The National Museum of Transportation occupies 42 wooded acres off Barrett Station Road in west St. Louis County, near Kirkwood. It holds one of the largest collections of American transportation history anywhere, with more than 70 locomotives alongside vintage automobiles, aircraft, streetcars and riverboat artifacts. Rail fans travel long distances to see it.
The outdoor rail yard holds the headliners. Union Pacific Big Boy No. 4006, one of the largest steam locomotives ever built, sits near GM’s futuristic Aerotrain and the massive Union Pacific Centennial diesel No. 6944. Visitors can climb into several cabs and walk past the historic Barrett tunnels, among the first railroad tunnels west of the Mississippi. Inside the Earl C. Lindburg Automobile Center, highlights include a 1963 Chrysler Turbine car and Bobby Darin’s custom “Dream Car.” For 2026, the museum is running a Route 66 100th Anniversary exhibition that marks the Mother Road’s 1926 debut.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Weekday mornings are the quietest time to visit. Weekends and summer bring school groups and families who come for the miniature train and the hands-on Creative Learning Center. Hours vary by season, so check the 2026 operating hours before you go. Wear sturdy shoes, because much of the collection sits outdoors on gravel. Public transit service is limited, so plan to drive. The museum is just off I-270, and Kirkwood’s historic Amtrak station and downtown restaurants are a short drive away.
