The museum and its North Shore Scenic Railroad offer a combination of historic exhibits and train rides. The museum is located in the former Duluth Union Depot in downtown Duluth. Its extensive rolling stock is mainly indoors under the train shed, while outside the North Shore Scenic Railroad offers excursion trains to Duluth’s east end and Two Harbors.
Choices
The Lake Superior Railroad Museum has a large and continually expanding collection of steam, diesel, and electric locomotives and passenger cars, freight cars, and cabooses. The museum’s collection centers on railroads that served the Lake Superior and Upper Midwest region. Regular excursions are offered on the North Shore Scenic Railroad.
When to go
The museum is open daily year-round with extended summer hours. Duluth can be busy in the summer; late spring and early fall are great times to visit without crowds.
Good to know
The museum houses both the first locomotive on the Northern Pacific, the tiny steamer Minnetonka, built in 1870, and SD45 type diesel No. 3617, one of the last locomotives built for the Northern Pacific in 1967. Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range 2-8-0 No. 332 also pulls excursions.
Worth doing
The St. Louis County Depot is also the home to other groups, including the Duluth Art Institute, St. Louis County Historical Society, the Duluth Playhouse, and several arts groups.
Don’t miss
You can walk inside the cabs of Milwaukee Road’s first electric locomotive and giant Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Yellowstone-type No. 227. One of the largest steam locomotives ever built, the museum has set up the Yellowstone to “come to life” — at the push of a button, the drivers turn, lights come on, and the sounds of No. 227 pulling an ore train play.
Getting there
Situated on Lake Superior, Duluth is 150 miles from the Twin Cities on Interstate 35. To reach the museum take Exit 256 off I-35 and follow Michigan Street to the depot.
Location: 506 West Michigan Street, Duluth, MN
Phone: 218-727-8025
Website: lsrm.org
E-mail: trains@duluthtrains.com
