HTML SitemapExplore

Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum — Attraction in Calera

Name
Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum
Description
The Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum is the official state railroad museum of Alabama. Dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and operation of historically significant railway equipment, the museum is located at 1919 Ninth Street, Calera, Alabama, on I-65 approximately 30 miles south of Birmingham.
Nearby attractions
Calera Courtyard
1120 17th Ave, Calera, AL 35040
Collectivus church
8271 US-31, Calera, AL 35040
Akridge Arboretum Park
1965 14th St, Calera, AL 35040
Nearby restaurants
Hardee’s
8441 US-31, Calera, AL 35040
Seven Den Tacos
1400-1424 20th Ave, Calera, AL 35040
Mama Coco Cantina
8176 US-31, Calera, AL 35040
Pollo Goyo
8101 US-31, Calera, AL 35040
Little Caesars Pizza
8111 US-31, Calera, AL 35040, United States
Subway
8111 US-31, Calera, AL 35040
Red Onion
11475 AL-25, Calera, AL 35040
Nearby hotels
Related posts
Keywords
Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum tourism.Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum hotels.Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum bed and breakfast. flights to Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum.Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum attractions.Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum restaurants.Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum travel.Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum travel guide.Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum travel blog.Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum pictures.Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum photos.Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum travel tips.Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum maps.Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum things to do.
Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum things to do, attractions, restaurants, events info and trip planning
Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum
United StatesAlabamaCaleraHeart of Dixie Railroad Museum

Basic Info

Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum

1919 9th St, Calera, AL 35040, United States
4.5(538)
Open 24 hours
Save
spot

Ratings & Description

Info

The Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum is the official state railroad museum of Alabama. Dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and operation of historically significant railway equipment, the museum is located at 1919 Ninth Street, Calera, Alabama, on I-65 approximately 30 miles south of Birmingham.

Cultural
Entertainment
Family friendly
Accessibility
attractions: Calera Courtyard, Collectivus church, Akridge Arboretum Park, restaurants: Hardee’s, Seven Den Tacos, Mama Coco Cantina, Pollo Goyo, Little Caesars Pizza, Subway, Red Onion
logoLearn more insights from Wanderboat AI.
Phone
+1 205-668-3435
Website
hodrrm.org

Plan your stay

hotel
Pet-friendly Hotels in Calera
Find a cozy hotel nearby and make it a full experience.
hotel
Affordable Hotels in Calera
Find a cozy hotel nearby and make it a full experience.
hotel
The Coolest Hotels You Haven't Heard Of (Yet)
Find a cozy hotel nearby and make it a full experience.
hotel
Trending Stays Worth the Hype in Calera
Find a cozy hotel nearby and make it a full experience.

Reviews

Nearby attractions of Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum

Calera Courtyard

Collectivus church

Akridge Arboretum Park

Calera Courtyard

Calera Courtyard

4.8

(12)

Open 24 hours
Click for details
Collectivus church

Collectivus church

5.0

(13)

Open 24 hours
Click for details
Akridge Arboretum Park

Akridge Arboretum Park

4.5

(8)

Open 24 hours
Click for details

Things to do nearby

CA-ISSA Chapter Meeting Thursday,  January 8th, 2026
CA-ISSA Chapter Meeting Thursday, January 8th, 2026
Thu, Jan 8 • 11:00 AM
5500 Stadium Trace Pkwy, Hoover, AL 35244
View details
26-03 WASP1 Working Angles & Spaces- Calera, Al
26-03 WASP1 Working Angles & Spaces- Calera, Al
Thu, Jan 8 • 8:00 AM
Double Tap Training Grounds LLC, 440 Shelby Springs Rd, Calera, AL 35040, United States
View details
Mahjong 101 Morning Class
Mahjong 101 Morning Class
Thu, Jan 8 • 10:00 AM
507 11th Avenue SW, Alabaster, United States
View details

Nearby restaurants of Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum

Hardee’s

Seven Den Tacos

Mama Coco Cantina

Pollo Goyo

Little Caesars Pizza

Subway

Red Onion

Hardee’s

Hardee’s

3.6

(474)

Click for details
Seven Den Tacos

Seven Den Tacos

4.9

(47)

$

Click for details
Mama Coco Cantina

Mama Coco Cantina

4.3

(224)

Click for details
Pollo Goyo

Pollo Goyo

3.8

(35)

Click for details
Get the Appoverlay
Get the AppOne tap to find yournext favorite spots!
Wanderboat LogoWanderboat

Your everyday Al companion for getaway ideas

CompanyAbout Us
InformationAI Trip PlannerSitemap
SocialXInstagramTiktokLinkedin
LegalTerms of ServicePrivacy Policy

Get the app

© 2025 Wanderboat. All rights reserved.

Posts

Your browser does not support the video tag.
kaleycriswellkaleycriswell
“Core Memory Unlocked” Took my girl to ride The Polar Express Train Ride in Calera, Alabama. Memories like these make Christmas even more magical.
Your browser does not support the video tag.
nesha.vbnesha.vb
we had the most magical train ride on the North Pole Express! 🥹✨🎄 Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum in Calera, AL hosts a fun family experience with cookies from the North Pole’s Bakery, meeting Santa & Mrs. Clause and a train ride to the North Pole!! #polarexpress #christmastrain #festivetravel #holidaymagic #trainride
Your browser does not support the video tag.
themadstylisttthemadstylistt
The North Pole Express at the Heart of Dixie railroad musuem is a must do during the holiday season. I was so pleasantly surprised at the whole experience. My girls and my mom loved it too. This precious museum runs off of donations and proceeds from events like this so please check it out if you can! We visited the indoor museum prior to the train ride, and our tour guide was the sweetest old man who knows all the things about trains and the history for our area. I hope this place stays open for so many years to come, and it was totally worth the 2 1/2 hour drive for us! 🥰🎄🎅🏼 #christmascountdown #holidayactivities #alabama #northpoleexpress #railroad
See more posts
See more posts
hotel
Find your stay

Pet-friendly Hotels in Calera

Find a cozy hotel nearby and make it a full experience.

“Core Memory Unlocked” Took my girl to ride The Polar Express Train Ride in Calera, Alabama. Memories like these make Christmas even more magical.
kaleycriswell

kaleycriswell

hotel
Find your stay

Affordable Hotels in Calera

Find a cozy hotel nearby and make it a full experience.

Get the Appoverlay
Get the AppOne tap to find yournext favorite spots!
we had the most magical train ride on the North Pole Express! 🥹✨🎄 Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum in Calera, AL hosts a fun family experience with cookies from the North Pole’s Bakery, meeting Santa & Mrs. Clause and a train ride to the North Pole!! #polarexpress #christmastrain #festivetravel #holidaymagic #trainride
nesha.vb

nesha.vb

hotel
Find your stay

The Coolest Hotels You Haven't Heard Of (Yet)

Find a cozy hotel nearby and make it a full experience.

hotel
Find your stay

Trending Stays Worth the Hype in Calera

Find a cozy hotel nearby and make it a full experience.

The North Pole Express at the Heart of Dixie railroad musuem is a must do during the holiday season. I was so pleasantly surprised at the whole experience. My girls and my mom loved it too. This precious museum runs off of donations and proceeds from events like this so please check it out if you can! We visited the indoor museum prior to the train ride, and our tour guide was the sweetest old man who knows all the things about trains and the history for our area. I hope this place stays open for so many years to come, and it was totally worth the 2 1/2 hour drive for us! 🥰🎄🎅🏼 #christmascountdown #holidayactivities #alabama #northpoleexpress #railroad
themadstylistt

themadstylistt

See more posts
See more posts

Reviews of Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum

4.5
(538)
avatar
5.0
2y

My recent visit to the Railroad Museum was an enriching and nostalgic journey through the history of railroads that left me thoroughly impressed.

The museum’s extensive collection of locomotives, carriages, and railway artifacts provided a comprehensive glimpse into the evolution of rail transportation. From the earliest steam engines to sleek modern trains, the exhibits showcased the remarkable progress in engineering and design over the years.

What struck me the most was the meticulous restoration and preservation of these historical treasures. The trains and carriages were immaculately maintained, and it was evident that the museum staff had put tremendous effort into ensuring their authenticity.

The museum’s interactive displays and informative exhibits allowed visitors to delve deeper into the world of railroads. Learning about the challenges and triumphs of building the railroads that connected communities and drove industrial growth was both educational and inspiring.

One of the highlights of my visit was the opportunity to step aboard some of the beautifully restored carriages and imagine what travel was like in a bygone era. The attention to detail, from the plush seating to the vintage luggage, transported me back in time.

The staff at the Railroad Museum were friendly and knowledgeable, readily sharing stories and insights about the exhibits. Their passion for preserving railway history was evident, and it added a personal touch to the experience.

In conclusion, the Railroad Museum is a must-visit for anyone with an interest in history, engineering, or simply a love of trains. It’s a place where the past comes alive through the well-preserved artifacts and the dedication of the museum’s staff. Whether you’re a lifelong rail enthusiast or a casual visitor, the Railroad Museum offers a captivating and educational experience that’s sure to leave a...

   Read more
avatar
5.0
4y

We had a great time as a family on their train ride today. The staff was so kind and accommodating. I reached out because we drove in from out of state and were concerned that we wouldn’t arrive until just 10 minutes before departure and didn’t want to cut it too close. They were very kind and assured us that was fine. There were 3 train cars to choose from with each offering a different experience. There were opportunities to change cars throughout the trip also so my four year old was excited about that. The staff walked about to make sure everyone was enjoying themselves and give tidbits of information. The ride was pretty smooth, exactly what I expected from the train ride. There was no jarring and my son was able to move from my seat to his own at one point without any safety concerns while the train was moving. (Right across from eachother, we wouldn’t have let him run about the train car) There is a mask mandate for the enclosed train cars and gift shop. Also the restrooms were very clean and available on the side of the gift shop. Overall we had a great time and will likely make the trip again with our kiddo. I will mention (just so you’re not confused) our train stopped for like 5 minutes to pick up a few people at a winery along the way. It wasn’t a big deal at all but I heard a few people on the train asking questions about what was happening so I thought I would...

   Read more
avatar
1.0
3y

The polar express was not as amazing as it was made to be, nor was it worth what we spent. I could have used the money to hire my own Santa. Firstly the staff in the gift shop is rude. My family already dropped a lot of cash (and over an hour drive) to ride my 5 year old on this "magical" train to see Santa. To have someone be rude to my family first thing didn't make a good impression. We basically stand in line for 30 minutes to get on the train just to sit another 30 minutes. Then it's a 15-20 minute ride to a warehouse with some lights. (You do not see the lights until you are there.) Afterwards Santa and Karen Claus hop aboard and do a drive by on the kids basically to get a picture and leave as soon as possible. Same with the elves--they ran through the train cars asking if we wanted pictures... Then it's rush back to the station and rush you on out. There was the one girl with brown hair and eyes who did an absolutely fabulous job at getting my child to tell her what she wanted and I truly feel thankful to her for what she did. All the jolly singing and spectacular scenery they made it seem it would be was not present. It was misleading and very...

   Read more
Page 1 of 7
Previous
Next