Temple, Texas is only about an hour away from Austin, and it's definitely worthy of a day trip. This underrated town is full of fascinating history. The best way to experience it is by visiting the Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum. Here, you can gape at old automobiles, explore an antiquated train depot, and learn more about Texas' rich story. This little-known railroad museum near Austin is fun for the entire family.
The Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum is located inside the Santa Fe Train Depot. This incredible building was completed in 1911 and operated as a grand transportation hub until the early 1990s.
In 2000, the city of Temple turned the abandoned train depot into a fascinating museum. Today, visitors flock here to see the amazing displays.
The permanent galleries sit on the first and second floors. These exhibits detail the rich history of the Santa Fe Train Depot.
The Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum also features temporary exhibits. These displays change every 2-3 months and showcase everything from Hawaiian fashion to Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison concert. Visit the website to see what's there now!
After you've explored the inside exhibits, go outside and gape at the massive trains.
There's a wide variety of railroad equipment here. You'll definitely want to spend time taking photos.
Right next to the museum sits an active railroad yard. You can see the daily operations from the outside courtyard. Spend some time in the sunshine and wait to catch a BNSF and Amtrak roll in.
This awesome museum is hiding just an hour outside of Austin.
Temple, Texas definitely deserves your attention. The Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum is open from 10 am to 4 pm on Tuesday - Saturday. Admission prices are $4 for adults, $3 for seniors, and $2 for children. Toddlers under the age of 5 can enter for free. Address: 315 West Avenue B,
Temple, TX 76501. To learn more, visit their website or Facebook page.
If you're looking for more fascinating museums, check out these 8 must-visit places in Austin.
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