Nevada State Railroad Museum

Fantastic shortened visit! Tremendous staff provided insightful tours of the shop and museum, detailed engine demos, and explained their funding/maintenance efforts perfectly. Great train ride and a genuinely fascinating experience with dedicated volunteers! Tremendous Staff & Volunteers: Visitors consistently praise the knowledgeable and friendly volunteers (the Friends of the Nevada State Railroad Museum) who lead tours, explain history, and work on equipment restoration. Engine Demonstrations & Hollywood History: The museum's collection includes famous "movie star" locomotives like the V&T No. 22 "Inyo" (built in 1875), which appeared in over 20 films and TV shows including Union Pacific, Red River, and The Great Locomotive Chase. The staff love to share these connections. Funding & Maintenance Insights: The "Friends" volunteer organization is vital for fundraising and providing services for the museum's operations and ongoing restoration programs, a topic the staff is passionate about sharing with visitors. Museum & Shop Tours: While shop access can be subject to volunteer availability, your guided tour provided a great "behind the scenes" look at the important restoration work.

We had a blast here. We got to ride the train, explore the museum and because we were there late, got to watch them put up the trains for the night. The workers and volunteers are so knowledgeable and it seems like they truly enjoy what they do. My kids really enjoyed the gentlemen who was dressed in period clothing running the switch.

Great self guided tour. Amazing trains and history. Great way to learn and you can go at your own pace.

As usual, we had a perfect day here. It may be small but the heart of this railroad museum is felt within each and every individual who volunteers. They truly care about this place and restoring traincars/engines. Special thank you to Nancy for all the knowledge and an amazing train ride. And to Daniel for sharing his expertise with my husband during the cab ride. We'll be getting a membership and returning far more often!

For all rail fanatics, this is a great place to visit. Full of history, interactive displays, and refurbished train cars, this is a small but good museum. I visited during the week in the late winter so I missed some of the extra events they do but walking the small grounds and seeing the size of the trains cars was still a great experience for me. Entry fee of $10 able to be paid by cash or card. Parking lot and facility itself is very clean. Make sure to stop at their gift shop on your way in or out.

Hey everyone, it’s Nevada Lao Bai! Today we’re visiting the Nevada State Railroad Museum in Carson City, the state capital. This is a must-see spot filled with antique trains and cars from the late 1800s to early 1900s. It’s also family-friendly—kids will love learning about railroad history! Plus, it’s close to Lake Tahoe with amazing scenery. Highly recommended!

I enjoyed my visit and my experience was great. I learned many things and I left full of great thoughts. The entire staff is excellent, informative and friendly. This is a wonderful place to learn some local history. The restoritive work that they do is impressive. The gift shop is wonderful also. There are opportunities to volunteer too and as a volunteer you can learn good things.

This is an amazing self tour of the Navada railroad history. There is a lot of pictures and saved artifacts of the old railroad construction days. The old steam engines and cars on display are worth checking out. It was $10 a person.

Came here for a school field trip to learn about Nevada railroad history. My family hasn't been here in over 7 years. It is a much different experience when you have volunteers give you a tour and share so many fascinating details about the train displays. The tour was really engaging for our class and even the parents. Got to see inside a couple of the train cars and even try the manual push carts on the tracks. Thank you for the fun tour!

8/17/2024- Finally made it in! Very cool history.. Not too busy.. Right off the Main Street.. Really like the train rides.. and exhibits.. Great for families and adults..

My family and I were here for a 2-day event and we were blown away by both the event and the Museum itself. The staff and the volunteers were friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable. The event went above and beyond our expectations. The museum was clean, organized, and was full of great information (and even hands on things). I can't wait to visit again, possibly getting a membership, and I am definitely keeping my eyes out for more events!

Today my mother, daughter, and myself went to visit the NV State Railroad Museum! I've lived in Northern Nevada for almost 9 years now and haven't visited this place (despite passing by it plenty of times). I'm moving out-of-state soon, and when my Mom asked me what I wanted to do before I left...this was the first thing that popped into my head! As of 7/1/24 entry is $10 per adult, and children 17 y.o. and younger are FREE (I'm looking at you, parents of kids that are out of school for the summer). The gentleman that checked us in was enthusiastic about the self-guided exhibits within the museum and very welcoming! The main area had lots of beautifully restored trains to admire and QR code resources that gave you the history of each of the railroad cars. This main building was full of history and great exhibits but I didn't find myself wanting to linger there very long- my main issue was that it was SO hot. It didn't feel like there was any air conditioning, and if there was, maybe it wasn't working today. As my toddler was "choo choo-ing" around the museum, it was refreshing to find that between the main exhibits in the first building there was a whole toddler play area with books, a chalkboard (with hobo symbols to practice), and train-themed toys. I really appreciated this area as a parent of a little, going to places like these aren't so enjoyable when my toddler is bored (and lets everyone know it). Truly a thoughtful touch! The second building in the back had more restored railroad cars, but these ones you were allowed to walk through! I enjoyed looking at the intricate detail and design put into these railroad cars. So very different than our modern trains- what happened to aesthetics?! I think this part of the museum was more enjoyable for me because you were able to walk through and see these beautiful pieces of art instead of peeking through a window like in the first building- and the large train doors were open that let a breeze run through the building. Whoever curated the gift shop is a great shopper! I am usually unimpressed with gift shops and typically only find a magnet to buy. Well, they had magnets, and enamel pins, and train whistles, and conductor hats, and a plethora of train toys for children, and t-shirts, and coffee mugs, and keychains, and railroad-themed locally made BATH BOMBS, and and and...lots more. Thoroughly impressed with the curation and selection and spent way more money than I normally would in a gift shop! *PRO TIPS* 1. In the toddler play area there is a Little Free Library (bring a book, take a book). 2. At the front desk there are lots of fun and free resources for kids- a scavenger hunt for the museum, a train-themed coloring packet, and a Morse code packet!

We had a great experience here. We visited here during a holiday and got in for free. Right when you walk in there is a cute little shop, you walk through and can watch videos or read about the history of the railroad ways. Staff was friendly. You can purchase a ticket to ride the train, unfortunately we did not have time.

The railroad is core to the history of Northern Nevada and if you're a history buff or a train enthusiast, this is a must visit in Northern Nevada. My rating is based on a family visit with young children in the winter, and as a family attraction, this wasn't quite what I expected. The museum has three parts: inside, the yard, and an annex that houses a few more types of train cars. Inside is a small space with a handful of trains on display. These trains have historical significance related to mining and how Carson City and the greater Reno Tahoe area came to be developed. These trains are immaculately restored and preserved, and I liked how you can get up next to them for scale. That said, much of what's inside is "look but don't touch" and for young children, that can be tough. I had to constantly remind mine not to get on and I heard museum staff saying the same thing to others in the space. At the back of the museum is a small replica engine with levers, knobs and buttons that the kids can get on and play. My kids really enjoyed this because they could get hands on. The wheels weren't locked though, and they figured out they could move it, which put one of the trains nearby at risk, so we had to promptly usher them off. There's also a little train play table near this they can play with too. That kept them occupied for a bit but then they took off running. The annex was way more hands on with cars they could actually get in and see. They liked being able to sit in the passenger cars and open some doors. It was kind of dark and tough to see details, and the signage in this space had less info about the cars as compared to inside. This was more kid friendly for sure. I can only imagine the yard during warmer months when they have the trains outside. It was still cool to see the turntable and walk the tracks. Easy for kids to enjoy this area with plenty of space to roam. There's also a small park next to the museum with picnic tables, perfect for lunch! All in all a good way to knock off some time. I just wish they offered more hands on for the kids, as they're the main reason for me to go.

Really neat museum. Train rides and exhibits that are really fascinating. Come see it.

Actual locomotives and train cars highlight the historical displays. Especially enjoyed the historical timeliness and maps. Volunteers provide a wealth of knowledge and everyone was so friendly and helpful. Most fun fact - the origins of time zones was due to the need to coordinate single track railroads. Spend an hour or two. Train rides available seasonally on the weekends.

If you have young kids and they like trains this is a must!! Even as an adult they have so many functional trains it's like reliving childhood. The trains are all in good condition that are working. We didn't have much time to really explore due to a kid incident but look forward to our next trip. Looks like they have decent prices for annual passes.

The Nevada State Railway Museum in Carson City is a wonderful place to visit...especially on rainy days or on days when you simply want to get the family out of the house. This museum has wonderfully restored locomotives, train cars and and a caboose, along with photos and the history of many of the locomotives and rail lines that operated in this area. What's most impressive is how the Artisans, Mechanics, Engineers, and volunteers have lovingly restored these relics of the past. Their attention to detail, combined with their knowledge and experience, is amazing. This is made clear when one sees the photos of the rail cars when they were reduced to piles of lumber. The Docents who give their time to guide and educate visitors, are amazing in their knowledge of these relics. I could blather on about this Museum, but instead, I'll close with the comment that this place is a hidden jewell on Carson Street (on your way to the Costco Gas Station), and you really should visit this museum for a bit of Northern Nevada history. It's amazing!

Wonderful history explained nicely with many different exhibits and halls. Absolutely loved the old mint display.

Loads of history in this place. Learn about how Nevada was built by trains and how Hollywood saved the Nevada trains. A lot to look at and see but only one passenger car you can enter. When you first enter, there are coloring pages for the kids and a Scavenger hunt if you were in a group.

Really friendly upon arrival. Very nice and well maintained. Was really surprised to see that we started off on a train platform very beautiful. Once you walk in you can immediately drop down to view the trains they are a lot bigger being at the bottom of them then you see on the platform. Really cool live action TV screen at the bottom that gives you a narrated version of how they used to lay tracks we really liked this cool upgraded information. seriously love these digital narratives. Multiple presentations. We had a really great time walking around and getting to see all of the really neat preserved heart effects. We really like walking outside and looking into the train carts those were really cool. Make sure you stop by the gift shop we totally scored the best magnet ever! You get to make impress your own penny and add it to your magnet. Can't wait to add this to my collection on the fridge.

Good activity for about an hour or so. We didn't ride the train. Fee for museum was $8 each adult, 17 and under are free. Fee for the train was $10 or $15 for both the train and museum. It was a nice facility and very kind volunteers work it. Educational and Quaint.

Such an unexpected surprise for a great price! $8 per person and a couple of hours to tour through train history on the Nevada and transcontinental rail systems. We have been to a few train museums and historical sites and this was the first one that had old trains and buildings in completely deteriorated shape ready to be restored. It was inspiring to see the old versus the restored pieces and be able to see how volunteers would come in and spend hundreds of hours to lovingly restore these pieces so people could enjoy them for years to come. This is history coming back to life. At different times they also do train rides, which would be fun to take part in. I highly recommend making this a destination.

I feel bad about writing this, but we stopped by last month. My wife just got here from Thailand and we drove up from Folsom didn't realize they were closed during the week so pulled in the parking lot and she wanted to take a picture and I guess it was a mate and that person he's heavyweight guy driving a golf cart came over and said we couldn't take a picture and I asked him if we could please take a picture. He said no we had to leave, I was parked in the handicap which I do have a handicap placard and I was sitting there trying to figure out my GPS. I'm a 70-year-old man we want to go to Virginia city so he came back over in his golf cart with his maintenance stuff on it and told me I had to leave and I asked him I said why don't you have a gay at the parking lot all I'm doing here is trying to figure out my GPS. He said we had to get out. I'll never come back there again. I've always wanted to go there and was looking forward to it but if this is the way you treat people I'll never come back. Tell the maintenance guy good luck. What an asshole

I had never been to a railroad museum before our visit to the Nevada State Railroad Museum so I didn't know what to expect. I had high hopes. Maybe I should've gone with lower expectations, but we still learned interesting things regardless. Some of the better tidbits of knowledge came from a museum volunteer who walked up to us as we were staring at one of the trains. Apparently, the big exhaust on the front of the locomotive is to help catch hot ashes as they spew from the train. This is the style of exhaust that was used in the west. In contrast, the trains in the eastern side of the US had skinny stacks with no grate at the top because there was no concern for forest fires. One has to wonder how many forest fires were started with the early trains before they decided to add the heavy-duty exhaust grate. Another interesting point was that the train behind the locomotive was stacked with wood to provide fuel for the engine. A full stack of wood fuel would only last 50 miles. After that, they would have to load up in order to go another 50 miles. This sounds like the most back breaking job I have ever heard.

Really nice railroad museum. Some amazing pieces of art and enthusiastic docents. Make sure you visit the second building and see some of the more interesting trains, including the street cars.

Went to the Great Western Steam Up on July 4th. I believe there were 9 trains up and running which is a pretty amazing sight and smell. Incredible team of volunteers willing to answer questions and explain exhibits. Super friendly atmosphere with food trucks and a rather fun train ride around the outside of the museum. Highly recommend for families and frustrated engineers such as myself.

A great family attraction. The trains displayed and the history lessons on the various exhibits gives not only a great slice of railroad history, but also the history of Nevada and the US in the 19th century. There are indoor and outdoor exhibits and a train to ride, but I think the hours are limited, so please check before you go. The volunteers are very knowledgeable and helpful, ready to answer any question you may have.

The train museum was absolutely beautiful! We had a gentleman by the name of Jack that took us through the history of the museum and showed us various locomotives and how they worked! My best friend and I loved it! 5 stars and will return!

There were some really nicely restored steam locomotives and passenger cars there. As well as other items and lots of history to investigate. We gave a 3 rating due to the train ride. It was advertised as 40 minutes, and it was. But, it was 2 loops around the property at a slow speed, followed by another lap were we took a spur, disconnected the engine and moved it to the back of the train, and completed the third lap. I am sure for kids, it would be a great adventure. We were expecting to actually go somewhere and see something. Our fault as well for not asking.

So much to see! If you love everything trains you want to visit this amazing place! So much history about the area and surrounding areas too. Very reasonably priced...$8 for adults and FREE for those 17 and under! Free parking. Beautiful park like setting, perfect for a picnic day trip with family. Tables and shade trees scattered about. The grounds are not fully even...at some point you'll be walking on rocks (large gravel). Fully stocked museum store with plenty of Nevada railroad & train history, souvenirs, puzzles, toys, shirts and even train hats! They even have a pressed flat penny machine! You bet I got one! Inside the museum are beautiful exhibits about the trains inside. Lots of reading...bring your reading glasses with ya! Actual granite Nevada/California state line monument marker is displayed. Actual artifacts and its amazing that after all these years the preservation is astonishing to me! So much to see inside and outside in shop shed. More items to gawk at in there! V & T (Virginia & Truckee) locomotives to view. You'll be able to board the V & T #22 that is on display out door if its a sunny day. If you get there when they are opening up you can watch as they pull out that car! We were super luck to see that! There is also a working round about you can walk on, just be careful. They do offer train rides certain times of the year, not in February when we visited. May restored equipment and memorabilia are on display. Very clean museum, definitely knowledgeable docents and staff. Restrooms available.

On Monday, April 15, 2019 I went to the Nevada State Railroad Museum located right next to the Carson City Chamber of Commerce on South Carson Street. It is really an expansive facility, with a main building, another display/maintenance building, a train departure building, a quail crossing, a park, and even a canine comfort rest area (no humans allowed except if accompanied by a dog). When you first walk in the main building, there is a gift shop to your right. They have every souvenir imaginable in it. I enjoyed that as much as the museum. They have pressed penny passports for $4.95 and the machine is outside the store in the entrance. [A pressed penny (also called and elongated coin) is a penny that is flattened and elongated into an oval shape, then embossed with another design. They are used as souvenirs and are available at many museums, amusement parks, landmarks, etc.] The gift shop had old-time posters which made me laugh, such as "Beware of card sharks, pick-pockets, fancy women, and shifty politicians". They also sold genuine railroad spikes for $2.95/$4.95, wooden nickels, collector's pins, toys, books, postcards, and clothing. Postcards were only $0.35. The woman who ran the store was very knowledgeable and friendly. I also talked to the volunteer at the front of the museum. He said that admission to the museum is free on Nevada Day, which is the last Friday of October. There is a section upfront for used books for sale, the proceeds of which benefit the museum. This museum can also stamp your Lincoln Highway passports, in addition to the Carson City Chamber of Commerce next door. (Lincoln Highway runs across 13 states in the US, coast to coast, from Lincoln Park in San Francisco to Times Square in New York City. The Nevada portion is on US Route 50, and is known as the Loneliest Highway in the World.) At the front of the maintenance building, they have a railroad handcart; the kind where two people push the handle up and down to make it move on a railroad track. You can ride it if you like (if museum staff accompanies you). Inside, it is huge, They have some train cars which you can go through, as well as all sorts of motors, lanterns, and other historic railroad artifacts. I did not go no a train ride, but I am told it goes around the property three times, and takes about 40 minutes. I am thinking about becoming a volunteer here because I love the museum so much. I am definitely going to come Easter Sunday for their Second Annual Easter Egg-stra Special Express (https://www.yelp.com/events/carson-city-second-annual-easter-egg-stra-special-express?utm_campaign=www_event_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)). There is also one on Monday, April 22, 2019 (https://www.yelp.com/events/carson-city-second-annual-easter-egg-stra-special-express-2?utm_campaign=www_event_share_popup&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=(direct)).

Worth to visit if you are in Tahoe and Carson area. It's not big but great place for photos.

It's a small but good museum for a small town like Carson City, staffed by mainly volunteers and retired locomotive engineers who love sharing theri knowledge about trains. We've been here a few times - the kids love going to the special events like the easter egg hunt and when they bring out the historic train carriage for a spin around the museum. Recommend to spend 1-2 hours here.

This was a great couple of hours. All the staff was helpful and courteous. Money well spent. Add this Museum to your must see

What a great afternoon. -volunteers are such train enthusiasts! Their stories make the experience better. -my mom needed extra help boarding the train and storing her walker and the staff was so accommodating and kind to her. They were genuine and sincere with their efforts! -the trains are so well taken care of.

The trains at this museum have been restored to an amazing level of quality. The staff was excellent and answered my kids hundreds of questions. They clearly share a passion for all things train related. The #22 train is a thing of beauty.

Had sooo much fun here! We were privileged enough to meet three incredible docents who gave us our tour, rode the handcar, got inside knowledge of whats coming up, wow, fun! Trains were not running that day so, gosh, we have to return! Bring the kids, made for them too!

Very educational. Friendly staff and volunteers. Lots to look at. Great for all ages!

Happily stumbled upon this little gem of a museum when we missed our turn heading to Reno from Tahoe. The BF is a huge train enthusiast so we stopped for a bit. Admission was $6 for adults and the gentleman taking tickets was a hoot! He had on a Big Bang Theory shirt so we talked about Sheldon for a while as he told us about the museum's offerings. It's not a huge place, but the quality of the displays was top notch. The information was just enough, but not overwhelming if you're not a foamer. You can enter some of the models and marvel at the meticulous details. The restorations were beautifully done. I'm so happy for the serendipitous circumstances that brought us here. We will definitely be back!

The Nevada State Railroad Museum is tucked into the side of the hill as you drive through the southern part of Carson City. This museum has a decent selection of locomotives and rolling stock mainly associated with the historic Virginia & Truckee Railroad. You may also purchase tickets to ride the train at the train depot across the parking lot. The interior of the museum is worth an admission to see the locomotives and the displays. Railroads were a big part of the development of Nevada, and the museum showcases some of the impacts. It is small and easily seen in about 30 minutes or less. The gift shop is also nice with some unique rail themed merchandise. There are some interactive play areas for younger kids too. By far the most popular option is to ride the train. The museum has live steam locomotives pulling open air cars in a loop around the museum and park. On board, the knowledgeable staff gives a good history lesson of the railroads and their impact on the region. This museum is not connected to the other V&T railroad that heads up to Virginia City, but it makes a good combination to round out the experience. I will admit that I am always biased towards railroads, but the Nevada State Railroad Museum is popular with families too. The large park and steam trains kept kids happy and interested the whole time, including us big kids too. Adding the museum to your Carson City trip is a great option for a fun day.

I went to this museum last weekend with my friend from out of town. I have been here MANY times over the years, because my family and I are big rail fans. The main reason we went that day was because we were exploring Carson City and had free tickets. It was a Saturday, but they didn't say ANYTHING about a train ride being available and I didn't see one either, The only building open (at least that day) was the main one in front (that includes the gift shop). Other times throughout the years, there was always a lot more going on during our visits. This museum is quite small, but does have some interesting history and displays. This is a "clean" railroad museum. This means that you will not get dirty here, but you also will not be able to touch things or go in or on anything. Years ago, you could go inside at least one of the ones on display nowadays that is clearly not open to explore. So, if you want to stay clean... go here. If you want to climb on stuff and explore inside, etc... go to the one in Portola. Their gift shop was pretty good. Compared with the other semi-local railroad museum, they have more of the souvenir type items and collectibles, but not as much in the t-shirt or toy departments. This museum gets state funding for at least some of their museum. I'm guessing that might be why they have some new (at least to me) displays that are rather nice. I really like the display showing how they place the rails. Great job! I would love more like this. It's honestly like comparing apples and oranges though on the different museums (Sacramento also gets state funding, but Portola doesn't). They are just completely different. A real rail fan would actually be served best by checking out both of them as well as the Sacramento one and even the one in Ely. If you have young ones who enjoy mysteries, there is a book (one of a series) that is supposed to be connected to kind of "ghost story" at this museum.. It was available the other day in the gift shop. I definitely recommend that book (and the rest of the series from some local ghost towns, etc... from places like CA, ID, and NV). It is pretty cool to be able to say "been there!" If you get this, ask the workers where the train car is located. That day, it was closed off, but I'm thinking that they still probably show it sometimes. It costs $8 for adults (not sure on the price for kiddos) which is the same for the one in Portola, too. You can easily spend most of a day in Portola, but it only takes maybe an hour to explore this one. BUT... if you have the pass to all of the State Museums in Nevada, you get in free here. My friend did say as we were leaving that she was glad we didn't have to pay $8 for that... Like I said, I'm guessing that for some reason even though it was a weekend afternoon that they probably still show more and we went on a bad day of some sort. If possible, maybe call ahead and ask about the availability the day you want to go.

What a treat! While this museum is not the largest train museum I've been to, the exhibits and display trains are exquisite. If you are driving along the 395, or happen to be up in South Lake Tahoe and are or have a train enthusiast in your group, this is definitely worth a detour. Make sure to take time to walk around...there is an outdoor track that even when not in use, is surrounded by some lovely scenery. Also, next door, you can visit the local visitor center, where you can pick up brochures for any sort of activity that you might be interested in, from ghost-town tours to fine dining/shopping, to casinos and river rafting. We weren't lucky enough to stop by on a weekend with active train rides--but we would have definitely taken advantage of this activity if possible. I guess that just means we'll have to return again some day.

I visited on the 4th of July to see the Parade of Trains and to check it out. I was having a free activity day and just strolled around asking questions and looking in the gift shop. The museum and annex look cool and worth the $8 entry fee but I just wanted to sit in the shade and wave at the trains. I was surprised to learn that the train for Virginia City doesn't leave from here but at a depot on the other side of town. Tickets are purchased online. The trains travel in a loop with steam and whistles and waving and you can buy a ride around the facility which would be perfect for the little ones.

$16 for 2 adults and 2 children, with lots to see. You can actually climb on the cars/engines in the second building. Mr. Vickers was very friendly and kind; he showed the kids a few extra things and let them ride on the hand cart.

Dont waste your time coming here. Its tiny, we literally walked the whole "museum" in 5 mins. They are very strict about touching anything and the whole thing was pretty dissapointing...

We went when they had free admission. The train ride was super cool. The tiny kids got anxious when they did their talking. They tell you history about the train car you are in. The train cars are so nice! they paid great attention to detail when they revived them. There were some interactive activities to do. There is also a gift shop the has decently priced items unlike most gift shops. Parking was annoying but not too difficult.

We took the kids here thinking it would be a fun activity for them, but this is definitely not for children. It was also not the time of year for train rides. There is a tiny area that has a train table and a little play kids train, but the rest are beautiful trains that you are not allowed to touch or climb on. So, it's a nice little museum for adults, but I won't be bringing the kids back unless we are just going for a ride on the trains.

Was in here last Sunday. All of the volunteers seemed to have an attitude of where they have the luxury of treating you like a dumb tourist since they aren't getting paid. They all seem misinformed as well. I asked if the volunteer up front what time their next train ride would be and his response was "This isn't Amtrak, you need to go across the parking lot and ask them!" WTH? When I asked if the museum was self guided, he said "yes". Well, a few minutes after being in uncomfortably hot museum (it was 97 deg. that day) I noticed there were two separate groups with guides. When I asked another volunteer about the guides, he said "I have no idea who they are, they must be a bunch of foreigners". Another WTH moment. After 15 minutes minutes of sweating under a roof with no A/C or insulation and being insulted, I had enough. I regret spending any money here and only give this place 2 stars since I have an appreciation for American history.

Can't comment on the museum itself, but we took the Santa Train, and my "choo choo" loving toddler had a blast. He got to get a candy cane from Santa, and after he played in a train inside the building and got to color a picture. The train just went around the depot a couple of times, but was a long enough ride to make the $5 ticket a steal. There were also people dressed in period costumes who were just wonderful, and took pictures for everyone. My only complaint is that it would have been nice if they put up some Christmas decorations around the tracks so you have something to look at during the ride. Other than that, well worth the price, especially for my son who keeps asking us to go back - "I ride choo choo train?"

I love train rides and museums, but I'm not a foamer. Yet every time I pass by or stop by the Nevada State Railroad Museum on my way from the Washoe to the Carson Valley, one of Ivan Pavlov's dogs immediately calls my name. This Museum is not Sacramento size, but does a nice job of preserving the railroad heritage of Nevada. This includes locomotives and cars of the famous Virginia and Truckee Railroad, of which much has been donated from the Hollywood studios that has used them in their productions. Much of the museum equipment was obtained from Hollywood studios, where they were often featured in movies and television. Museum activities consist of operation of historic railroad equipment, including train rides, handcar rides, lectures, an annual railroad history symposium, changing exhibits, and a variety of special events. The Museum also has an ongoing research and restoration program. The historic station from Wabuska, Nevada is not located on the museum grounds. The building is, in essence, still used as a working railroad station where tickets for the museum train rides are purchased. The museum is operated by the Nevada Department of Cultural Affairs, which is currently having budgetary challenges in keeping this place open. So don't miss your chance to see this fine piece of history. Because like Uncle Joe, things might be moving kind of slow at the Junction.

My daughter and son came a week ago and loved it! So they brought us back and we loved it! The only complaint is it was windy and cold outside! The volunteers were excellent, and the train rides were wonderful and we planned to come back! Thank you!

Very cool experience. The kids loved it. Entry is $6 but kids 18 and under free. Train tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for kids up to 11. Every one is super nice. Make sure you outside and look at the big trains.

Great place to take your kids if they love trains. There are several beautifully restored engines and coach cars. They have a hand car that you can ride. There are several cars that you can climb aboard and explore. There is a toy train table to play with and a few other interactive exhibits for the kids. They operate different cars on a track around the property that you can ride on. When we visited the museum they were running an old motor car. (This train ride is not included in the museum admission, but it was only a few dollars and kids ride free) All of the volunteers were very friendly and knowledgable. Anyone under 18 is free. They have a functioning turntable that they use to bring out and store the train for visitors to ride on. If you happen to be there about 30 minutes before closing you can watch them operate it. If you're so inclined you can even help as it is powered entirely by manpower. They have a room you can peak into to see any current restoration projects they are working on. In closing, I highly recommend it if you or your kids like trains.

I have a friend who is a total train nerd, and on a day where it was too warm to snowboard, he suggested we came here. His wife and I rolled our eyes, but we promised we'd let him go here if we could go shopping later (hehehe). The museum, for non-train nerds, can be really, excruciating boring. Compared to Sacramento's train museum (yeah, we got dragged to that one too), this one paled in comparison. But this is from the perspective of someone who could care less about trains. It's just okay. Sorry, train nerds.

In the center of Carson City is the historical Railroad museum, and depot. $8 to walk through a very limited train history, a few cargo trains, some models, and a gift shop. The train depot was $8 per person as well, and soooo incredibly not worth going round and round in a circle for about 5 cycle! The conductor took your ticket, you board the train... Sit by the window, and see absolutely nothing of value for your money. When I read the brochure, I literally "anticipated" that we would actually bs taking a 2 hour or so real train ride... Somewhere...(?). Anywhere...(?). But nope! It just took up in circles, with no conversation, except for with the person you came with. Had we not gone into the museum itself, I would have learned nothing about the how/when the train came to be. Disappointed, completely. Even the conductors lacked customer "personality". O'well. If you go- it's likely a fun thing to do for 5 and under (the train ride, not the museum)... Otherwise, go across the street a ways and drop the money in a slot machine to have better odds of a better time. :)

We enjoy coming here. It is a little pricey but definitely fun we would go every month if it was more affordable to go on the train rides. Either way we had an absolute blast the last time and it was cool taking my kids on the ride I took when I was a kid! And can't wait to go back for Christmas!