Railroad Family Day

Enjoy a variety of railroad-themed activities and learn about how railroads and Minneapolis grew up together.

Beginning with the arrival of Minnesota’s first rail line in 1862, Minneapolis boomed in population, flour milling, lumber production, and warehousing, as a rail network extended throughout the Upper Midwest.

Families can build a model boxcar like the 1879 St. Paul & Pacific boxcar on display in the museum’s Rail Corridor (while supplies last); help create a small scale railroad town with ArtStart; taste a sample from a recipe from railroad dining cars; take a guided mini-tour at 12:30 pm, 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm to hear about the remaining railroad features in the Washburn A Mill; and use blocks to build a roman arch like those on Minneapolis’ landmark railroad bridge, the Stone Arch Bridge.