed hands, and today they are part of the Union Pacific system.
When passenger days ended, the depot still mattered to the town. In 2008, Main Street Tucumcari and the University of New Mexico started the planning effort known as the Tucumcari Main Street Project, and community support carried the restoration of the old station. The building now houses both the Tucumcari Railroad Museum and Tucumcari MainStreet, sitting at the heart of downtown.
The museum sets out to be a place where young and old can learn together, and it tells the railroad story through the people as much as the trains: railroaders and their families, the industries that grew alongside the tracks, and the travelers, including soldiers on troop trains, whose journeys passed through Tucumcari. In 2026 the station marks 100 years at the center of the community.
Inside the depot: rooms, rails and people
The building itself is the first exhibit. Walking through the restored Union Station, you can pick out details from the years when it was a busy crossroads for passengers, crews and freight. The exhibits then follow the growth of the railroads that served the region, from the Rock Island and Southern Pacific and their predecessors to the lines that ended up in the Union Pacific system.
Photographs, artifacts and personal stories introduce the railroaders and families whose lives were tied to the rails, and themed displays cover passenger travel, freight service and the military troop trains that rolled through town. Route 66 travelers will find the depot an easy stop in downtown Tucumcari.
Don’t miss
- The 1926 Union StationA restored Mission Revival depot that marks its 100th year in 2026 and is the museum's largest artifact.
- Rock Island and Southern Pacific exhibitsThey trace how the El Paso to Liberal corridor came together and how it became part of Union Pacific.
- The people behind the railroadPhotographs and stories of railroaders and their families who built the town along with the line.
- Troop train storiesA chapter on the military trains that carried soldiers through Tucumcari.
A depot to explore at your own pace
This is a history museum built around a real depot, so it suits kids who like old buildings, photographs and stories about how people traveled. The museum describes itself as a learning place for all ages. Ask the staff about anything children can look at closely, and step outside to see the tracks the station was built to serve.
Plan your visit: tips for Tucumcari Railroad Museum
- The museum is closed Sunday through Tuesday.
- Find it at 100 West Railroad Avenue in downtown Tucumcari.
- The museum shares the building with Tucumcari MainStreet, which can answer visit questions.
- Check the museum's Facebook page for centennial news in 2026.
A community that restored its station
The depot was restored with community support after the Tucumcari Main Street Project began in 2008, and today the museum operates as a nonprofit alongside Tucumcari MainStreet in the same building. Visiting, donating, and following the museum on Facebook all help, and you can ask about volunteering by calling (575) 461-3701.
Rail stops on the eastern plains and beyond
The Clovis Depot Model Train Museum is about 61 miles south, and the Amarillo Railroad Museum in Texas is about 107 miles east. Sky Railway in Santa Fe is about 130 miles west. See the full list of New Mexico train museums.
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
Tucumcari's depot is turning 100, and I love that a whole town worked to bring it back to life. It reminds me of the tunnel page in our book: a stretch of darkness, then a big bright light and everyone cheering. My mom dreamed up that moment, and I think of it whenever an old station gets its second chance. My kids are learning to read with books like these on our train books list.
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 New Mexico: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in New Mexico
- Halloween train rides in New Mexico
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Tucumcari Railroad 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
- Tucumcari Railroad Museum official website(opens in a new tab)
- Tucumcari Railroad Museum on Facebook(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.
Tucumcari Railroad Museum: 20 questions answered
Where is the Tucumcari Railroad Museum?
The Tucumcari Railroad Museum is inside the historic Union Station at 100 West Railroad Avenue, Tucumcari, New Mexico 88401, in the heart of downtown. Its mailing address is PO Box 736. The building also houses Tucumcari MainStreet. Call (575) 461-3701 if you need directions.
What are the Tucumcari Railroad Museum hours?
As of October 2026, the Tucumcari Railroad Museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. It is closed Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Call (575) 461-3701 before a long drive, as volunteer-supported museums sometimes adjust hours around holidays and events.
How much does the Tucumcari Railroad Museum cost?
The museum does not post an admission price online. Call (575) 461-3701 or email tucmainstreetdirector@gmail.com to ask about admission and any group rates. If entry is free when you visit, a donation helps the nonprofit keep the restored depot open.
What can you see at the Tucumcari Railroad Museum?
You can explore the restored 1926 Union Station itself, then exhibits on the Southern Pacific, Rock Island and their predecessors, the El Paso to Liberal rail corridor and how it became part of Union Pacific. Photographs, artifacts and stories cover railroad families, passenger travel, freight and military troop trains.
Are there Tucumcari Railroad Museum photos online?
Yes. The museum's website shows the depot, including a 1927 view of the station, and its Facebook page shares photos of the building and exhibits. Tripadvisor also has visitor photos. Looking at them ahead of time is a good way to get kids interested before you go.
Are Tucumcari Railroad Museum reviews good?
Visitors generally appreciate the restored Mission Revival depot and the local railroad stories told inside. It is a compact museum, so reviewers often treat it as a rewarding hour rather than a full day. Rail fans and Route 66 travelers tend to get the most from it.
When was Tucumcari Union Station built?
Tucumcari Union Station was built in 1926, and the town is celebrating its 100th year in 2026. The depot is a Mission Revival building that once served passengers, railroad workers, mail, freight and travelers passing through eastern New Mexico.
Which railroads served Tucumcari?
Tucumcari was served by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific and the Southern Pacific, along with their predecessors such as the El Paso & Southwestern. Together they formed a corridor from El Paso, Texas, to Liberal, Kansas. Those lines later became part of today's Union Pacific system.
Why was Tucumcari an important railroad town?
Tucumcari was a division point and transfer stop where Rock Island and Southern Pacific lines joined for through transcontinental service. That made the town a busy crossroads for crews, passengers, mail and freight, and the railroad shaped the community and its industries.
How was the Tucumcari depot restored?
The depot was restored with community support after the Tucumcari Main Street Project began in 2008, a planning effort by Main Street Tucumcari and the University of New Mexico. The restored building now houses the railroad museum and the Tucumcari MainStreet office.
Is the Tucumcari Railroad Museum good for kids?
It is a good stop for school-age kids who like trains, old buildings and stories about travel. The museum describes itself as an educational experience for young and old. There are no posted hands-on kids' programs, so ask the staff what children can look at closely.
How long should I spend at the Tucumcari Railroad Museum?
About an hour lets you walk the depot and read the exhibits on the railroads and the people who worked them. Rail fans may stay longer. Because the museum closes at 4 pm, arrive by early afternoon if you are traveling Route 66 the same day.
Is the Tucumcari Railroad Museum on Route 66?
The museum is in downtown Tucumcari, a classic Route 66 town, and it welcomes Route 66 travelers. It makes an easy stop to stretch your legs and learn how the railroad helped put Tucumcari on the map before the highway arrived.
Is there parking at the Tucumcari Railroad Museum?
Parking details are not posted online. The museum is at 100 West Railroad Avenue downtown. Call (575) 461-3701 to ask about the best place to park, especially if you are traveling with an RV or trailer.
Is the Tucumcari Railroad Museum wheelchair accessible?
Accessibility details are not posted online. The museum is in a restored 1926 depot, so call (575) 461-3701 ahead of time to ask about entrances and access to each room. Staff can tell you how to plan your visit.
Who runs the Tucumcari Railroad Museum?
The museum is a nonprofit that shares the Union Station building with Tucumcari MainStreet, and the MainStreet director's email is listed as the museum contact. Vicki Watson has also been listed as a primary contact. Call (575) 461-3701 to reach the team.
Does the Tucumcari Railroad Museum have centennial events?
The museum is celebrating the 100th year of Tucumcari Union Station in 2026, inviting visitors to explore a century of stories inside the depot. Specific event dates are not posted on its website, so check the museum's Facebook page for centennial news.
Can groups or schools visit the Tucumcari Railroad Museum?
No group program is posted online, but the museum aims to educate visitors of every age. Teachers and tour organizers can call (575) 461-3701 or email tucmainstreetdirector@gmail.com to plan a visit during the Wednesday to Saturday hours.
How can I support the Tucumcari Railroad Museum?
Visit during open hours, make a donation and spread the word by sharing photos from your visit. You can also ask about volunteering or contributing railroad photographs and stories by calling (575) 461-3701 or emailing tucumcarirailroadmuseum@gmail.com.
What train museums are near Tucumcari?
The Clovis Depot Model Train Museum is about 61 miles south, and the Amarillo Railroad Museum in Texas is about 107 miles east. Sky Railway and the Santa Fe Railway historical exhibits are about 129 to 130 miles west in Santa Fe.
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