Railway Adventures: Travel Town Museum

The Travel Town Museum is an enduring Los Angeles landmark that unites history lovers and locomotive enthusiasts. Originally intended to be a "railroad petting zoo," when the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks concept was created in the 1940s. Travel Town is home to more than 40 historic railroad locomotives and cars. Do you want to spend a magical day outside at a popular Los Angeles attraction perfect for all ages? Here's everything visitors need to know when planning a trip.

What Makes Travel Town Such a Special Los Angeles Landmark?

The Travel Town Transportation Museum is an outdoor museum devoted to the preservation of the railroad heritage of the Western United States. Visitors will find a variety of artifacts and exhibits that showcase how the development of the railroad system played an integral part in Southern California's development. A tour of the various machines and exhibits here brings you back to an era when the railroad system was the lifeblood of commerce and transportation. Another exciting aspect of the museum is that Travel Town has a number of restoration projects in the works. Highlights at the museum include:

1. More than a dozen locomotives dating back to the 1800s.
2. Passenger cars that were in service between 1910 and 1957.
3. Interurbans and motorcars that once graced major American cities.
4. Freight cars.
5. Rotating exhibits showcasing railroad history and influential figures.
   

Travel Town is also famed for its miniature train rides. This adventure involves riding a scale train that circles the museum's perimeter. The miniature train has been in operation since 1978. Rides take place all day!

The Gift Shop at Travel Town

Travel Town has a gift shop that sells a variety of railroad-themed gifts. Visitors looking for keepsakes will find toys, books, clothing, and more. The gift shop also sells a variety of snacks and beverages.

Getting to the Museum

The Travel Town Museum is at 5200 Zoo Drive in Griffith Park in Los Angeles, CA. No reservations are needed to visit the museum. However, the museum does require reservations for picnic spots and party areas. Hours of operation are daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking is readily available on the premises during hours of operation. The museum only closes for Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Making the Most of Your Los Angeles Adventure

No doubt, Travel Town Museum is for you if you love quintessential Los Angeles landmarks! Its location within Griffith Park means you can also check out the zoo, observatory, Greek Theatre, and many more classic Los Angeles attractions in a single afternoon. You can't skip the Santa Monica boardwalk when building an itinerary full of the classics. Opened to the public in September of 1909, the Santa Monica boardwalk has been around for as long as the vintage locomotives and train cars you'll see during your visit to Train Town!