A great museum to learn about the Wilmington railroad system. You can learn about how it got started and also about the people that worked for the railroad. There were lots of model trains to view. The entrance fee was very reasonable..only 12 dollars for an adult ticket. The fact that it was just a block away from the hotel that I was staying at was a plus. read more

See all

It's a very cool railroad museum. Located right in downtown Wilmington. They do have parking but only a few spots. Cost is reasonable. Kids under 2 are free. They do add 3% to the price if you use a credit card. From what I can tell from their website, you can't purchase tickets in advance. Just have to purchase at the front desk. There are two parts, inside and outside. Outside has a train engine and a caboose. You can go inside both. These two don't take long to see. Inside has a lot more, including large running model train sets. Kids can interact with the train sets by pushing buttons to start trains, control bridges and other things on the set. There is also a play area where kids can put on different hats and vests, and play with train themed toys. The model train sets span two different rooms. There is also a museum section showing historic railroad items, including discussing the railroad history in the Cape Fear region. It's differently worth a visit. Kids will love it. read more

We visited the Wilmington Railroad Museum recently, and we found it to be a nice place to visit, and to learn about the history of the railroad industry in the Wilmington area. Tip: The museum offers limited free parking, but there are only a few spots. The venue is located in downtown Wilmington. There are exhibits here to potentially interest people of all ages. There's also a pretty nice area where kids can play with toy trains. Even if you're not particularly interested in trains, there's some fascinating history to be learned here; it's totally worth a visit! read more

See all

Our experience was exciting! Trains were cool! We paid the street parking and we realized theres a parking for the visitors fronting the e museum for free read more

See all

My kids love this museum, and I do too. There's tons of historical artifacts and cool tools to see, and they do a great job of relating everything to Wilmington and North Carolina. They're always adding on to the train sets so there are new bits to see when we come back each summer. My kids love that you can press buttons to control parts of the train sets, like raising bridges and making the trains go backwards. The kids area has dress up clothes, book, and a great wooden train set to build with. There are two real train cars outside you can go in as well. read more

See all

Small museum with an expansive children's area. Perfect for toddlers - we spent and hour and a half. Model buttons at their height, little stairs to viewing platforms throughout. One caboose outside for exploration and a large area with train toys, train tables and books. read more

See all

It is perfect for kids -lots of hands on activities. We took our three grandchildren ages 3, 5 and 9 and all had a great time pushing the buttons and finding all the details in the displays. Also interesting for the adults to learn how important the railroad was to Wilmington's growth. read more

This is my favorite museum ever! It was informative, interactive, and very interesting. I loved how interactive the train layout was . You can press buttons and make the trains, and other things go! The history was so interesting and I loved the videos too! I learned so much. There was a cute train scavenger hunt at the front of the store area. Staff were nice and friendly! I liked seeing the fancy china from the train cars. I felt like the pieces of history brought everything to life and made me think of the days with thriving train travel. I love history. The store had toys , books, shirts etc. outside there is a train car , again it really brings the history to life to step in there and explore. Parking was easy and ample, location is easy to get to. I loved this museum! read more

See all

We've been members for years & LOVE going to the train museum with our kids Staff is so friendly and willing to teach us all about cool facts so that's always fun read more

I thought I had been to the Wilmington Railroad Museum before but once I paid admission I knew I'd not been in this gem before. It is bigger than it appears from the outside too so make sure you give yourself enough time. I love trains and traveling by train so was impressed by all the history in the museum. I also love learning so this museum was both for me. The museum has the historical section for adults; some hands on parts for children and the model train displays. These model trains are so detailed that I was very impressed. The staff or volunteers were available to answer any questions and point out some things you might have missed such as a person on the model railroad in the barbershop. If you are looking to learn more about Wilmington's history, this museum will do just that. The museum has free parking available to those that are visiting too. Make sure to check out the gift shop too! read more

See all

I enjoyed my time here. Their collection of railroad memorabilia and equipment isn't large but it's in good shape and it is well displayed. If you really want railroads, the https://www.yelp.com/biz/virginia-museum-of-transportation-roanoke-2?hrid=QekUMpeWn0M1V23W6OMauw is at least ten times larger. A locomotive you can climb into the driver's seat, a caboose and a boxcar complete with a bunch of hobos are outside. Inside, a few very well done train sets are on display. They're set up so that they can be started and some of the actions can be keyed by a foot pedal (very COVID-appropriate!). When I stopped by a couple of volunteers were entertaining and answering questions, so that was cool. It is a cute museum and the kids will love it. Plan for two hours if you're doing it right. There are parking decks and street parking nearby. I think they'll validate your parking if you ask. [Review 13997 overall, 1319 of 2020, number 2637 in North Carolina.] read more

See all

The Railroad Museum is for the young and old alike. My friends younger kids loved the play area and us adults were able to learn about history and see the fine details in the displays and trains. It's not a large place but there is a range of areas from the large trains you can walk in to the small city model train displays. It's a fun few hours if it's a cold day or you need a relaxing break from the beach/heat! read more

See all

All COVID rules are being followed, took our grandson to visit the trains while walking the water front, a little tricky getting there with the current road construction but well worth the effort, something interesting for every age, Hugh room of model trains, highly recommended read more

Wilmington Railroad Museum - Inside - Museums Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Fun museum, get to walk inside a coal fired locomotive car and a vintage train car. Lots of antique things from the early twentieth century and great model sets of different towns. Lots of train themed children's books and toys. read more

Went here because my stepdad is into model trains and we were staying downtown. He had a blast and was able to buy a few used H.O. engines for sale that were donated to the museum (that they sell to make a few bucks). Stuff like this isn't popular with everyone but if you take time to read the actual exhibits they have you will learn a lot about the past. A++ read more

My family and I love this museum. The model trains are spectacular and hands feee operation helps make us feel safer. The toy room is perfect for the toddler, as well as the trains to explore. The museum is not too big, making it perfect for the kids (it's not overwhelming for them). The price is right as well. read more

Wilmington Railroad Museum - Museums Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

See all

This small museum doesn't grab your attention right away as there is so much else to do in Downtown Wilmington, but if you a an hour or two it is worth the time and a few dollars. The model train sets (really model cities) are so much fun and there are many opportunities to activate the trains and the various features that make these miniature worlds come alive!! The front of the museum has standard exhibits and history pointers. Waking towards the back you will find the such an amazing, expansive work of artistry, engineering, and fun. I have a new found appreciation for model train enthusiasts. Congratulations on breaking the Guinness World Record for...(come check it out). read more

Wilmington Railroad Museum - Museums Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Very cool place. The history lesson was fascinating and the model and big trains were fun. Definitely worth seeing and would like to go back when I have time to read everything. read more

I didn't get to walk through, but the rest of the family did, I didn't see them for a good 45 min. They had a lot of fun playing with the trains in the back. read more

Wilmington Railroad Museum - Check in office - Museums Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Can't say enough about this place. Perfect stop for adults and kids. Little ones might get a tad bored looking at all the cool history, BUT once they find the train rooms, watch out!!! There is a kids train room as well as a second one. Children have access to both and, not having any little ones in tow, we spent a considerable amount of time watching their expressions. Also had a great time operating the trains and the various displays. Highly recommend! read more

What a great museum. I'll be the first to admit, I'm not a huge fan of trains, nor do I look to visit train museums when I'm out traveling, but my wife and I were looking for activities to do with our 14-month old daughter when on vacation in Wilmington and this place looked perfect. We made the right choice because our daughter loved it and we did too. Great historical artifacts aside, I think the highlight for us all was the model trains. My daughter and I could have both sat there for hours watching the various model trains head around the tracks. The models were well crafted and provided for hours of watching fun. My daughter loved that she could even control a few of the trains. There is a really nice kids room with all sorts of toys for kids to play with. My daughter absolutely loved the wooden caboose she could climb into. The real engine and caboose that you could climb into were a lot of fun as well. Overall this was a great museum and at $8.50 for an adult and $4.50 for kids 2-12, this is a great bargain. I highly recommend visiting this museum with your little ones. read more

Babysat a friends kid a few months or so ago (not really my thing - ever) to keep them entertained I took them here. He loved it and I loved it. One of the guys on staff was very friendly and helpful. Engaging this little guy in the lore of trains over the years. There are several real trains on the property that you can go inside. Blast the horn. Open the windows. Climb up on. A kids paradise an adults Eh! I side there is a huge model train Area that is interactive and absolutely keeps the young kids busy and happy! read more

Took my son here on a weekday afternoon. The staff was very friendly, they offer a military discount and we basically had the place to ourselves. My son is going through a little bit of a train phase and it was hilarious to see how excited he was when he walked into the kid's play area. The museum is a little small, but the model trains were impressive and the fact that visitors can control them was great. Definitely worth a visit. read more

Fun train museum with lots to see and learn. Sky changes from daytime to nighttime frequently. Definitely worth a visit and would visit again. read more

What a great little museum for adults and kids. Not a big museum but the model railroad was very well made and the staff let the kids run the trains. Very good restoration job done to the old freight depot and I was impressed by how well the layout was easy to understand. Enjoyed reading all the railroad history and actually working the telegraph machine. Good static display of a Steam Loco, box car, and Caboose. Plenty to do for the kids. Highly recommend for a visit. Good way to spend a Saturday. Also, Historic Wilmington was a joy to explore where this museum was a feather in it's hat. read more

Wilmington Railroad Museum - Wilmington Railroad Museum Locomotive in front of entrance. - Museums Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

Its not the biggest train Museum I have ever been to but it was one of the more relaxed and fun. The biggest attraction was all the town train displays and the ability to actually make them run around the tracks. There were a few areas set up primarily for the history of the railroad in and around the Wilmington area, but thats about as far as the history aspect goes. Its defiantly worth a look if you are in the area. read more

This is a little museum, but it really is filled with a ton for kids to do. I wouldn't recommend it as solely an adult outing unless you have a real interest in model trains, but for a family, this is the perfect place to spend an afternoon. There is a huge model train display set up in the back that will interest bigger kids, and an entire play area filled with every kind of train toy imaginable. My four year old flipped for the push button model train set up in the play area, where he could just push the button and watch the trains go. The staff was friendly, we got a military discount, and we will definitely be back. read more

Wilmington Railroad Museum - Play area for the kids - Museums Near Me - Wilmington, North Carolina

This is a cool little musuem. I loved the old train artifacts. The kids loved the model train set up, which is the largest I've ever seen. Not sure it's worth what they charge for admission, but you can find buy one get one free coupons. read more

We visited the Railroad Museum last weekend and thoroughly enjoyed it. We were impressed with the care and detail that was taken across the entire museum. The highlights of the visit were the miniature train room and the real locomotive outside. The train room was very large with so many trains! My grandsons loved pushing the buttons to make them go. This is a great place for children and train enthusiasts alike. read more

Brought our 4 year old son here yesterday. Overall it was a good stop for him. They have a room with some history, a room of trains for kids to play with, a large room with model trains that are interactive with buttons that the kids can press, as well as a gift shop and caboose. Overall I think it was about $25 for my wife and I and 2 sons. We stayed for about an hour or so. Good experience for someone who likes trains but I don't think you could spend more than an hour here. read more

The highlight of this museum was not the large locomotive but the miniature train displays in the back put on by the Wilmington Model Railroad club. My son enjoyed watching the trains zoom around the tracks and we were lucky enough to have had several of the volunteers there that answered all sorts of questions from my inquisitive son. The static displays and pictures of the old Wilmington railroad were interesting but not very engaging for my son. I was also disappointed that everything seem to be immobilized on the real locomotive exhibit. Still these short comings aside, the museum is worth a look. The owners are quite pleasant and friendly and more than happy to answer any questions. read more

This isnt a huge museum but it has an awesome model section in the back. There are different buttons you can push to interact with the train sets. There is a caboose and locomotive you can walk through. read more

See all

Took my son here today before the rain cleared to get to the beach. He went crazy when we pulled in the parking lot and saw the trains. The museum is simple and smaller, would only take an adult 45 min to work through, but my son loved it. The children's area is good, but the scaled model area is impressive. He loved controlling the trains and chasing after them as the traveled around the exhibit. I would recommend this for a great 1.5 hour excursion. read more

Every one was was very friendly and helpful. Hands on for kids for the most part. My son loves trains so this was so mesmerizing to him. They can push buttons to control them. When I was taking a picture of the awesome mini train diorama and one of the staff offered to slide the glass open to get a better picture. Maybe go back again next year! read more

I like this museum. If you're a fan of model trains you must stop by here. So many model trains and train facts! If you have a kid who loves trains, take them here! read more

Fun museum for adults and kids who geek out over trains. Interactive model trains, a kids play area, and real steam engine and caboose to climb into. A hit with my train-obsessed little people. read more

This place was so much fun! I thought it was going to be more actual trains to climb on, but the models were amazing. Basically had place to ourselves and spent a good hour playing with the models. Free museum (you can leave a donation) and a couple free parking spots at the museum itself. read more

The museum has nice, big working models and outdoor full size exhibits. The children especially enjoyed getting to walk through the caboose and engine outside. read more

For a small place they have a lot for the train lover! The model railroads are incredible. The small details are what make it so great. Look for the scavenger hunt cards so the kids can find certain details in the models. read more

We came here for our kids after having drug them to every historical tour they could tolerate. There is plenty here for adults as well, so don't get the wrong idea, but there is a play area for the kids as well as a scavenger hunt for them to complete looking either for artifacts or hobo symbols as well as a very large model train that they are able to operate (but not touch). There is a large (the largest in the southeast) model train in the back room as well that is able to be operated though not touched as well. The kids and adults all enjoyed the museum and the surrounding areas. read more