Went on the Duluth Zephyr train ride this past weekend (11am - Sunday) with the family. We also bought tickets to check out the train museum which did not disappoint. The tickets are discounted if you are taking a train ride. There are so many trains to not only check out on the outside but a lot of them you can climb aboard and check out the inside. How cool! They have the oldest known snow plow train in the world. So cool. Train Rides: Especially during the changing of the leaves time of year (autumn) make sure to book your tickets early & online cause certain train rides do sell out! The train ride was 75 minutes and it was fun to check out different train cars and the lower and upper decks of the coach trains. The leaves are starting to change color and they looked great. There's a place to buy treats inside the museum and on the train cars. You're also allowed to bring your own snacks and drinks on board too! Other than a huge chocolate brownie that was left on the floor of our seating area on the train that I cleaned up. We had a good time and even moved cars at the halfway point to get another view. Parking - there is free parking along the backside of the train museum if you score a spot otherwise there is a huge parking garage right next door. read more

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Great spot for kids or other train enthusiasts! We took our 4yo and his 75yo grandfather and they both had a blast Lots of cool trains and history! They let you go on a bunch of trains. Also there were some sweet wooden train tables for kids who need a different kind of train experience. Fun times! Also we went on a trip with the railroad and it was very fun! read more

Very nice gift shop and friendly workers. We thoroughly enjoyed our train ride for the scenic, elegant dinner tour. Our servers, Jill and Marianne we're lovely. Dinner was very good and the service was excellent. The narration along the route was also very helpful and and informative. We had a very nice evening and we will do this again the next time we're in town PS, bring a light jacket because it does get a little chilly with the air-conditioning read more

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Our family came for the Christmas City Express story time and train ride. It was $40/person and included a super cute interactive story time that was about 20 minutes, time to explore the train museum for about 10 minutes, an opportunity to take pictures with Santa, and then the train ride. The train ride is about 10 minutes or so total but in an enclosed train that is warm, they give you cookies and hot chocolate. Overall the experience is super cute and the kids absolutely love it! The train Depot is a tad bit cold so you'll likely want to keep your coats and hat on but the storyline is adorable, Cheryl the narrator is very engaging and there are a few trains you can go in and tour which was super interesting! Highly recommend doing it at least once with your little ones! read more

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I have never been much into railroads really, enjoyed them sure but just not a fanboy type. That being said, this place is AWESOME. Here you can walk on and tour many different railroad engines and cars, marvel at the sheer size, weight and ingenuity and really have a fun time. As you can see by the photos I posted, the museum is clean and organized out in a way to make it easy to tour and enjoy. They have taken several COVID precautions to keep you safe as well, as long as people mind what they are doing. While here, take the train ride and learn more about Duluth! You will be glad you did. read more

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We loved the depot and museum, it is beautiful inside and the trains are so cool to see. You get a great snapshot of the past when you walk through the train cars. We didn't have time to take the train ride but we will make it a point to make a trip back so we can ride the train. You will not be sorry you stop here. read more

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We had an amazing time at the museum, could have spent hours there! We loved the whimsical model train scavenger hunt :)

While my husband and I were visiting the Duluth area, we toured the Lake Superior Railroad Museum (located inside The Historic Union Depot), which was FANTASTIC! There were SO many train cars on the ground floor, with recreated vintage storefronts from the 1890s-1900s along the sides of the train shed (whose roof was provided by the freeway overpass). At the back of the enclosed portion was a roofed but otherwise open train yard with lots of other train cars on the tracks. Every train car inside and out had an interpretive plaque, and so many of them could be boarded and toured. We spent an hour on that floor alone. The two upper floors of the museum have various exhibits, such as immigrants to the area, veteran awards and activities, and an art gallery at the top of the main hall. The main hall of the depot is open and speaks of the bygone days of train travel across the country. The North Shore Scenic Railroad operates out of the lower floor of the Depot, and is a cool historic train that makes daily runs to/from Two Harbors, just up the shoreline of Lake Superior. It was wonderful to hear the train whistle as the train arrived and departed! For all train aficionados or anyone who is interested in this time period of the heyday of train travel, the Depot is a charming spot to while away an afternoon. We definitely recommend it! read more

We came here for the Christmas Train Express experience before we went to Bentleyville this year in Duluth. Although the train ride wasn't the most amazing or thrilling things I have done, it was a neat experience to see the large locomotives at night instead of during the day in the museum while you waited to board the Christmas train. There is a lot of memorabilia from local locomotive companies and organizations. You can easily spend a couple of hours in here. We only had about 15-20 minutes to look at things since we mainly came to ride the Christmas Express. All of the train cars were lit up though and you could peer in or walk into many of the train's cabins and rooms. It is so cool just standing in front of one of the locomotives, they are huge! I will have to come back during the day with my family to take a few hours to walk through. Duluth is an important port and shipping city in Minnesota and this museum showcases many pieces that point to the past and to the present use of trains in those industries. If you love trains or are just curious about trains, you will like this place, there is something for everyone to do and see. read more

So much fun! I'm not much of a reviewer but this place exceeded all expectations. Our six year old could have stayed here all day. You can go inside about 10 of the real train cars and locomotives making it an authentic visit with more than just pictures and descriptions. We also enjoyed the North Shore Scenic Railroad trip. We had a beautiful day to enjoy the open air car. Highly recommend both. read more

Lake Superior Railroad Museum - One of the super cool hands on spots. - Museums Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

I was not expecting this to be worth the money to get in. But it was! Two toddlers and 10 year old and we were occupied for a long time. Tons of info and cool stuff to look at and experience. All of it very cool, I wish I would have had more time to read everything and pay closer attention. Also wish we went in summer for the train ride :) We will be returning. We went in the winter on a weekday so it was very empty which was perfect for us :) read more

This is a great place to visit. I suggest line up your visit to the museum with a ride on a train up the lakeshore. Some nicely restored trains. I've been to other museums which have a lot more trains. read more

What an awesome stop!!! We had so much fun walking around the rail cars and learning about the railroad and how it was used during mining and the lumber trade. I would have given this all 5 stars but the gift shop wasn't open and we would've liked to stop. But really a fun museum. Everyone should at least go once or twice. read more

Lake Superior Railroad Museum - Museums Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

This museum shares the same address as the North Shore Scenic Railroad. Where to begin? The 1892 Union Depot is on the Natl Reg of Historic Places. The rolling stock displayed in the building is simply gorgeous; the remainder sit outside under a loading platform shelter. The focus here is railroading in the Lake Superior region. There is also a scale train layout, and a recreation of Duluth's Union St and Railroad St (@20 businesses represented). The Yellowstone type locomotive exhibit actually shows the motion of the connecting rods and driving wheels. As an added plus, there are a number of rail related momentos on displayed. This is understandably another MUST see museum. read more

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This place is pretty cool. The museum places you in a different era. I loved the mini store displays with the prices of how much things cost back then. The brick floor show it authenicity with it's unevenness. The train tour that we went on was interesting. I love it that each cart was different. It was like traveling though time from cart to cart. I learned so much from the tour about Duluth. This city speaks volumes when it comes to history. It saddens me that the government of Duluth does not spend much money on improvement and preservation of this town. read more

If you have a train loving person in your life, this is a great place to go. My 4 year old was in heaven. Some of the trains are open where you can walk through, otherwise you can just see many from the outside. Not super stroller/handicap friendly, especially they area in the back outside. Many exposed holes in the brick sidewalks that could make it difficult to get through. read more

Wonderful museum for little kids and big kids! You can climb on dozens of trains and see a model train exhibit, watch a Charlie Brown movie about the transcontinental railroad and go on the Zephyr train to see the north shore. Wonderful time! We became members and get unlimited entry which is great for friends when they come visit with their kids! read more

Finally a meusum you can explore for real The number of trains allowed for a full day of exploring and climb right up. Look in the engines, walk the mail car or just check out the old China setting. There is something for every age in this place. Go up the stairs to the original duluth train depot lobby, with its high ceilings and grand fire place. The war section is interesting and the immagrants area is really neat. The history in this place is astonishing. We'll worth the $5 we paid to walk around. I was amazed at all Duluth had to offer at such reasonable prices. read more

Great place to take the kiddos! We could hardly keep up with our toddler. He was nuts about the choo choos! read more

Lake Superior Railroad Museum - Museums Near Me - Duluth, Minnesota

Many great artifacts and many interesting stories, when we were there The Depot was getting set up for a wedding which was really a eye sore in the main hall, they move the exhibits to the side to make room for some wedding reception.....quite upsetting to pay full price for a museum to only offer half a "tour"because the other half is closed to some wedding reception. All in all they have some great railroad artifacts that are quickly becoming more and more extinct and its good for them to be around. I hope they don't lose sight of why they are there (to preserve railroad history not as a wedding hall) at least tell people when they are setting up for a wedding read more

A very interesting museum with beautiful old trains. It was great fun for myself as well as my 4-year-old twins.

We weren't sure what to expect, but when we got there we were so very pleasantly surprised! The Union Depot building is a wonder in itself, and then you step inside and it's filled with beautiful, wonderfully restored and cared for locomotives and train cars as well as a huge assortment of railroad memorabilia. All of the children and adults in our group had a blast. I highly recommend it! read more

Really impressive. Loved the plow cars. Every cool period shop decorations, too. Was able to go into many of the cars and engines which was nice. Worth the admission cost. Impressive engineering of a time gone by. read more