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Union Pacific Railroad Museum

Union Pacific Railroad Museum

Union Pacific Railroad Museum
4.5
Friday
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
12:00 PM - 6:00 PM
About
Our museum has chronicled more than 150 years of American railroad history through unique artifacts and immersive interactive games. Admission is free.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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  • torpdo
    Des Moines, Iowa524 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    For the Railroad Buff
    Great history of the Union Pacific Railroad. There are interactive exhibits and arrows on the floor to guide you through the museum. Items from Lincoln's Presidential rail car are on display, also. Entrance to the museum is the basement where you walk into a small gift shop. The employee gives guidance on the best route to take through the museum. Admission is free; donations suggested.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled solo
    Written 16 October 2023
  • Dave C
    Alexandria, Virginia1,619 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Significant and Superb Museum on the Rail Line
    Superb museum in a historic old library with artistic windows and architecture. Fantastic display of memorabilia, with displays of timelines, changing trends, and what it meant to be a passenger or worker then. Some interactive/speaking exhibits, plenty to keep the kids occupied. One of the best rail line museums I've been to. Go and see, this is great.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 11 June 2024
  • Deb D
    Columbia, Missouri48 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Amazing amount of info; plan at least a couple hours if you want to see everything.
    This is a wonderful museum with many hands on interactive exhibits to learn more about the history of the railroad and westward expansion. It has so much information; we spent a couple hours and could have learned more, but it was the second tour we did on the same day and we were getting tired from standing for hours. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and recommend it for all ages.
    Visited July 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 30 July 2024
  • ARTJPL
    London, United Kingdom363 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Railroad Museum Housed in Former Carnegie Library
    Rail and Union Pacific fans will no doubt enjoy this free museum but as the building was originally a Carnegie Library, it is worth visiting for the architecture as well as the stained glass windows have been left intact and the building beautifully restored. This is literally next door to the Squirrel Cage Jail so easy to visit both. Bayliss Park is just across the road as well. If staying in Omaha, you can get to downtown Council Bluffs by bus and walk to multiple tourist sites. There isn’t a cafe onsite but multiple options just down the road for coffee, lunch.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled on business
    Written 4 September 2024
  • Gene R J
    Silver Spring, Maryland10,794 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Comprehensive detailing of the 1869 Transcontinental Railroad.
    After touring the sights of Council Bluffs; Golden Spike Monument, 1869 Dodge House & 1939 Lincoln Monument, we parked near the 1890 Bayliss fountain and entered the basement of the 1905 Carnegie Library building. This 2003 museum provides an extensive history of building the 1907 mile railroad extending from Council Bluffs to Sacramento. Surveying, grading and laying the 4’ 81/2” gauge track over a land dominated by buffalo, Indigenous tribes and mountains. Further halls showed the expansion over the decades with telegraph, town building, bandits/police, passenger travel with Pullman Cars and fine dining. This excellent museum ends with descriptions of modern railroad operation and maintenance.
    Visited September 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 14 September 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles312 reviews
Excellent
189
Very good
96
Average
20
Poor
3
Terrible
4

ARTJPL
London, UK363 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2024 • Business
Rail and Union Pacific fans will no doubt enjoy this free museum but as the building was originally a Carnegie Library, it is worth visiting for the architecture as well as the stained glass windows have been left intact and the building beautifully restored. This is literally next door to the Squirrel Cage Jail so easy to visit both. Bayliss Park is just across the road as well. If staying in Omaha, you can get to downtown Council Bluffs by bus and walk to multiple tourist sites. There isn’t a cafe onsite but multiple options just down the road for coffee, lunch.
Written 4 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gene R J
Silver Spring, MD10,794 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2024 • Couples
After touring the sights of Council Bluffs; Golden Spike Monument, 1869 Dodge House & 1939 Lincoln Monument, we parked near the 1890 Bayliss fountain and entered the basement of the 1905 Carnegie Library building. This 2003 museum provides an extensive history of building the 1907 mile railroad extending from Council Bluffs to Sacramento. Surveying, grading and laying the 4’ 81/2” gauge track over a land dominated by buffalo, Indigenous tribes and mountains. Further halls showed the expansion over the decades with telegraph, town building, bandits/police, passenger travel with Pullman Cars and fine dining.
This excellent museum ends with descriptions of modern railroad operation and maintenance.
Written 14 September 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Deb D
Columbia, MO48 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2024 • Family
This is a wonderful museum with many hands on interactive exhibits to learn more about the history of the railroad and westward expansion. It has so much information; we spent a couple hours and could have learned more, but it was the second tour we did on the same day and we were getting tired from standing for hours. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit and recommend it for all ages.
Written 30 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Terry H
Brookfield, WI342 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
Wow, do I feel cheated. Evidently you should not go on a thursday afternoon in October as there was only one woman seated in a chair who told us to start one one side and the exhibits would follow around. There were no other people around and when we got around the floor the woman was no longer sitting there (1/2 hour before closing) so we left. No signs or people to tell us there was another floor of exhibits.
Yes it is my fault to a degree but I''m used to exhibits with people to help and signage that is clear. What I saw was well organized.
Written 29 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Bill R
Portland, OR318 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2022
A visit to this museum took us back in time. Railroads were once the way to get from East to West in the United States. We loved the model trains on the 2nd floor. The museum was one of the highlights of our trip to Omaha.
Written 10 May 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Dave C
Alexandria, VA1,619 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2024 • Couples
Superb museum in a historic old library with artistic windows and architecture. Fantastic display of memorabilia, with displays of timelines, changing trends, and what it meant to be a passenger or worker then. Some interactive/speaking exhibits, plenty to keep the kids occupied. One of the best rail line museums I've been to. Go and see, this is great.
Written 11 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Jfer1973
7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2021 • Family
This place was breathtaking, amazing, and fun. The train exhibits were my fave but all was interesting and fun to explore. The soda shop was a treat at end of our visit. Must go for anyone whether single. Couples or families.
Written 5 June 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Karenrenae
1 contribution
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2015 • Family
This museum was educational and interesting. However, I felt intimidated by one staff member who made it clear by her demeanor and comments to colleagues that our children weren't welcome. It's sad that a museum about trains, a subject loved by most little boys, couldn't be more friendly toward curious young minds. Our group was respectful and well-behaved- I felt like I was intruding by visiting.
Written 7 April 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

ftpkevk
Seattle29 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2016 • Couples
Driving south on Highway 29 in Iowa yesterday (Tuesday) we saw a huge Billboard advertising the UP Railroad Museum, and since I love trains we thought it would be a great place to visit. Turns out it's only open Thursday through Saturday, and only to groups of 10, and only if you make a booking 2 weeks in advance. Great way to promote your museum, just don't try an unplanned visit in the middle of a road trip,
Written 9 November 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Frankie030
Stockport, UK214 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2019 • Couples
The content in this museum is really good but slightly disappointed for a railroad Museum not to have any engines. But there are lots of interesting things on show in an amazing building which was originally a library. Shop was very disappointing felt that they could have offered more and also nowhere to get a drink or smack.
Written 1 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD MUSEUM (2024) All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos) - Tripadvisor

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