There is something genuinely thrilling about standing next to a locomotive that weighs more than a million pounds. At the National Railroad Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin, that feeling hits you the moment you walk through the doors — and it does not let go.
Tucked along the Fox River on the south side of Green Bay, the National Railroad Museum is one of the oldest and largest railroad museums in the entire country. Founded in 1956, it sits on a sprawling campus that feels more like a working rail yard than a traditional museum, and that is precisely what makes it so memorable. This is not a place where trains sit behind velvet ropes collecting dust. This is a living, breathing tribute to one of the most transformative forces in American history.
The crown jewel of the collection is the Union Pacific Big Boy — one of the largest steam locomotives ever built. When you walk alongside its massive iron frame, you start to understand why these machines captured the imagination of an entire nation. The sheer scale of it is staggering, and the museum’s outdoor display area lets you get close enough to appreciate every rivet and valve. I stood there longer than I expected, just taking it all in.
But the Big Boy is just the beginning. The museum houses more than 40 pieces of rolling stock, including Dwight D. Eisenhower’s personal WWII command train. Stepping inside that car is a quietly powerful experience — you are standing in the same space where the Supreme Allied Commander planned the liberation of Europe. History does not get much more tangible than that.
For families, the museum offers train rides aboard a narrow-gauge locomotive that loops around the property during the warmer months. Kids absolutely love it, and frankly, so do adults who are willing to admit they still get excited about trains. There are also hands-on exhibits inside the main building, a theater showing railroad history films, and a well-stocked gift shop with everything from model trains to railroad-themed books.
The museum hosts special events throughout the year, including the wildly popular Polar Express Train Ride experience in November and December, which draws visitors from across the Midwest. If you plan to visit during the holiday season, book early — tickets sell out fast and for good reason.
Admission is reasonably priced for families, and the museum is easy to find just off Robbins Road near the western edge of the city. Plan to spend at least two to three hours here, especially if you are visiting with children or anyone who appreciates American industrial history.
Green Bay is known for football, but the National Railroad Museum is proof that this city has so much more to offer. Whether you are a lifelong train enthusiast or simply someone who enjoys a genuinely unique afternoon, this place delivers something you will not find anywhere else in the region. Make the trip. You will not regret it.
