Visiting Wilmington and don’t know where to go for fun? Kids driving your crazy at the beach? Too much time with your extended family over the holidays? Go to the Railroad Museum downtown!

I did just that with my 5 years old over Thanksgiving. We loved it! The admission is only $7 adults, $6 seniors and military and $3 children ages 2-12. The museum is open Monday to Saturday from 10AM to 4PM. Parking is free.

Wilmington Railroad Museum just for kids
Be a conductor or a brakeman on the 1910 Baldwin Steam Locomotive. Climb aboard, blow the whistle and adjust the gauges of this black beauty engine (which operated until mid 1950s).

Play inside the Lionel red caboose. Parents beware this place is known as a irresistible napping trap!

Boys and girls know how to push buttons! Be enchanted by the incredible detailed Lionel/O scale model layout where you can operate 5 different trains and even place an order at McDonalds!

Thomas and his friends are obvious favorites…

Marvel at the largest museum model layout in the Southeast! The Model Hall features a 1,500 square feet HO scale layout with 13 trains, 300 structures, 78 turnouts and 10 bridges!
What’s not to love?!…

Look out for the headless flagman, the Maco light ghost! Legend has it Joe Baldwin was decapitated by a passenger train as he was trying to attend to his freight caboose. His head was never found…

For decades since, on misty nights, Joe’s headless ghost appeared with a lantern in its hand.

“Anyone standing at the trestle first saw a flicker moving up and down, back and forth. The light will move swiftly forward, growing brighter and brighter. About 50 feet away it will burst into a brilliant radiance, and then it will dim, retreat and disappear”.

Once the railroad tracks were removed in 1977 there were no more sightings of Joe and the mysterious light.

Have a laugh at the witty hobo signs used in early 20th century throughout North America.
Kids enjoy doing the hobo scavenger hunt throughout the museum.

The “Knights of the Road” communicated through symbols marked on fences, buildings, and trestles, informing each other about travel conditions in the area.

Below are some examples (or checkout the full list)

• There’s no use going this way
• Ill tempered man lives here
• Doctor here won’t charge
• Road spoiled. Full of other hobos.
• Kind woman lives here. Tell a pitiful story
• The sky’s the limit

Sounds exciting? But wait, there’s more!

Experience the Polar Express Story Time on Saturdays December 12 and 19, and Sunday, December 13 at 4:30 and 6:30 PM. Come in your cozy pajamas, warm up with rich hot cocoa and enjoy a special visit from Santa!
Call (910) 763-2634 for advanced reservations ($5 per person prepaid, children under 2 get in free).

There’s always magic at the Wilmington Railroad Museum!

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