N.C. Transportation Museum

About

The N.C. Transportation Museum was founded in 1977 one 4 acres of land the Southern Railway deeded to the state just a few years before the railway went out of business. Housed in the railway’s late 19th, and early 20th century buildings, over the years, the museum has amassed the largest collection of rail relics in the Carolinas. Within the museum’s collection, you’ll find everything from early steam locomotives to mid-century diesel monsters. Two of the most interesting exhibits, even if you’re not a railfan, are the two luxury private railcars, which are fitted with stained glass windows and ornately carved interior. While the bulk of the exhibits are focused on North Carolina’s rail history, there’s also antique automobiles and aircraft. There’s even a heritage railway that lets you ride in style aboard a vintage train - sometimes they even have “visits” from locomotives from other museums!