Reviews of Union Pacific Railroad Museum (Tourist Attraction)

Dave Lee

The reliecs from time

Katie Schubert

Wonderful museum, glad we stopped on our travel. Our family enjoyed it very much. Thanks

Zachary Hobson

From the Wild West to modern Train technology, it's a cool place. And I don't really dig historical museums.

Zach Pope

Free fun for everyone! Donate if you can.

Joann J

A really great (and free!) train museum. My 5 year old son loves going here, and there are plenty of interesting displays for me too.

Becky Payne

Very informative

Steve Schmidt

Nice museum for the historical Railroad. Nice facility, and excellent displays.

Tabitha Shea

It was very informative and something different to do. My husband and I had a wonderful the. The people that worked there were very nice.

Anna Johnson

We love this beautiful place. UP colors run pretty deep in our family so we are all about visiting and enjoying this museum ever time we are in town. Must see if you are in Omaha vacinity.

Kim Van Natta

Very interesting and clean lots of information

Robert Lake

Free admission, very informative. If you read every exhibit you could probably spend 4 hours there easily.

Kristin Swolley

Kids always have fun

Mark Stengel

The Big One The RR is huge on big power 4-8-8-4 & 4-6-6-4 Oil Steam Locomotive's restored to new and made better with upgrades. Yellow is this RR running color very visible and striking. People make it the nations big operator it is and was back from the beginning. A wonderful place to visit, if a rail fan then it's a must !

James Cornillie

Union Pacific Railroad Museum as an awesome nonprofit Public Museum in Council Bluffs

Bobbie Hamilton

I didn’t expect much when we decided to go to this museum. After all, how great can this be in the small town of Council Bluffs Iowa?? Well boy was I wrong. This museum had fabulous displays for adults and incredible interactive displays for kids....or “adult kids”. There was an entire room devoted to Abraham Lincoln and how he was connected to the Union Pacific RR. I must apologize to the city of Council Bluffs....it was a wonderful city filled with history and friendly people.

Samuel Chambers

Fun attraction for railroad buffs. Many historical artifacts and displays. Well stoked gift shop and very helpful volunteer staff. Located downtown. On street parking only, though.

Jo Anne Jolley

Very well done! Exhibition set up to entertain and inform all ages.

Ryan Hein

Nice Museum showcasing Union Pacific Railway's history. Plenty of kids friendly exhibits and family night is great. While visiting during regular hours is fun, take the time to look up their family night events. Kids get to learn about more than just UP history, such as local nature preserves showing off local animals, kid friendly activities and crafts, and various organizations give kid friendly information.

Christian Robertson

Great place to take the kids and for adults. The exhibit located on the 2nd floor changes out so it is a good place to goto often.

Pamela V

Great way to spend an afternoon

Jon Green

It was great. Thank you

James Ridder

Good

Gary Maes

What a waste of time for a retiree; look I cannot predict when I have a good day and when a museum is only open on Thursday-Sat well that’s not cool. Oh bring money CB charges for parking (coins only).

Kevin Brennan

It is free to go here and you can walk around and read the history behind the different exhibits and the history of the railroad its self. I spent about an hour here and got to see pretty much everything. There is a gift shop as well but I didn't include a trip there on this visit

Edon Palenchar

It was a good experience. The first floor is great the second floor is a little less cool. I spent 1 hour and 30 minutes there.

Tommi Lingle

Good history...

Kelly Hippen

Very informative museum, fun for kids.

Georgeanna Erdahl

A fun place for the whole family

Lisa Amaya

Wonderful historical items to see

Donia Rattei

It's a self guided tour. There's alot of cool things to look at and read about

Jax Short

An absolute gem of a little museum right here in town. The displays were interesting and though I went with two teenagers, they both had a good time checking everything out. Love the old dining cars and just seeing the golden age of train travel.

Erik Osborne

Nice museum with lots of information and artifacts but there are no actual trains.

Diana Thornton

It's nice but part of it is closed, and it was my favorite part.beautiful museum though.

Nicole Eilers

Great museum run by volunteers! Kids enjoyed it though there weren't any full size trains for them to actually get in, they still thought it was pretty cool.

Kimberly Merrill

Wealth of history in such a small building. Its free.

April

Great resource for train lovers of all ages.

Joe Costello

All about ab Lincoln

Janelle Shirley

Very nice. Kids also enjoyed it.

Matt Heuton

Great place to see the history of the Union Pacific Railroad!

Ronda Howard

What a wonderfully neat Museum. Took three small children with us and they loved it. So much to see. So much history Done in such a neat and captivating way. I can not say enuff good things. It was free admission. Although donations were excepted. Worth it

Robert Rulli

Wonderful little museum. Worth the stop

Shawn Schroeder

Beverly did a great job informing us about life on the RR ...the artifacts were very interesting and it really painted an accurate picture of the men and women that lived it!

Greg Corbolotti

Very informative. Nice people there.

Kristin Thomas

Big place

Justin Straight

Free. Interactive. Interesting.

X AdventureOverAmenities X

An awesome little museum providing historical information on the western progression of the US Railway System.

Dale Staten

Interesting. Good reuse of building. Take little kids upstairs

Brad Krause

Always a nice to take the kid and check out the cool stuff .

Peggy Svoboda

Very educational and people were very pleasant. If you like trains a must see!!

Dorina Mahler

Every time I visit, I learn something new! I will go back for family and budget friendly fun.

Kimberly Bryson

Awesome place

Martin Szabo

Very interesting and very hands on museum. The kids loved it!

Ken .DeWalt

Really well done museum. Great kids sections and great artifacts collection for adults.

William Branch

This is a great day trip location. Good displays that captivate the kids, but are interesting enough for the adults. I would highly recommend. Also no formal admission charge, only a suggested amount.

Michael Wieand

I enjoyed visiting this museum. Only open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturday. No charge for admission, donations accepted. If you like trains, stop by.

Nali Yan

That's good place to learn how railroad dedicated to America.

Theresa Bouray

Great place with lots of information and kid friendly.

Lee Guerro

Was being renovated so exhibits a little limited. Interesting simulation of driving a train.

Brenda Smith

Good place for the family to go

Gretchen Wildrick

Interesting history, but not overwhelming. Fun interactive activities even for adults. Gift shop not great though

Joel Schwartz

Great small museum for a short visit while in the Omaha area. Can do the whole museum in under 2 hours. Interesting and well designed exhibit on the history of the Transcontinental Railroad. Another floor devoted to the history of Union Pacific (though some of it feels like propaganda for train travel)

T Mont

Nice museum for rail history buffs BUT THERE IS NO ROLLING STOCK FOR GEAR HEADS.

jennifer Pothen

Cool place but not a ton to do for younger kids.

Chris Lewis

Great museum. My son and I come and visit every few months. He loves trains.

Demelza Jean

A great place to see!

Craig W

Nice collection.

Dane Stevenson

Beautiful building restored to its current condition. They accommodate the interest of young kids but most of the exhibits are for those who have time to read. Very well done and worth your time.

Jeffrey Lentz

This museum is well presented, informative, interactive, and is suitable for all ages. Even those with little interest in railroads should will find something to like. Heads up... it is located inside an old public library and the museum sign isn't especially attention-grabbing. We missed seeing it the first time driving past.

Sal Frenda

Great museum. Very informative and interesting.

Kevin Vega

Can't believe it's free! Learned about Pres. Lincolns rail car story, railroad agent stories, train simulator, development of time zones in U.S., and the coolest 3D black and white photos I've ever seen.

Jason Wegner

Great place to visit if you trains!

Dennis Reilly

Clean, quiet, and thorough exciting display of both history and present railroads

Andrea Swenson

We had a great time looking at the trains !

Stephanie Schulte

Really cool place to go!! Didn't know about this place until I Googled local museums.

Marie Lang

Touch history here. Eastern beginning of the great transcontinental train project. Ramp and stairs access. Enter beneath the stone stairs to old library main doors. Good elevator serves three floors. Building built by Carnegie and his special glass to permit outside light to shine in.

Nicole P

Very friendly and knowledgeable volunteers. Lots of interesting information and some fun interactive games. Enjoyable way to spend a couple hours in Council Bluffs.

David Joyeux

Very interesting, and funny in same time. Congrats for this nice museum, we are recommending.

Greg Sandidge

This is a well kept secret. This was a good value for a donation. a lot of railroad history and interactive items to do while in the museum. Very well done.

Bunny Fandel

I wasn't able to get in on a Wednesday afternoon. Therefore my rating of 3. What museum worth it's salt isn't opened for anyone to see.

Fay Lee

The Union Pacific Railroad Museum has a little bit of something for almost every taste; there's lots of memorabilia for fans of train trivia, interactive exhibits for children, and a wealth of educational and interesting info on luxury trains from history.The museum has 2 floors (with an elevator for those who need to or choose to skip the stairs). Visitors can watch videos and read plaques and displays which provide information about the history of railroading in America. I found this museum a very informative and interesting place to visit and would recommend it highly to anyone who loves trains and/or wants to learn more about them :-)

Kristine Hulet

This former Carnegie Library has been beautifully converted to a museum format. The exhibits are different enough to hold everyone's interest. It might be best enjoyed by those 10 years and older. There is an elevator once inside but not sure where a handicap accessible entrance is located. Parking meters on the street require $.50 per hour or the parking app on your phone. If reading most of the explanations is your thing, expect to stay longer than one hour.

ASHLEY ALBERTS

Fun family activities when we went Kids had a good time

Marianne Fisher

This was a great stop on our vacation. Shared a lot of educational information in a fun way. We have two eighteen year olds and they enjoyed it. There was a daycare group when we went and the kids were having a great time. Bonus was the great air conditioning!!! Highly recommend!

Doris Tuftee

Nice museum with interactive activities for children. Very clean. Volunteers nice and knowledgeable.

Jordan Steinspring

Alright, the experience of going to the UP museum was ok. I went with my grade from carter lake elementary and went. It wasn't really interesting. Maybe i will go again for the fun of it.

Erin Davern

Never open when the website says it is. I have had some very disappointed kids the past couple times.

Danny Fisher

very nice. Fun quick trip.

Samantha Plock

Great place!

Rebecca Nope

My son loved this place. We went for Railroad Days. Definitely will go back.

Cory Hoover

Great museum would recommend going

RN K

My 3 year old really enjoys this place.

Donald Fisher

A pretty cool museum involving both the history of the Union Pacific and the Transcontinental Railroad.

Paul Pezzano

Surprising great museum. Though some feeling of corporate propaganda, still very enjoyable. Elementary aged kid loved the interactivity. Free with suggested donation.

Toby Meyers

Optional $5 donation per person for this fun attraction. They have actual historical items, modern train simulator, and history from the Civil War to today! Volunteers are kind and helpful, parking is mostly street-based but readily available.

Brian Warby

My kids absolutely LOVED this museum. It's a perfect mix of interesting historical information and hands-on things for kids to do. And it's free!

Jackie Murphy

This museum’s is great and the last time I was there was when my Grandpa take me there and he was a volunteer and he did work for Union Pacific railroad, his name was Gene Waldmann

Arminda Lord

love this better than the Durham! I highly recommend this station with the next visit being the squirrel jail!

Roger Davis

Great to see such history in a neat building.

LeAnne White

Just looking at everything at our own pace, wasn't crowded

Scott Miller

Nice exhibits and UPRR history. Best for teenagers and adults as younger children might find it not interactive enough. A true gem in CB that gets overshadowed by so many other items in Omaha. Worth the trip to visit.

Michael Simmons

If you like looking at a bunch of photographs walking around the room then this is the place for you. I was personal disappointment didn't have very much on display

Michelle Schafer

Never been be4, cannot believe how many exibits they had, i went when it was free and walked around for a few hours.

Shelia W. Gibbs

A lot of history on trains here...

Regina Leahy

Gift shop could offer more variety pertaining to museum specifically

Michael Coe

Lots of historical information. I had no idea of the importance of the rail system on our country then and now. Need 1.5 to 2 hours at least to enjoy

Emily McQueen

This museum was small but packed with good info and interactive exhibits. It wasn't busy when we went so it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves. I will go back.

TD Nicolaus

A great place to take children. They have interactive exhibits that are fun for the whole family and lots of good information about UP history and trains.

Mike Anderson

Nice and fun stop on our train trip. AC was great and elevator helped. Enjoyed all 3 floors.

Jared Bauer

Family outing really liked the museum, was very interactive, did the self guided tour.

Brenda Christensen

As others have said, you don't have to be a train geek to love this museum! Lots of national history, Old West, and an entire floor of interactive displays for the young and young at heart! They change up displays occasionally as well, so even if you are from here, it is worth checking out every few months. The building is an old Carnegie Library with its own historical attributes and architectual charm! The BEST part is, its FREE! They do have a donation box up front, if you care to contribute. The only downfall is the hours of operation. They do close too early in the afternoon on "work days" for afternoon visitors, and now its only open a couple of days per week. Big bummer, but if you get a chance to check it out, it is well worth the effort!

Ken Cain

Great historical displays

Jeffrey Hamilton

Good exhibits that are well-maintained and informative. Many exhibits are staged and look artificial, such as an old-fashioned school room with florescent lights or a log cabin display with concrete floors. But overall, it is well worth the time to visit.

Thomas Knobbe

Cool place to see union Pacific railroad history museum

Mindy Mckern

Great place for children to learn about the Union Pacific. My dad worked there for 34 years.

Mike Hagelgantz

Great museum! I enjoyed seeing the Arizona Spike!

J Thiel

Great education opportunity and is free (donations suggested). Can learn a lot about railroad history. Kids really enjoyed the train simulator.

Aaron Peterson

Small, donation entry fee. Kinda being polite with 5 stars but yeah, it was fine.

Barry & Lisa Hutchison

Really cool place...lots of interactive displays...the kids will love it!

Eric Rademacher

Interesting old west and early railroad era muesum. Bring coins as all parking is metered.

Steven Giles

Awesome place a lot of history. Coming from CSX on the Eastern side of the United States I got to learn a lot.

April Freeman

I didn’t expect much when we decided to go to this museum. After all, how great can this be in the small town of Council Bluffs Iowa?? Well boy was I wrong. This museum had fabulous displays for adults and incredible interactive displays for kids....or “adult kids”. There was an entire room devoted to Abraham Lincoln and how he was connected to the Union Pacific RR. I must apologize to the city of Council Bluffs....it was a wonderful city filled with history and friendly people.

Samantha B

Very nice museum in a historic building. Well kept, exhibits are upkept and clean. Lots of history and information about trains and Union Pacific. There's a section for some hands on learning and a train table for the littles.

Shari

My daughter and I enjoyed this museum...a lot of great local history! The folks who work and volunteer there are very knowledgeable and friendly!

Chris Lynch

This is a very educational place.

Tracy Brown

Awesome place!!

Mike Massie

A good historical figure

Cassie Stearman

Great musem for families. There is no charge, but they do request a donation. Lots of educational exhibits here.

Luis Wichita

Really great museum if you love trains and railroads as I do. But it could be bigger and better. I love, love, love trains and this museum has a lot about trains. That said, I think that newer exhibits and more variety would make the museum better. Still, it's very worth a visit.

Dave Wolf

Very cool and free other than donations

Kristina Duffy

Great fun for whole family! Interactive exhibits and historical information about the railroad. Is “free” but they ask for donations (well worth it!)

Marty Mcfly

Wanted to go in but not open during the week. Was really looking forward to it. But I guess I'll never get to go now.

Chelsea F

Unexpected, high quality, worth the visit! Plenty to do and see for all ages. Cost is donation only, very appreciated by our large family.

Joshua Markette

Excellent museam especially for rail enthusiasts. The displays where all informative and well maintained with interactive exhibits scattered throughout to help entertain the kids (and some adults). The staff was friendly and eager to talk and it was a very enjoyable visit.

Ann Lang

Great with history. Life size train features. Plus an old map of where railroads were across the nation. Iron rails ruled before highways were paved.

Barbara Westerfield

One of the best RR history museum focusing on the Transcontinental RR and as RR buffs we have visited many across the country.

Shannon & Jason Wegner

Fun and interesting Family experience

Lisa Bouska

A surprising little gem. Way bigger than it looked from the outside. Great use of the technology that made wonderful interactive displays. So much fun we forgot to take very many pictures. The people there are obviously in love with the place, great fun for all ages.

Judith Torneten

Awesome

Miles McDaniels

Great place! You should actually spend the time to go through the entire thing. There is a ton to see and learn. This is a jem of Council Bluffs! The staff were highly knowledgeable and were just fantastic. There is a lot of history and it's amazing how much ties into the Union Pacific Railroad! If you're reading this and in Council Bluffs you should get yourself over there as soon as possible!!!

Lynn Schweers

Great museum for any age! Very informative. Guides throughout the building so you can ask questions. Several interactive exhibits!

Josefa Price

A very awesome place for vista and alot of places.

ter dust

Very nice museum. No charge. Exhibits were interesting.

Ron Douglas

I had a great time! The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. Lots of photo ops!

Tom Hall

Very nice lots of early railroad stuff.few years agohad funeral train that president or generaldodge was transported to final resting place.very entertaining place to visit

Lynn Nuber

Pretty neat place if you want to know the history of the Union Pacific Railroad

Suzie D Kingery

Very beautiful museum with lots of great history and artifacts. Some neat simulators and picture taking opportunities, too. Free admission, but recommend bringing $ to donate. Workers are volunteers, but eager to be there and answer questions. Love this place!

Fred Marquez

Very good to learn history

Fred Lange

Very nice. Filed with interesting exhibits. I learned that Robert Todd Lincoln took over the Pullman company after Pullman died.

Sheila Callahan

Wish we would have had the grandkids with us. Very nice.

Nicholas Dendanto

Very nicely done, educational and some hands on of what it was like

Josue Ortiz Balay

Kind of full as we were there for the Big Boy showing in downtown Omaha, but was very very nice, there was an atrendant who was a 5th generation descendant from the OMAHA tribes and we had a great conversation with him about heritage as we come from an island that has TAINO blood, which by the way he knew about as well.

Linda Green

Wonderful place to go visit

Jackie La Rocque

Really surprised at how interesting this museum was...great visit for a few hours

chuck conboy

What a cool collection of railroad history. A must see for railroad buffs.

Anthony Stepka

Very friendly staff. At will donation to enter. Great exhibits and displays with some interactive stuff.

Vaughn Nelsen

Wonderful building and we'll done displays

K S

Great little museum with lots of history of the railroad.

Tim Wilcox

Very educational clean and staff is friendly

Dennis Stevens

Not much info just displays