Wilmington Railroad Museum, North Carolina

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Wilmington, North Carolina · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Railroad museum

Founded in 1979 by three Wilmington women who would not let the city forget the railroad that built it, the Wilmington Railroad Museum preserves the history of the Atlantic Coast Line and the Wilmington and Weldon with artifacts, a steam locomotive and caboose, and large model layouts.

  • Founded in 1979
  • Climb-aboard steam engine No. 250
  • 1,200+ feet of model track
  • Children's Hall with train tables
  • Free parking, limited spaces
  • About one hour to visit

Wilmington Railroad Museum at a glance

Hours
As of October 2026: Labor Day to Memorial Day, Monday to Saturday 10 am to 4 pm, closed Sunday; summer Monday to Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday 1 pm to 5 pm
Admission
Adults $12, seniors and military $10, ages 3 to 12 $8, under 2 free, members free (cash prices; 3% card fee)
Seasonal events
Holiday Light Spectacular, Polar Express Reading
Plan for
About 1 hour
Best for
Families with young children and Atlantic Coast Line fans
Best ages
Toddlers to age 10
Parking
Free but limited parking on either side of the No. 250 steam engine; get a parking pass at the front desk

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Wilmington 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 Wilmington.

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.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

Three women and the railroad that built Wilmington

For more than 125 years, railroading was Wilmington's chief industry. When the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad was completed in 1840, its 161 miles made it the longest continuous rail line in the world. Around the turn of the twentieth century the Wilmington and Weldon and other eastern seaboard lines merged into the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, which made its headquarters in Wilmington and fed the area's commercial and industrial growth for decades.

In 1960 the Atlantic Coast Line moved its headquarters to Jacksonville, Florida, taking more than 1,000 employees and their families with it, the largest single move of employees ever staged by a southeastern industry. With the railroad gone, three women, Hazel K. Morse, Gerda Wooten and Marguerite James, set out to keep its story in the city. The Wilmington Railroad Museum Foundation was chartered by the State of North Carolina on May 1, 1979.

The founders began with a single exhibit case in the Dudley Mansion and a table at Riverfest. As soon as they had space for artifacts they filled it, and as soon as they had a building they opened it to the public. The museum moved in 2007, and it has helped save Atlantic Coast Line buildings in Wilmington. Forty-five years on, staff and volunteers still collect railroad artifacts and keep restoring the museum's locomotive and caboose.

Inside the museum and out by the rails

Inside, exhibits trace how railroads developed around Wilmington and introduce the men and women who worked on them, with historic photographs, museum displays, an Atlantic Coast Line historical marker and an art exhibit. The model railroad rooms hold more than 1,200 feet of HO, G, O and N scale track, and many trains start at the push of a button. Scavenger hunts in the model hall give kids something to look for, and audio tours are available too.

Outside, the rolling stock is the main event: a fully outfitted, life-size caboose and steam locomotive No. 250, more than a century old, that visitors can climb aboard. The museum also displays exhibits on a 2011 Guinness World Record, the local Legend of Joe Baldwin, and the restoration of its steam engine, and its library archives and model railroad sales room are listed on the site.

Don’t miss

  1. Steam engine No. 250The 110-year-old steam locomotive out front is one you can actually climb on, and volunteers keep working on its restoration.
  2. The cabooseA life-size, fully outfitted caboose that shows how train crews lived and worked at the end of the train.
  3. Model railroad layoutsMore than 1,200 feet of track in four scales, with buttons that let visitors set trains in motion.
  4. Children's Hall and the Red CabooseCustom train tables, an O gauge Lionel layout, continuous children's films and a miniature caboose made for pillow play and photos.
  5. Atlantic Coast Line historyExhibits explain how the ACL headquarters shaped Wilmington and what the city lost when it left for Jacksonville in 1960.

Push buttons, play tables and a caboose to climb

The Children's Hall is built for little ones to play trains: custom train tables, a large-scale layout full of moving accessories, children's films running all day, and push-button operation so kids can start the trains themselves. The Red Caboose area has an O gauge Lionel layout and a miniature caboose for pillow play and photos. Outside, kids can climb the real caboose and steam engine.

The museum says a visit takes about an hour, a good length for toddlers and preschoolers. Its Story Time program for young visitors is suspended for now, so check the website before planning around it.

Plan your visit: tips for Wilmington Railroad Museum

  • Arrive at least 45 minutes before closing to see the whole museum.
  • Pick up a parking pass at the front desk if you use the museum lot.
  • Cash saves the 3% card fee.
  • Closed on Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.
  • Polar Express Reading tickets must be bought in advance and sell out quickly.

Each holiday season the museum turns into a winter wonderland for its Holiday Light Spectacular, with more than 45,000 lights, musical animations, twilight model train displays and pictures with Santa on select evenings, tickets at the door. Its Polar Express Reading pairs a dramatic reading of the book by a local actor with a Santa visit, a golden ticket, a Believe Bell, hot chocolate and cookies. It is a seated event, not a train ride. For holiday rides around the state, see our list of Christmas train rides in North Carolina.

A nonprofit that still runs on local care

The Wilmington Railroad Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that depends on members, donors, sponsors and grantors, with an executive director, staff and volunteers keeping the exhibits and restoration work going. You can help by joining as a member (regular admission is then free), volunteering, donating, honoring a railfan, sponsoring as a business, renting the venue for a party, or shopping in the museum store.

Where to ride and explore next

Wilmington sits on its own on the coast, so the nearest rail stops are a drive. Selma Historic Union Station is about 91 miles north, Hamlet Depot and Museums about 109 miles west, and Raleigh's Pullen Park Train about 113 miles away. See all of North Carolina's train museums for more ideas.

Every train museum in North Carolina

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

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.

Wilmington is a port city, and I love thinking about the old Atlantic Coast Line trains rolling along near the water. In our book, Rally sits by an arched train window, watches the ocean slide past, and says hello to a white bird. My mom pictured that whole scene before she passed in 2021. A museum that keeps a coastal railroad's memory alive feels like it belongs in the same story. You can read about her 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 Wilmington 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

Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.

Wilmington Railroad Museum: 20 questions visitors ask

Where is the Wilmington Railroad Museum?

The Wilmington Railroad Museum is at 505 Nutt Street in downtown Wilmington, North Carolina 28401. Look for the No. 250 steam engine outside, since the museum's free parking spaces sit on either side of it. The website has a Directions and Map link, and you can call (910) 763-2634 if you need help finding it.

What are the Wilmington Railroad Museum hours?

As of October 2026, from Labor Day to Memorial Day the museum is open Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm, and closed Sundays. From Memorial Day to Labor Day it is open Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday 1 pm to 5 pm. Arrive at least 45 minutes before closing to see everything.

How much are Wilmington Railroad Museum tickets?

As of October 2026, admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and military personnel, and $8 for children 3 to 12. Children under 2 are free, and members get in free for regular admission. Those are cash prices that include sales tax; paying by card adds a 3% convenience fee.

Is there parking at the Wilmington Railroad Museum?

Yes. The museum has free parking on either side of its No. 250 steam engine, but spaces are limited and not guaranteed. If you park there, stop at the front desk inside to get a parking pass. On busy downtown days, allow extra time to find a spot nearby.

How long does it take to visit the Wilmington Railroad Museum?

The museum says a visit takes about one hour. Families with kids who love the Children's Hall or the model trains often linger longer, so give yourself some extra time. Plan to arrive no later than 45 minutes before closing so you can see the whole museum.

Is the Wilmington Railroad Museum good for toddlers?

Yes. The Children's Hall has custom train tables, a large-scale layout, children's films and push-button trains, and the Red Caboose area has an O gauge Lionel layout and a miniature caboose for pillow play. At about an hour, the visit length suits short attention spans well, and under 2s get in free.

Can you climb on the trains at the Wilmington Railroad Museum?

Yes. Visitors can climb on a life-size, fully outfitted caboose and on the museum's steam locomotive, which is more than 110 years old. These pieces are outside, so wear comfortable shoes and keep a hand on little ones on the steps.

Does the Wilmington Railroad Museum have a Polar Express event?

Yes, the museum hosts an annual Polar Express Reading: a local actor reads the book aloud, Santa visits, and each child gets a golden ticket, a Believe Bell, hot chocolate and cookies. It is a seated event in a decorated space, not a train ride. Tickets are $5 per person, free under 2, and must be bought in advance.

What Christmas events does the Wilmington Railroad Museum hold?

Besides the Polar Express Reading, the museum puts on its Holiday Light Spectacular on select evenings in late November and December, with more than 45,000 lights, musical animations, twilight model train displays and pictures with Santa. Tickets are $5 per person at the door only, with children under 2 free. Check the events page for this year's dates.

How big are the model trains at the Wilmington Railroad Museum?

The museum's model railroad layouts include more than 1,200 feet of track in HO, G, O and N scales. Visitors can interact with them using push buttons, and scavenger hunts in the model hall give kids things to spot. The museum also runs a model railroad sales area listed on its website.

Is the Wilmington Railroad Museum a good rainy day activity?

Mostly, yes. The model layouts, Children's Hall and history exhibits are indoors, so a rainy or very hot day still works. The caboose and steam locomotive are outside, so you may want to time that part of your visit for a break in the weather.

When was the Wilmington Railroad Museum founded?

The Wilmington Railroad Museum Foundation was chartered on May 1, 1979. It was started by three women, Hazel K. Morse, Gerda Wooten and Marguerite James, who wanted to keep Wilmington's railroad history alive after the Atlantic Coast Line moved away. They began with one exhibit case in the Dudley Mansion and a table at Riverfest.

Why was the Atlantic Coast Line important to Wilmington?

The Atlantic Coast Line Railroad was headquartered in Wilmington, and for more than 125 years railroading was the city's chief industry. In 1960 the ACL moved its headquarters to Jacksonville, Florida, relocating over 1,000 employees and their families. It was the largest single move of employees ever staged by a southeastern industry.

What was the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad?

The Wilmington and Weldon Railroad was completed in 1840, and at 161 miles it was then the longest continuous rail line in the world. Around the turn of the twentieth century it merged with other eastern seaboard lines to form the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. The museum tells its story as part of Wilmington's rail history.

Can you have a birthday party at the Wilmington Railroad Museum?

Yes. The museum offers venue rental and birthday parties, with a dedicated page on its website. Details on rooms, group size and pricing are listed there, so start with that page, then call (910) 763-2634 or email info@wrrm.org to check dates and book.

Does the Wilmington Railroad Museum offer group tours?

Yes, for groups of at least 10 people. Group tours cover railroad trades and occupations, rolling stock and motive power, and local history. The museum also offers audio tours for individual visitors. Call (910) 763-2634 or email info@wrrm.org to schedule a group visit.

Are there jobs or volunteer roles at the Wilmington Railroad Museum?

The museum does not post job openings on its main pages, but it does welcome volunteers and has a volunteer page on its website. Volunteers help with exhibits and with ongoing restoration of the locomotive and caboose. Call (910) 763-2634 or email info@wrrm.org to ask about current openings or how to get involved.

How can I support the Wilmington Railroad Museum?

The museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and it welcomes memberships, donations, business sponsorships and IRA charitable gifts. You can also honor a railfan through its tribute program or shop the museum store. Members get free regular admission, and the website has a donate link at the top of the home page.

Is the Wilmington Railroad Museum open on holidays?

The museum closes on Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. On other holidays it generally follows its regular seasonal schedule. If you are planning around a holiday weekend, call (910) 763-2634 to confirm before you go.

What train museums are near the Wilmington Railroad Museum?

The nearest rail sites with pages here are Selma Historic Union Station, about 91 miles away, Hamlet Depot and Museums at about 109 miles, Raleigh's Pullen Park Train at about 113 miles, and the New Hope Valley Railway in Bonsal at about 114 miles. They make good stops on a drive inland from the coast.

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