Historic RailPark: Guided Tour and Museum Ticket
4.7
44 Ratings
Bowling Green
Situated amidst two significant cities, the history of Bowling Green, Kentucky is closely intertwined with the development of transport in the region. This guided tour, lasting 45 minutes, will guide you through five refurbished railway cars situated at the back of our museum.
Duration:
45 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Historic RailPark & Train Museum - Situated at the midpoint of two significant urban centers, Bowling Green Kentucky boasts a rich heritage connected to the progression of transport within the region. The existing L&N Depot, erected in 1925, came into being to take the place of a previous station. Historically, the site was bustling with activity, dispatching over 20 trains daily, serving as a pivotal link for Bowling Green’s economic growth, facilitating travel between Louisville, KY and Nashville, TN.
The Museum houses a variety of exhibits that hold both local and national significance, curated to engage the public’s interest in areas of cultural, historical, and economic relevance. Directly adjacent to the museum is a stretch of 450 feet of railway showcasing an array of historical train cars, including an E8 Engine, a Railroad Post Office car, the Duncan Hines Diner, a 1949 Pullman dining car, the impressive Pine - a 1953 Pullman Sleeper, the 353 Presidential office car, among others!
What's Included
- All taxes, fees, and handling charges included
- Access to both self-guided museum and guided railcar tour with one price
What's Not Included
- Food and drinks
Additional Information
- Dress code is smart casual
Location
Historic RailPark & Train Museum
401 Kentucky St, Ste B
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(44 Ratings)
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Doddh951
Mar 18, 2024
Fascinating Family Experience - We enjoy visiting museums and this is a very special gem! Take a stroll down memory lane at the Historic Railpark and Train Museum as you see the many artifacts, train cars, and even the building itself was an L&N depot station. The museum is self guided, but highly recommend taking a guided tour of the train cars. If you have a train enthusiast in your life, definitely recommend this stop on your next adventure!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rosietravelin
Jan 25, 2024
Great indoor activity - It was a cold day after an icy night before - museum was a great indoor activity. We had a personalized tour as we were the only ones in the museum at that time. Really enjoyed walking through the restored train cars and learning about the postal car and Owney the mail dog. Also enjoyed the museum exhibits (self-paced) about Rosie the Riveter, Pullman Porters, and more - all set in an old railroad station. Well-appointed store and a model train display. Would like to go back when the hospital car and caboose are done being renovated.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
G
Nov 12, 2023
Go See It - We took threIt was very enjoyable. Our tour guide ( can't remember her name) was very friendly & knowledgable. Enjoyed gong thru the different train cars.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
E4224txjimm
Nov 12, 2023
glad we went.... - museum was nice; the HO train setup was excellent! but the best part was the train tour. our guide (i forget her name), was knowledgeable and took the time to answer every question we had. i was especially surprised by the mail car's uses and the small size of the first class accommodations in the passenger cars. this is a nice tour for any with an interest in trains.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cheryl_d
Oct 29, 2023
Awesome educational experience - If you love to learn history, this is for you! See how mail was once delivered, and compare it to today.
Review provided by Viator
Lisa_s
Oct 28, 2023
Fun & informative - I learned so much about not only this line but the history of the railroad in general. My tour guide was excellent & passionate about the subject matter.
Review provided by Viator
Homecroft56
Oct 27, 2023
US Railway Post Office - a classic - Interesting museum - unusual to have a 50 minute guided tour of the interior of a nice collection of rolling stock. In our case, it was a private tour, as we were the only patrons at the time. Our docent was very knowledgeable and informative. They have a classic US Railway Post Office car fully stocked as it would have been back in the day. As a kid in the 50's I was amazed to watch it come through our home town and snag the canvas bag of outgoing mail. Rail buffs will enjoy this museum.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Funfarmboy515
Aug 26, 2023
Informative and enjoyable - This is a great little museum! We arrived at opening time and did the first tour of the day. It was just the 2 of us taking the tour so it was very informal. We learned a LOT about the history of rail service.
The museum was small but informative. The gift shop had unique items. I don’t recommend this for large groups or small children. The train tour doesn’t have a lot of space.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Hopel965
Jan 22, 2024
Very Interesting - I think the tour has great historical value! Being inside a dining car, and actually standing in that small space, gives you a whole new perspective of how hard all of the porters had to work. The "kitchen" was an amazing feat, given the tools they had and the work they did. Sometimes in our modern world, we forget...this was a great reminder of how we are so spoiled in travel now.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Diane
Oct 12, 2023
If Thomas the Train had a favorite spot this would be it! - Our tour guide was insanely knowledgeable about the history of the L&N railroad. We loved the tour but two of the cars were being painted so those cars had noxious fumes and little air circulation which cut things short. The indoor museum was small but informative. Most amazing train track display I have ever seen is next to the gift shop. All you Thomas the Train fans need to visit.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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