Foley Railroad Museum — Attraction in Foley

If you’re anywhere near downtown Foley, the Foley Railroad Museum is an absolute can’t-miss experience! Whether you’re a train enthusiast, history buff, or just looking for a fun, unique family outing, this place delivers in every way—and the best part? It’s completely free!

The moment you arrive, you’re greeted with an authentic rail yard feel, complete with restored train cars you can explore. My kids were thrilled to climb aboard the real boxcars and caboose, imagining themselves as conductors and passengers. Outside, there’s an adorable train-themed playground that kept them entertained for a long time, perfect for burning off energy while parents take in the scenery or snap some great photos.

Inside, the museum is beautifully curated with fascinating exhibits on Foley’s railroad history and local heritage. The displays are interactive and well-organized, making it easy to learn while you explore. But the real showstopper is the incredible model train exhibit—an enormous, detailed miniature world that spans multiple rooms and levels. Every time we looked, we spotted something new: tiny towns, working trains, bridges, tunnels, and little surprises tucked into the landscape. The kids were absolutely mesmerized, and honestly, so were we.

Every year we come, we always make sure to pick the days where they provide free train rides, which is always such an amazing bonus. Watching my kids ride around with big smiles on their faces was a memory we’ll treasure. The staff and volunteers were also wonderful—friendly, welcoming, and passionate about sharing the museum’s history and stories.

There’s truly something for everyone here, from kids climbing on the playground train to adults soaking up the rich history inside. It’s the perfect blend of fun, learning, and nostalgia, all in a charming small-town setting.

If you’re planning a trip to Foley or even just passing through, make the time to visit the Foley Railroad Museum. It’s a hidden gem that offers so much more than you’d expect, and with no admission fee, it’s one of the best values around. We loved every minute and can’t wait to...

Excellent Model Trains display! Fun toy train ride!

Great museum for children and adults as well. The model trains exhibition was the highlight if the museum. What a fantastic collection of model trains. Very very detailed model of an entire city with gas stations, school with school buses, theatres, bus stops, farm with a barn, gas plants, a circus with a ferris wheel and the entire circus crew and banks and what not. You can spend a lot of time gazing at the beautifully laid out model town.

There is a fun activity for kids as well as adults to spot out the various attractions mentioned on the checklist. There is a simple one for little kids and a detailed one for older kids that they can really have fun spotting and checking on their checklists.

They can get onto a real caboose and engine that are displayed outside.

They also have a fun train ride for kids and adults to enjoy.

Donations are accepted. It would be a great idea to support this quaint little museum as they offer it free of charge.

Overall, a nice experience for kids and adults if you are...

Disappointing Experience at Foley Model Train Exhibit We recently visited the Foley Railroad Museum and Model Train Exhibit during spring break. While my son, a big model train enthusiast thanks to "Young Sheldon," initially loved the massive O-gauge layout, our trip ended on a disappointing note.

The friendly staff member at the museum entrance was a bright spot. However, the volunteers operating the model train exhibit left us feeling unwelcome. Despite waiting patiently through multiple cycles (around 16 interactions with other children), the volunteers completely ignored my 7-year-old son. They actively engaged with every other child, allowing them to press buttons and participate, but would inexplicably turn away and stop the trains whenever my son approached.

This blatant disregard was upsetting, especially since the age difference between my son and the other children was minimal (maybe 2 years). The beautiful layout was a joy to look at, but this experience left a sour taste and prevents us from recommending this museum, or ever...