Mid-Continent Railway Museum

    Mid-Continent Railway Museum

    4.7 981 reviews

    Step aboard the Golden Age of Railroading at Mid-Continent Railway Museum in North Freedom. For more than 60 years, this volunteer-powered, nonprofit living-history museum has lovingly restored steam locomotives, wooden coaches an...

    Review summary

    4.7
    Excellent
    981 reviewsGoogle Maps

    This museum pulls in serious praise from train enthusiasts and casual visitors alike, with volunteers consistently earning recognition for their knowledge and enthusiasm. The restored rolling stock collection is impressive, housed in large sheds with everything from passenger cars to unique pieces like the historic fish car. Most guests appreciate the hour-long train rides through the countryside, though a few found the pace slower than expected and the route less scenic than anticipated. The experience can feel a bit confusing for first-timers trying to navigate what's included and where they can explore independently. Some visitors had trouble figuring out the self-guided museum portions or found viewing the trains from ground level limiting since you can't enter many cars. However, those who engaged with the volunteer-led tours and cab rides (book ahead, only one rider per excursion) came away genuinely impressed. The gift shop stands out for offering actual railroadiana collectibles rather than typical tourist merchandise. If you're into railroad history, the volunteers' dedication and the quality of restoration work make this worth the visit.

    What people are saying

    Review 1 of 5

    This was a delightful diversion from hectic nearby Wisconsin Dells! While waiting for the one hour round trip, my wife explored the gift shop and sat in the quaint depot, but I explored one of the two large sheds full of old cars and locomotives. Some are impressively restored and all have thorough written histories nearby. Observing restored cars requires using stairs, but the depot has a lift to access the passenger cars for the ride to and from LaRue from North Freedom. The conductor, dressed in period attire provide an impressive narrative history of the train, the tracks and the area. Well worth the price of the ticket!

    Photo of Nolan Pluke

    Nolan Pluke

    August 28, 2025

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