Family Trip to the Mid-Continent Railway Museum

This image shows two people on a black train engine labeled "MCRY 1256." One person, wearing gloves and a safety vest, is climbing up the side of the train. Another person, sitting in the cab, waves out of the window. The train is moving through a green, forested area, and an American flag is displayed on the top corner of the train.

Take a step back as you take a ride in a restored 1915-era train car. This history museum offers a great look back at the golden age of rail travel. Here is a quick look at our family trip to the Mid-Continent Railway Museum.

A young girl stands on the rear platform of an orange vintage train caboose at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum. The caboose is adorned with red, white, and blue bunting. The sky is clear and blue, with green trees in the background.

When we visited the railway museum in North Freedom, Wisconsin, we chose the hour-long Coach Train ride. Our daughter was about 5 and she enjoyed it. It was about the perfect length.

A few things you will see at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum:

  • Restored wooden passenger cars   
  • Century-old steam locomotives 
  • Historic wooden depot, built in 1894   
  • Steam locomotives’ water tower 
A train decorated with red, white, and blue bunting is parked at a station platform at the Railway Museum. The train consists of an orange caboose and several passenger cars. Nearby, additional vintage railcars and equipment are displayed on parallel tracks, with green trees and a partly cloudy sky in the background.

What you need to know about the Mid-Continent Railway Museum

Mid-Continent Railway Museum
E8948 Museum Road 
North Freedom, WI 53951 
Office phone: 608-522-4261 

Prices start around $13 for children and $24 for adults 

Open Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 AM to 5 PM, 
Mid May through Early December 

Open Tuesday through Sunday 9:30 AM to 5 PM, 
Mid-June through early September 

Useful Information   

  • Tickets – Tickets can be purchased online and in person. 
  • Time – The museum opens at 9:30 AM and the first train ride is generally at 11 AM. Coach Train ride takes about an hour. 
  • Clothing/Shoes/Backpack/Purse – Dress comfortably. Coach Train does not have air conditioning. Not much walking involved.   
  • Food/Picnic – Only water is allowed on the trains.  Picnic tables are available.  There is no restaurant on the grounds but there are dining cars on select days.  BS Depot close by will sometimes offer discounts if you bring in your train ticket stub. 
  • Pets – No pets, aside from service animals, are allowed on the train or in the buildings.  
  • Accessibility – A wheelchair lift is available to board the train.  Most areas are wheelchair accessible.  
  • Babies – Strollers/wagons cannot be taken on the train. 
  • Smoking – No smoking on the train or in the buildings 

Brief History

In 1963 the Railway Historical Society purchased the 4.2 miles of track from the Chicago & North Western Railroad. The society moved the operation to North Freedom and began to offer steam train rides.  

Ever since they have continued the train rides at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum and have been teaching people of all ages the importance of the steam engine and the railway system.  

Interior view of a vintage train car at the museum, showing a passage through open doors leading to another car. The walls are wood-paneled with a sign reading "NO SMOKING PERMITTED" above the doorway. Seats are visible in the background, and brochures are stored in a rack on the left.

Ticket Options at the Railway Museum

Ticket options are: 

Coach Train Ride – A 7-mile, 55-minute, round trip train ride in a 1915-era train car.  

Coach Train Ticket options:  
Adult (Ages 16-61)…$24.00 
Child (Ages 3-15)…$13.00 
Senior (Ages 62 and up)…$22.00 

Infant (Ages 2 and under)…Free 

Locomotive Ride – A 7-mile, 55-minute, round trip train ride in the locomotive with the engineer.  1 spot available each ride.  

Locomotive Ticket options:  
Adult (Ages 16 and up)…$72.00 
Child (Ages 3-15)…$13.00…child must be accompanied by an adult 
 

Food Train Ride – A 7-mile, 55-minute, round trip ride on the First-Class train with food served by waitstaff. Check the website for an up-to-date schedule as dates are very limited. 

Food Train Ticket options:  
Prices vary according to the meal being served 

Special Events – There are different themes throughout the year at the railway museum based on the season and the holiday.  Each vary in price and availability.  

Stars and Stripes – Decorated patriotic theme in July. Free for Veterans and Military | Offered July 4th, 5th and 6th.

Vintage Rail Car Tours – Guided walking tours with special access 

Autumn Colors – See the changing of the leaves via train in October  

Pumkin Special – Pumpkin theme in October 

Holiday Flyer – Enjoy hot chocolate in December 

Santa Express – Meet Santa in late November/early December

Sign for the Mid-Continent Railway Museum displayed on a grassy area. The sign features a black locomotive silhouette with a red and white circle around it. In the background, there are trees, a red building, and train cars visible under a clear blue sky.

Parking

Parking is located next to the depot and is free. There are plenty of spaces.

Food/Where to eat

Here are a few local places to check out while in the area:

BS Depot – Bar and Grill 
108 E Walnut St #9660 
North Freedom, WI 53951 

Log Cabin Family Restaurant 
1215 8th St 
Baraboo, WI 53913 

Mike’s Italian Restaurant 
630W Pine St 
Baraboo, WI 53913 

Cheese

You are in Wisconsin so you need cheese…pack your cooler! While you were driving I am sure you noticed the hills with cows grazing in the pastures. Wisconsin is famous for its cheese and for good reason. Here are a few places close by.

Carr Valley Cheese Store (they have more locations too)
807 Phillips Blvd
Sauk City, WI 53583

Cedar Grove Cheese Inc
E5904 Mill Rd
Plain, WI 53577

Ehlenbach’s Cheese Chalet Inc
4879 Co Rd V
DeForest, WI 53532

Where to stay near the Mid-Continent Railway Museum

There are hotels and campgrounds in nearby Baraboo. A few you may want to try are: 

Ringling House Bed & Breakfast 
201 8th St, Baraboo, WI 53913 
(608) 299-9708

Best Western Baraboo Inn
725 W Pine St
West Baraboo, WI 53913
(608)356-1100

Skillet Creek Campground
E11329 State Rd 136
Baraboo, WI 53913
(608) 356-4877

Devil’s Lake State Park
S5975 Park Rd
Baraboo, WI 53913
(608) 356-8301

Nearby Attractions

Dr. Evermor’s Sculpture Park – A unique and quirky outdoor art gallery 
S7703 US-12 
North Freedom, WI 53951
Worldofdrevermor.com 

Circus World – History Museum and entertainment 
550 Water St. 
Baraboo, WI 53913 
Circusworld.wisconsinhistory.org

Pewit’s Nest – Hiking and a glacier carved gorge.
County Rd W 
Baraboo, WI 53913 

Devil’s Lake State Park
S5975 Park Rd
Baraboo, WI 53913
(608) 356-8301

For even more in the area check out: Wisconsinhistory.org 

This is a great place to spend a couple hours and step back in time.  The Mid-Continent Railway Museum is continuously restoring railcars and locomotives.  To keep up to date with their current projects you can follow https://www.midcontinent.org/steam-status/

Close-up of a vintage black locomotive engine under a wooden canopy at the Mid-Continent Railway Museum. The engine has a large headlight and a circular emblem with the number 9 on its front. The background shows greenery and parts of the station platform.

While in the North Freedom and Baraboo area, there is plenty more to see and do.  Great area for a day or for the weekend. 

We have also been to Blue Mounds, which is a recommended place about an hour from here. Check out more info HERE or you can watch our video from our visit.

Thanks for visiting! We hope you enjoy your trip to the Mid-Continent Railway Museum and happy travels!

This image features a historical train station labeled "North Freedom," with a beige and brown wooden building in the foreground. A vintage train car sits on the tracks beside the station, decorated with patriotic red, white, and blue bunting. A small child is standing on the gravel path in front of the building, shading their eyes from the sun. The setting appears to be part of a historical or tourist train attraction, with bright, clear weather and green trees in the background.
This image shows two people on a black train engine labeled "MCRY 1256." One person, wearing gloves and a safety vest, is climbing up the side of the train. Another person, sitting in the cab, waves out of the window. The train is moving through a green, forested area, and an American flag is displayed on the top corner of the train.

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