California State Railroad Museum

We visited the railway museum right when it opened and were warmly greeted by the staff as they opened the doors. The ticket prices are quite affordable, and the museum itself is clean and well-maintained. The staff and volunteers were friendly and knowledgeable — they took time to explain the history and details of the trains on display. The museum features a wide variety of train exhibits, and there’s even a dedicated floor for kids to play with model trains and watch them move around, which was a fun highlight. Parking is available either at metered street spots or in a nearby garage, which costs around $20 per day. Overall, it was an enjoyable and educational experience for both adults and kids.

Probably one of the top five railroad museums I’ve been to in the country. Very well done, plane to read, and space for the little ones to run around too. Don’t miss the model trains and the kid play area on the second floor!

A Memorable Visit to the California State Railroad Museum Visiting the California State Railroad Museum was truly an unforgettable experience. As soon as I stepped inside, I was impressed by the size of the locomotives and the detail in every exhibit. I could feel the rich history of the railroad era coming to life right in front of me. What I enjoyed most was seeing the beautifully restored trains up close — especially the luxury passenger cars and old steam engines. Walking through them made me imagine what it must have been like to travel across the country by rail many years ago. I also gained a lot of new insights into how the railroad shaped California’s growth and connected communities. The museum does a great job of combining technology, history, and storytelling. There were even interactive exhibits that made learning fun and engaging. Overall, I truly enjoyed my time at the museum and left with a deeper appreciation for the role of railroads in American history. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in history, transportation, or simply looking for a meaningful experience.

Top notch experience for 1-90 years old. Real historic train carriages and locomotives on display with knowledgeable staff that will engage in interesting conversation. And that $12 per person fee is a steal which is less than half the price of nearly every museum nowadays! Second floor section is dedicated to model trains which brings smile to children. Highly recommended

Be prepared to have your mind blown! This place was a must to see with or without kids. First the cost of it was inexpensive to other museums. Child 6-17 was $6, 17+ was $12 free under 5. Interactive museums are truly the best way to learn and this was a well thought out museum. We also enjoyed that they had many old timers who knew all about the history and trains walking around as volunteers who clearly loved and enjoyed talking to kids and adults alike. The history museum is next door and was such a let down in comparison so maybe skip that one or see it first, before you go into the train museum.

I liked it too much. My son was really excited. I wish we can go there again with my husband and daughter. It shows you the different types of trains. It shows the old trains and how they worked. It also shows the trains from inside, the bed rooms , dinning rooms, restrooms and recieption. It was a trip in my son's school from the district and i was a volunteer. We really enjoyed it too much. The place is very nice and big. The kids really enjoyed it. Also all of the people working there are very co-operative and nice. Thanks for the good experience.

Had a fantastic time at the California State Railroad Museum! As two adults, we weren’t sure what to expect, but we ended up having so much fun. The scavenger hunt was a great touch, and the exhibits are very interactive with full-size trains you can explore. The museum is well-maintained, with a lot to see and learn. Staff members are friendly and clearly passionate about what they do. A must-visit if you’re into museums or looking for a unique, engaging experience in Sacramento.

If you like history and trains this place is for you. My only complaint would be the welcome video appears to be down and the signage was very text heavy. A beautifully well curated and restored examples of mid 19th century locomotives and rolling stock up til the middle of the 20th century. They have a reciprocity agreement with my local railroad museum so that made my family's admission negligible. Overall a great way to spend a few hours in the afternoon on a warm day