– By Stacy Brooks –
The business park exterior of the Twin City Model Railroad Museum in Saint Paul, Minnesota is fairly unremarkable. But once inside, visitors of all ages are in for a magical, immersive experience—the museum features 20 unique model train layouts, ranging from tiny 2-inch, Z-scale engines chugging through an idyllic Alpine village to smiling Thomas the Tank Engines circling the tracks. Here’s a family guide to Minnesota’s premier train experience.
Inside the Twin City Model Railroad Museum: Interactive Exhibits and Layouts
Some of the layouts are especially appealing to kids, like the Lego train layout at your left as you enter the museum. Made from hundreds of thousands of Lego bricks, the colorful landscape is home to Disney, Marvel, Muppets, Spiderman, and Lego characters sporting about on a ski slope, lounging in parks, and teeming around the streets of a miniature city. Keep an eye out for iconic Minnesota landmarks, like the tiny replicas of Bemidji’s Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox statues and the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden’s Spoonbridge and Cherry.
The museum’s centerpiece is a 30-foot by 50-foot O-scale layout of the Twin Cities area, faithfully recreating the Minneapolis skyline and local landmarks like the iconic Stone Arch Bridge. In addition to 11,000 square feet of model train layouts, the Twin City Model Railroad Museum also houses railroad artifacts, display cases of model trains and memorabilia, and interpretive signs with facts about model railroads and local railway history. Friendly volunteers are on hand to answer questions and point out the noteworthy features of the various layouts.
Kid-Friendly Features and Activities at the Model Railroad Museum
Kid-friendly, interactive elements are woven throughout the museum — each layout has a button visitors can press to launch the model trains into action. The amusement park train layout is a favorite with smaller visitors, with buttons they can push to operate the Ferris wheel, roller coaster, carousel, and other elements. Older kids can grab a scavenger hunt worksheet and explore the main O-scale layout for items like a Coca-Cola sign or a U.S. flag. There’s a toddler play area towards the back of the museum with toy trains and train-themed picture books, and supervising grownups can take a seat on benches salvaged from historic train depots.
Mini-Sota Gallery: Exploring Minnesota’s Railway Heritage
If the activity and noise level of the main exhibition hall become too overwhelming, check out the quieter Mini-Sota side gallery, with layouts inspired by real locations throughout Minnesota. The Sogn Valley layout represents the southern part of the state, with small towns and agricultural scenes. You can also get a peek behind the scenes of the museum’s newest addition, a layout-in-progress that depicts the shipment of ore from northern Minnesota’s Iron Range to the ore ships in the port of Duluth.
Train buffs should stop by the museum’s gift shop, which is stocked with new and previously owned model railroad supplies, toy trains, apparel, puzzles, and Thomas & Friends merchandise. The Lego train model kits of Minneapolis’ Green Line Light Rail Train and Como-Harriet Streetcar are fun souvenirs for older kids.
Visitor Information: Hours, Admission, and Gift Shop Details
The Twin City Model Railroad Museum is open Friday through Monday. Admission is $10 for visitors ages 5 and up, with free admission for kids 4 and under.
Additional Train-related Attractions for Families in the Twin Cities
The Hennepin Overland Railway Historical Society in Minneapolis operates a museum featuring a 1,800 square-foot model railroad layout depicting the fictional towns of New Bergin and Summit, a logging camp, a steel mill complex, and much more. Station 2501, the museum store, is stocked with new and previously-owned model railroad supplies. The Hennepin Overland Railway is open weekends September through April. Admission is $10 per individual and $25 per family.
Housed inside Saint Paul’s Union Depot, Choo Choo Bob’s Train Store has a large interactive train-themed play area, plus regularly scheduled story times with Engineer Paul. Choo Choo Bob’s is open Friday through Monday. Admission to the play space is $10 for kids ages 1-10 years and $2 for adults, with a buy one, get one ticket deal for twins.
At the Minnesota Transportation Museum’s Jackson Street Roundhouse in Saint Paul, kids can explore historic railcars, enjoy an interactive play area, and take a 15-minute ride on a real caboose. The Jackson Street Roundhouse is open Wednesday and Saturday, with caboose rides on Saturday only. Admission is $6-$11 on Wednesday and admission on Saturday (including the caboose ride) is $6-$16. Admission is free for kids under 3, and discounted family tickets are available.
The Como-Harriet Streetcar Line runs between Lake Harriet and Bde Maka Ska, starting and ending at the Linden Hills Station in Minneapolis. Board a historic streetcar for a 15-minute narrated ride that includes scenic lake views and information about Minnesota streetcar history. The Como-Harriet Streetcar Line operates from May through October, with opening days and times varying throughout the season. Fares are $3 per person and free for kids ages 3 and under.
