Wilmington Railroad Museum
On a trip to Wilmington, North Carolina I was looking for something interesting and fun for grownups and kids alike. My RoadTrippers app didn’t disappoint when it pulled up The Wilmington Railroad Museum.
The railroad was Wilmington’s chief industry for over 125 years. In the early 1900’s, several railroads along the east coast merged with the Wilmington & Weldon line to form the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. The railroad was based in Wilmington until 1960.
In 1979, 3 local women got together to create a museum dedicated to Wilmington’s railroad heritage. Today that museum is housed in an authentic 1883 railroad freight warehouse at 505 Nutt Street.
Train Museum Exhibits
The museum provides an enjoyable as well as an educational experience. It’s filled with exhibits and artifacts from transportation days gone by, outlining the significant role the railroad industry played in Wilmington’s history and the country’s.
Check out displays that include a mock telegraph office where you can try your hand at Morse code. You’ll also find vintage equipment, rail signs, and other fascinating items once vital to the day-to-day operations of the railroad.
The museum also celebrates the hobby of model train building. There are a total of 20 working units, model cities and landscapes as well as the Guinness World record-setting longest model train.
The children’s area features six operating model units and naturally, Thomas the Tank Engine is there chugging along.
Storytime
Admission
The Wilmington Railroad Museum is reasonably priced, easy to access and right next door to the Wilmington Visitors Center and River Walk. It’s the perfect ticket for a trip into Wilmington’s railroad past.
Regular admission prices:
Adults $9
Seniors and Military Personnel $8
Children (2 years to 12 years) $5
Wilmington Railroad Museum 505 Nutt Street Wilmington, NC
