Group Tours
Explore group tour opportunities at the National Railroad Museum! We welcome both youth and adult groups for engaging tours tailored to each audience.
Please note: “Youth Tours” include school groups, homeschool groups, after-school programs, and any other organized group of young participants. All final decisions about group classification rest with our Education Department, even if a group feels they fall into a different category.
Youth Tours
The National Railroad Museum offers two youth tours of the Museum that educate students on the history of railroads. During the tours, discussions are supplemented with hands-on activities and tours of various locomotives and rail cars.
In addition, the Museum offers an array of specialized and customizable programs
If you have questions about youth programming, please reach out to our Education Department at (920) 437-7623 or nrrmeducation@nationalrrmuseum.org
Railroad Activity Time
This guided program, designed for students in pre-K through 8th grade (ages 8-14), offers an interactive experience that introduces students to trains and railroading. The program includes storytelling, hands-on activities to demonstrate what trains do and how they work, and a discussion about railroad history, science, and math. Content and program length are based on age and/or size of the group.
Museum Research Assistant
This tour is geared to students in pre-K through 8th grade (ages 4-14). Students work in pairs to research pieces in the collection based on information provided during a guided exploration of the Museum. Additional post-visit questions encourage students to complete further research.
Notes For Both Tours:
- Tours are not offered during Museum special events.
- Please allow a minimum of 2 hours for basic youth/school programs.
- Train rides can be included as part of the programs. Train rides are available daily from May through September and on weekends in October.
- The cost is $8.50 for ages 4-12 and $11 for ages 12 and older.
- One chaperone is admitted free for every 10 students. Additional adults are welcome at $11 per person.
- Basic youth group programs are offered throughout the year and are registered on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Read on to the below menu for more information!
Adult Tour Options
Visitors to the National Railroad Museum are invited to explore our historic trains, engaging exhibits and beautiful property on self-guided tours or group tours.
Your guide will discuss highlights of the Museum’s collection, including the General Motors Aerotrain, General Dwight D. Eisenhower’s World War II command train, Union Pacific #4017 “Big Boy,” the Pennsylvania Railroad GG-1 electric locomotive, the Pullman porters and Lake Mitchell car, and the Wisconsin 40&8 boxcar, to name a few.
Groups may wish to allot additional time to view exhibits and other spaces not included in the main tour, or they may wish to visit the Museum store.
Tours are offered throughout the year and are registered on a first-come, first-served basis. Tours are not offered during Museum special events. Reservations must be made at least 2 weeks in advance.
Read on to the below menu for more information! If you have questions, please reach out to our Education Department at (920) 437-7623 or nrrmeducation@nationalrrmuseum.org
Dine like a real rail rider! The Museum can provide your group with a hobo (box) lunch as part of your visit. Please ask for menu and pricing information when you make your tour reservation. Hobo lunches are priced in addition to the tour cost.
Other than Hobo (box) Lunches, which are scheduled in advance, food is not available for purchase on the Museum grounds. However, groups are allowed to carry-in food and non-alcoholic beverages. The Museum has a picnic area for groups wishing to dine outside.
For adult groups, a tour escort and any licensed, professional bus drivers are admitted free.
For youth groups, one chaperone is required for every 10 students. Required chaperones and licensed professional bus drivers are admitted free. We will round up the number of free chaperones (for example, 21 students = 3 chaperones).
If your group visits between May and September, or on the weekends in October, your group will be able to take a train ride. The Museum’s train runs during this period and we will accommodate your group with one of our regular departures or a special trip, if necessary. Please see the Train Rides page on our website for additional information.
The Museum’s parking facilities can accommodate everything from extended vans to full-size touring coaches.
A limited number of wheelchairs are available for use during your visit and are arranged through the Museum store.
We ask that you deposit a valid driver’s license with store personnel to secure the use of a wheelchair during your visit.
Visitors are welcome to take pictures at the Museum for personal, private, or non-commercial use. If you wish to take photos for any other purpose, prior written permission must be arranged through the Museum’s Events Department by contacting Liz Van Pay, Events Coordinator, at nrrmevents@nationalrrmuseum.org. Please note: tripods or monopods are not permitted on Museum grounds without prior consent.
$11 per person for groups of at least 10 people ages 12 and older.
All tours require a non-refundable $75 deposit to be received by the Museum no later than one week before the tour date.
The balance of a remaining tour fee is due 2 weeks prior to your tour date. We accept cash, checks or credit cards.
Contact Us
Justin Lambrecht, Education Director: (920) 437-7623 or nrrmeducation@nationalrrmuseum.org
