Seashore Trolley Museum

The Seashore Trolley Museum is such a cool place to visit! They have an amazing collection of restored trolleys and streetcars from all over, and you even get to ride a historic trolley down a scenic rail line. The staff are super friendly and knowledgeable, and you can tell they’re passionate about the history they’re sharing. It’s a fun and unique experience for all ages—definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area!

This place is huge, and its not a place you can miss out on. It's home to a great amount of rapid transit equipment. They offer trolley rides, which explains a good amount of history on the car, the rails it runs on, and the rails it used to run on. And driving from New Jersey which is about 6 hours, im gonna come back.

There are a lot of trolleys from around the world. As the one volunteer stated they could all work for the rest of their lives and still not make a dent in the list that they would like to restore. We spent hours their going through the big boys and I also enjoyed the huge model train layout. I would think kids would love this.

Amazing museum with a great collection of old trolleys from around the world, model train set, restoration barn, and more. Our favorite part was riding the trolley down the rail line a few miles through the woods. The conductors and staff were friendly and kind, inviting our kids to ride in the front and even try on their conductor hats for pictures. The staff were so generous to share their passion and knowledge with all of the visitors. Tickets are good for unlimited same day rides if you have time to linger. Definitely worth a stop!!

Booked this last minute and got in the trolley last minute and they still let me in, i do not recommend it but i appreciate that they did it for me. This tour was amazing and very educational for little town of kennebunkport, you get to pass by president’s G. Bush residence and other celebrities houses there, felt like hollywood of amount of celebrities that have houses in kennebunkport, i forgot our tour guide’s name but he was awesome

Great time with our toddler see Daniel the Tiger and going on a short little trolly ride. Fun for the kids. Ample parking. Large store for gifts and snacks. Pleasant staff. Worth an afternoon trip.

I enjoyed the visit! A fun way to sort of step into the past. Bring a camera. 📸

The length of the trolley ride was just right for our family. Checked some boxes. We didn't explore too much around the grounds, though, as we were low on time. We did spend a good amount of time in the model train area, although not finished, it was still nice. Might need signs in the bathrooms in that new building to know which button to use to flush that fancy toilet, haha. All the staff and volunteers were very nice. I found the prices at the gift shop pretty standard, and I'm so excited about the train duck.

I was here on a hot, humid day so that may affect my rating. If you are in to electric trolleys this place is awesome. However, some areas were closed and you couldn't get on the cars. The ride was nice although you only see woods. The museum itself is nice. One room but with places to sit and take your time learning about trolleys. Unfortunately families brought babies and toddlers who did not appreciate the ride or museum. Not anything you can change but it didn't add to the place. My husband loved it. Me, not so much but if you are into trolleys you should see this.

My kid loves this place being a MBTA fan. We come every now and then. He likes going in and out of the old cars and making his hands filthy playing with the old doors. He loves learning about the old models and wonders how Boston used to look with all the old trains. I personally love the old Northampton Orange Line Elevated Rail sign. Great gift shop. Great people running it. If you can do a trolley ride you should.

Bottom Line: Family friendly museum with a wide variety of trolleys and a 25 minute trolley ride. I love trains and most rail based means of transportation so I was excited to visit the Seashore Trolley Museum. The museum sits on many acres and there are various buildings so plan to do some walking outside. The museum primarily consists of some simple exhibits, various barns packed with trolleys and similar vehicles and a 25 minute trolley ride. There are also a few historic buildings on the property and various non-restored trollies, streetcars, train cars and buses scattered around. What impressed me most about the museum is the wide variety of trollies in their collection. They are the first and largest electric railway museum so perhaps I shouldn't be surprised that their collection spans several continents, many countries and plenty of states. It was fun to see streetcars from my local area. The trolley I found the most fascinating was an open air trolley with tiered seating from Montreal. It reminded me of a parade float but it was actually used for sightseeing tours. I'm glad I explored the various barns so I could see the museum's whole collection including the first streetcar ever retired from service and purposefully saved as a museum piece. Finally, I enjoyed learning about the Atlantic Shore Line trolley service. The museum's trolley ride uses two miles of ASL's right away and it was nice to learn a little local history about the origins of the trolley line.

Very nostalgic. Scenic trail was not too great but the overall experience was cool. Kids had a blast.

A great place to take kids for a 20 minute trolley ride. During Christmas they decorate the trolley cars with wreaths and lights. The friendly and knowledgeable staff provided complimentary hot cocoa. A piano player played Xmas favorites next to Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Out of the way and entirely unexpected...this place has an amazing collection of historic trolleys and the short trip was a blast. Be sure and walk through the car barn!

This is just a short train ride on an old trolley through the woods. The driver explained the history of this history trolley which was interested. I couldn't hear part of his explanation because even though they stopped the trolley to explain, it was still running. Great for kids. Too expensive for what it is.

Our toddler loves all things trains, so the Trolley Museum was a must stop for us AND it was a rousing success! If you even have a remote curiosity about trains/trolleys/transportation, this is a must visit!!!! They have a rebuilt track with restored trolleys from throughout the United States that the volunteer conductors will give you an enjoyable history about! While you're riding the trolleys (which is unlimited rides while you're there as part of your ticket) you'll get a great overview of the history of the museum and the trolley line itself. The whole ride is about 35-45 minutes. In addition to that, there's tons of trolleys being restored or have been restored on-site that you can checkout as well as buses and other vehicles. There's restored railroad crossings and so much more. This a worthwhile visit that has left at least our toddler begging for us to take him again!

If you love trolleys then this is the place for you. We did it as a side stop. It was fun but I think I'd be more worth the money to ride all day which is what the ticket allows. We just rode once. Lots of history from the driver. The trolley goes to a park. They run every 45 minutes and it's not always the same trolley I noticed.

This is a wonderful adventure you must experience while in Maine. The knowledge and information the staff provides is overwhelming. Throughout the ride the history they shared with us was much appreciate. The volunteers are passionate in their job and we appreciate all they do.

I love the Trolley museum! I went here when I was six years old and we just returned 25 years later. They were still selling the same conductor teddy bear that I got when I was six, which made me smile. Given the COVID-19 pandemic, we couldn't explore as much of the park as we normally could but the conductor took some time to give us an extra tour - which we loved!!! The trolley ride was beautiful through the fall foliage. All in all, we were so happy that we visited this special place! One thing to note: Like most places in Maine, you must be from New England or NY/NJ to visit. If you're from a different state, you need to have a negative COVID test and proof that you've been in the state. We are from the area so we were fine, but just a heads up!

This place is awesome!!!! I loved seeing the old 7 train at the front and the trolley ride was super cool! People are very knowledgeable and there's a lot to see

Amazing experience for the family. Trolleys from all over the world from so long ago. Really takes you back to a different era. The conductors were very friendly and they have a really nice gift shop with a lot of goodies for the kids.

This was an unexpected fun time. It was part of a scheduled tour and not somewhere I would have ventured otherwise. The all-volunteer staff was fantastic! They were passionate, entertaining and funny. They really knew the history and loved sharing it all. I would recommend a visit - plan on 30-45 minutes.

This is a great museum in the Kennebunks that offers a glimpse into tons of trolleys from all over the country (and a few international ones as well!). Came with my parents during COVID and they are doing a great job keeping folks distanced and feeling safe. The trolley ride was fun and the guide gave some great local info. Checking out all the trolleys gave us an afternoon activity and we appreciated the big collection.

my great nephew has been asking to go here for over A year. He is obsessed with trains and trolleys since he was a toddler, he is now 19! I finally took time off and we spent the weekend in Maine but our "Main" objective was the trolley museum! Not a disappointment at all! The Motormen were knowledgeable and answered every question we had! This place is amazing! We had so much fun riding on the trolleys then exploring all the barns with the older transportation trolleys, subs and buses! So informative and interesting! Your volunteers are awesome and deserve to be praised! you really made my nephews day! definately reccommended!

We came here yesterday with our two-year-old and all three of us had a great time. I highly recommend--super cool, quirky museum that is also fun for adults. The place is less of a museum in the traditional sense and more of a boneyard--reminded me most of the Neon Museum in Vegas but with light rail cars instead of neon signs. The staff is nearly all volunteer and they collect trolleys, light rail cars and buses from all over the world. They restore them and drive them, and love sharing what they know with visitors. The biggest hit with our two year old was of course actually riding the trolleys on the private 1.5-mile track.

On our unpredictable journey, we saw the sign for the Seashore Trolley Museum. I'm not obsessed with trains or trolley systems but I found it an interesting stop. First off it's a great place for kids. I would have loved to come here as a child. There are hands on displays and of course a trolley ride though the countryside. The prices are fairly reasonable for a family to experience it. There are 9 departure times throughout the day so there won't be a long wait to the next ride. What is amazing here is their staff are people who volunteer their time to keep this it going. They are full of knowledge and want to share with everyone who walks through the door. They are there to preserve history and keep it alive. Just goes to show you, you can learn something new everyday! Stop in to see a piece of history.

I been with MBTA for 35yrs, it was great to see all the bus and trolley. Thank you so much for volunteered staff. I got to show my daughter, Northampton Station on Orange Line train on EL and MBTA Bus

Very entertaining and fun experience for people of all ages and backgrounds! Must visit if interested in history and fun way of exploring the area! You will be mentally placed in the last century and I personally found it amazing! Very friendly for kids! Not overcrowded and popular among all tourists of ME which is extra nice.

We were camping in Wells and looking for something to do with the grandkids on a cloudy day and was pleasantly surprised by the Trolley Museum. All the volunteers were so friendly and knowledgeable and eager to share the history! The kids loved climbing on the trolley cars and pretended to drive. It was a great way to spend an afternoon.

Been coming here for 30 years. This place beats staring at an iPad hands down. The staff are extremely friendly and knowledgeable. The grounds are well kept. The trolley ride is a step back in to time on nicely restored and kept trolley cars. Overall, very well done. Sure to create some nice memories with the kids.

This summer as a group of friends we decided to go visit the Seashore Trolley Museum. Every member of the group were bus drivers, and we were excited to see both the trolley and bus collection. We were even more excited to realize that the museum had one of our old company buses, and were excited about seeing it. When we arrived at the museum or original expectations were quickly surpassed! We hadn't realized how large the museum grounds were and found it a blast to explore the lot without hassle from any staff. The staff members were extremely welcoming and answered all of our questions, but again didn't follow us around the grounds allowing us to spend as much time looking at the collection. At one point we sparked a conversation with an employee who eventually gave us a private tour of one of their closed trolleys! It was overall an amazing experience, and I look forward to attending the museum in the future.

This place was super fun. I was here for hours. But of course I was, because I went pretty far out of my way to get here, because I'm a train nerd. The train ride is cute. They tell you 100 times how the conductors are all volunteers and are very enthusiastic about answering questions. If you don't ask any questions they might answer them anyway. It's a fun little ride. You can ride the trolley as many times as you want. The museum is cute. But it's the garages that you came here for. Quite a few of the cars are open for you to go inside. The ones that aren't are clearly marked, so you can wander in and out as you please. It's not just trolleys, as there are quite a few subway cars and a whole collection of busses out in the weeds. If you are a train nerd or looking for a place to do a weird photoshoot, this is the spot to go.

I've been going to the Seashore Trolley Museum since I was probably around 10 years old and it remains, to this day at 27, one of my favorite places to spend a day when I'm back home in New England. The entrance fee is nominal, and your money goes to maintaining the operations of the museum as well as the restoration of the various vehicles the museum has on display, so it's money well spent. Seashore is great whether you're a kid or an adult. For the price of admission, you have access to a huge collection of trains, trolleys, buses, and other public service vehicles, in addition to unlimited trolley rides down a mile or so of track that traces the route of a former rail line, while the conductor gives you a history lesson on the museum and the rail route you're riding. There's also a restoration shop with an overhead catwalk, where you can look down and see various trolleys being repaired and restored. When you've finished your stay, hit up the gift shop for some fun toys, souvenirs, books, or t-shirts. Some tips: you're going to be doing a lot of walking, so wear comfortable shoes! I'd recommend steering away from sandals as some of the ground is sand and gravel. Also, since a lot of the museum is outdoors, sunscreen is a good idea, or a sun hat or parasol if you're susceptible to sunburns or don't do well in the heat. Also, there are no food facilities on site, so either plan to grab lunch before or after your visit, or bring a picnic lunch to eat there.

This is a GREAT place if you are into antique railroading and trolleys. They also have a selection of antique buses. The grounds may not be neat as a pin, but that is because the collection is so huge, not everything has been restored. There are also a lot of spare parts and they have to go someplace! To a railfan, piles of train/trolley bits are not ugly, they are interesting... The Museum has various special events during the year, and there are always trolleys to ride. You can walk around the collection, watch the staff restoring trolleys, browse the large gift shop, etc. This is a great place to bring small kids. I don't know why other reviewers say the staff is rude. I have never seen that. They all know a lot about the museum, and are volunteers. They are there because they want to be there. So if you want to step back in time and relax, I highly recommend Seashore!

We have been visiting this gem of a museum since our kids were young in the early 80's. Now we are taking our grandchildren. Every little kid loves Thomas the Train and Daniel Tiger Trolley. My grandson was ecstatic that he was riding on the real thing. The motorman even let him ring the bell and blow the whistle! These are real antique trolleys that take you for a ride for over three miles along the rails into the countryside. The volunteer conductor gives you a short history of trolleys. Your ticket let's you ride all day! We rode trolleys from Connecticut, Minneapolis, and Dallas, Texas. If you like transportation history, you won't be disappointed!

Having been to the B&O Railroad and the Illinois Railroad Museum as well as other smaller ones across the country. It's not as big as most. However that doesn't mean it's not worth it. Far from it. Was one of the more hands on experiences that you can have. You are actually allowed to go into most of the trolleys. It's great to actually not just see but to touch and explore. The highlight was actually seeing the restoration building. Makes you appreciate the love and hard work it takes to restore these trolleys. Being able to ride more then one style of trolly really topped off your experience to this museum. The mile and half so long track is refreshing and fun. This is a must see for any rail fan.

This place has a special place in my heart because anytime I am in New Hampshire, we visit this place. It is very fun for people who want to learn more about the history of streetcars. Me, my brother, and my grandfather did some exploring, and found they have a great selection of cars. If you have kids, they have an interactive area showing how the cars work. There is a 3 mile round trip you can take as well, so this is a fun place if you like to ride on the different cars. Overall, this place is fun for all ages, and very nice. P.S. This place is run by volunteers, from restoration to operation.

A friend found this museum in a guide book and wanted to check it out. I didn't know what to expect from the world's largest electric railway museum, so my expectations weren't too high. However, I was pleasantly surprised! Now, this place will really only appeal to you if you take mass transit or have an interest in mass transit. They're situated on a few acres of land, and by labor of love, they have restored a few trolleys (that work wonderfully) which take you around the property. Keep in mind that some of these trolleys are 100+ years old! With your admission, you can check out the warehouse where they are actively restoring trains and trolleys from all around the world (some from as far as Budapest, Hungary.) I wasn't too much a fan of this part, as I found the shop very musty smelling and a trifle warm in temperature. My favorite part was going inside the old NYC subway cars, hanging from the vintage straphangers and ringing the bell that would request a stop. Also, seeing the old school ads brought out a ton of laughs- especially if they involved deodorant that apparently keeps you smelling fresh for 5 days (!) As for the tour itself, the guides could be a bit more humorous and bubbly, but other than that they were still pretty informative and could answer everyone's questions. Props to the gift shop, as I was able to enjoy a bottle of Moxie (a soda that's only available in Maine) for only $1.50. Overall, I had a great time and I highly recommend to those who are looking for a unique museum experience. Oh and quick tip- this is mostly an outdoor museum, and I was lucky to visit when it was warm and sunny. Not sure how much fun I'd have if it was raining or if it was freezing out.

It's a great museum if you're interested in antique trolleys. It would be even better if they had an audio tour available.

Truly a hidden gem! This was such a refreshing change of pace for this area. It is worth the stop whenever you are in the area. It is a wonderful thing to be able to go back in time like this. You really learn how hard work and ingenuity built the trolly systems around the world. The same hard work and dedication is what makes this museum so special. Everyone involved has a passion for the material and it really shows. You will learn things you never thought you needed to know. Walking through the antique cars from around the world really gives you a nostalgic feeling that is not felt often. What a lucky stop for my wife and I on our trip to Maine. Stop in for yourself; when your ears are greeted by the peaceful 40's era music and you lay your eyes on a classic trolly ticket booth, you'll know you're at the right place.

A delightful little excursion when you're visiting the area. (Get it? Excursion? It's a trolley museum....OK, laugh now, you know you want to.) It's completely unexpected that in Coastal Maine there is a streetcar museum, but hey, why not. This place is entirely run by volunteers, and the facilities were built by volunteers... how can you not love that? Very informative and friendly folks throughout, and your admission is only $10. They have the typical "learn something" areas, and then you exit the "depot" and can take as many 1.5 mile rides as you wish on an antique trolley car (and you can switch up cars each time, too). I love how all the train conductor volunteers are in uniform and absolutely follow all the rules bringing trains in and out of the loading areas. So cute! We rode on a beautifully restored (yes, volunteers do the restoring, too) open air car from 1902 that originally travelled in Connecticut. The track they run you up and down was a real railroad track back in the day that transported folks from Kennebunkport to Portland every day. It's charming to me to find a group trying to preserve the past, and from this group to do so in such an appealing way is awesome. Sure, your kids will love it. But we are a childless couple in our late 40's, and we liked it, too. So take an hour break from your sunbathing, shopping, and people watching to join them for a ride. Who knows, you might even learn something!

This place exceeded my expectations! We went based on the amazing reviews and they did not disappoint. It was $12 for adults to ride the trolleys all day. Trolleys go out every 45 minutes we had almost 30 minutes to wait when we arrived. They had tons of toys for my daughters to play with in the big conference center. We took the open trolley ride which was enjoyable my two year old got a little antsy but tolerated it. What we found super entertaining was the garages with the trolleys in them they can get in. We all loved them! So much fun so worth the money and so enjoyable!

I was initially unsure of this museum when driving up. It looked sort of eh and there were trains and cars all over the place. But I have to tell you, this place was awesome. The museum housed in the building gave a great background to the trolleys and their history. We got right on the trolley ride, which lasted a good while and the tour guide volunteers were very helpful. They put on quite a show for us. We walked two huge warehouses full of restored cars. You are able to board most of them. We also walked outside and went inside some buses and trackless trolleys. Full of history and I'd recommend it to any family with a son (like mine!) who is obsessed with trains. There are also play train tables inside for the kids to play with and my son really enjoyed them!

My family and I went to the museum for Trolley-ween this year & had a great time! We walked through the museum, gift shop, barns with more trolley cars, and even found a couple of the hidden ghost lollipops. Fun! The volunteers who staff the museum reminded me of my grandpa... lots of silly jokes and kindness towards the little kids who visit. The "big kids" driving the trains really enjoy what they're doing & it shows. The highlight of our visit was the trolley ride... the seats were heated! Our whole gang loved it, took a ton of photos, and look forward to coming back again next season with friends! Thanks, Seashore Trolley Museum!

Very family friendly! My son loved riding the train!

We recently went back to Sea shore for members day back last Fall. It was just as great as the last time we visited. The staff was friendly and helpful. They even took me to the back Bus sheds on a private tour. If you haven't been, please stop by. Its work the trip.

My parents have brought me here since I was knee height, and now I occasionally visit with my girlfriend when we're in the area. I would have to say that the place has come a loooong way over the years. The volunteers are very informative and the work they put into saving our history is incredible with some things they've been working on lately. They have a room that you typically find in any museum, static displays along the walls, but it's professionally done (compared to some other museums like this) and there's plenty of imagry to go with the text. A nice balance where I didn't get overwhelmed with reading. The volunteers were friendly as we went out for our trolley ride. One of them joked that as we're moving they'd turn the air-conditioning on. The breeze felt good on the warm day. The ride was pleasant through the museum and out into the woods. Looks to be a long to-do list for the group with some of the things we passed. The history lesson at the end of the ride was informative and makes me look at Canobie Lake Park with a different eye (you'll have to visit to learn what I mean). It was nice being able to walk around and look over everything, seeing the handywork that tradesmen did back in their lifetime. Think of it as walking around a car show and admiring all the different models. On a side note, my girlfriend got a kick out of seeing a Yankees logo on a train from New York (she's a native). Something for everyone! Overall, I would recommend this visit for anyone with a family. Who can go wrong riding the trolleys all day. I saw one kid riding at least two different trolleys! Also, it was a nice break from walking around the Port with the girlfriend. There's only so much standing around in stores I can take. Oh and she enjoyed it too. She thought the Pumpkin Patch thing in the fall the volunteers talked about was cute.

It didn't cost us much. A little bit of work going up and down. I enjoyed myself . These guys know there stuff . If here come bring kids that can climb fairly well. It is by donation only

We had such an un-expectantly good time here! The conductors were very friendly, knowledgeable and personable! Loved hearing about the history and touring through the different types. It was stepping back in time. And "dog friendly"...they are not just advertising this, they really were!!! Dogs were treated to treats galore water and trolley rides right along with us!

The collection of some 300, YES that is correct 300 rolling stock, was the topping to my two month vacation visiting some of the museums on this part of the continent. Although much of the collection lies in areas not open to the visitor, that which was available for viewing was heart rendering. I visited the last open weekday of the season which was Columbus Day, the day was cloudy but that failed to put a damper on my visit; two streetcars were offering rides throughout the day. The folks are ALL knowledgeable and are more than willing to fill you in on any information concerning a particular rolling stock. The rolling stock which is sheltered is just exquisite; the book store is surprisingly very well stocked with rail related books. Two guidebooks are available for sale, both are reprints from the mid-1990's so I purchased both but I highly recommend that you buy "Historic Cars.". Make this collection a MUST VISIT!!

We went there with a tour group and our tickets were pre-paid by our tour company. We rode on the trolley and got to see what it was like "back in the day". It was interesting and the workers do not get paid. They know a lot, volunteer their time and they wear the authentic trolley employees uniforms and hats. They answered all our questions and were patient and kind. We thought that it was interesting that if a place like Hollywood needs a trolley for movie making purposes...this is the place they must contact. They have extensive grounds with a collection of all different ages and time periods of trolleys. It was pretty cool knowing that we rode on a trolley that has been used in several period piece movies.

An excellent museum! Our four-year old son loves trains and this was the ideal museum for him. We took him to Edaville Railroad and the North Conway Scenic Railroad and the trolley museum was his favorite! He loved the trolley ride and seeing the various buses and trolleys on the property. The restored trolleys are works of beauty. Worth the trip for anyone who loves trains or trolleys.

Was just reminded of this place when I saw it mentioned on Jeopardy (no joke). Went there in 2004 - before the days of Yelp - with a group of developmentally disabled adults. The treatment we received there was reprehensible at best. The staff there seemed terribly inconvenienced and slightly disgusted that they had to serve our clients. Will never ever EVER go back. Don't even know what they had to offer honestly because we hardly got in there before leaving thoroughly offended.

Grown-ups can appreciate the history, while kids will get a kick out of climbing up and down and in and out of a large collection. Many of the trolleys are operational, and make runs on a short private track. This museum is all the more astonishing as it is run largely by volunteers. One note: old trolleys in an active railyard -- NOT wheelchair friendly.

Great museum with its own history. Great location. You really need to start with the trolley ride followed by the backstory tour. Great store. Didn't try the food. Great staff. Fun for whole family.

Great family activity! Went there with a 5 year old and he had an absolute blast! He was very excited to ride in 2 different trolleys (each round trip is about 20-30 minutes or so) and better yet, climb on all of the different parked trolley types. Trains depart every 40 minutes and go in a loop. His father was equally interested and excited. Wish we had more time to explore (we spent about 1.5 hours). Highly recommend!

We stopped at this museum at the recommendation of a friend and decided to check it out. We arrived on a Saturday, which was members day celebration and more trolleys were out for rides and displays than normal. After taking a ride on No. 225, we took a guided tour offered by Douglas Carrier. Douglas gave us an incrediable tour providing us with so much of his knowledge and humor about each car that we totally forgot about time and thoroughly enjoyed the 3 hour information that we would not have gotten otherwise. He was an incrediable tour guide and the museum should really consider making him a full time employee. This place is filled with so much history and amazing restorations done by volunteers who contribute not only time but a lot of their own money. This place should really be identified as a historic site to bring in more visitors and funding desparately needed. Another consideration is to have audible narration available to visitors when someone like Douglas is not available to give personal guided tours. Great stop!