About the Museum

Housed in the Historic Duluth Union Depot, the Lake Superior Railroad Museum houses the finest collection of Railroad Equipment in the country, with interactive exhibits as well as history from the region, the Lake Superior Railroad Museum is a must-visit attraction in Duluth. In the summer and fall months the museum’s North Shore Scenic Railroad offers train excursions, together the two organizations offer the richest historic experiences in railroading anywhere.

Begun as a local project in 1973, the museum has rapidly grown into one of the largest and most respected railway museums in the country. It is housed within Duluth’s restored Union Depot complex, with most of its major exhibit space enclosed for all-weather viewing. The museum focuses on railroading in the Lake Superior region, which is reflected in the collection.

In addition to the railroad museum, you will find the North Shore Scenic Railroad, which operates excursion trains from Memorial Day through mid-October using historic rail equipment from the museum collection. The scenic railroad ticket windows are located in the east end of the museum, near the gift shop. You’ll want to complete your experience with a ride on the historic Lakefront Line along the shore of scenic Lake Superior.

Some General Video of the Museum, there is no audio:

Accessibility
The museum is completely accessible, but the railroad equipment displayed within the gallery was historically not designed to be wheelchair accessible, and therefore can be viewed from floor level only.

Photo Policy
We welcome cameras, but the pictures you take are for your private use only.

Food Policy
Food, beverages, and gum are not permitted in the exhibit area.

Non-discrimination Policy
The Lake Superior Railroad Museum and its wholly owned subsidiary, the North Shore Scenic Railroad, does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients. The Museum and Railroad will operate ethically and with transparency in all matters concerning its relationships with all peoples, companies and government.

Lake Superior Railroad Museum Membership
The museum relies on income from memberships to help support its efforts to restore, preserve, and interpret its collection of historic railroad artifacts. Several different membership levels are available and include varying levels of benefits, including rides on the North Shore Scenic Railroad.

Find more of the museum’s archives on the Minnesota Reflections Website: