Exhibits

On-Track Cinema

How The West Was Won, Gunsmoke, Scandalous John, Orphan Train...

Trains and railroading have been an iconic presence on theater screens almost as long as the movies have existed. Over the decades, there have literally been thousands of movies and television programs that have used the railroad or trains as a critical and metaphoric part of the story line.

Now, in an emerging partnership with the Ava Astaire McKenzie Foundation (the daughter of the legendary actor Fred Astaire) CBS, and other partners, the South Dakota State Railroad Museum will digitally preserve and interpret our state’s cinematic railroad history and related American culture with our newest exhibit – On-Track Cinema.

 TimeRail... and Caboose 1208

 Minneapolis and St. Louis/
Chicago and North Western Caboose 1208

Plus... South Dakota’s dynamic year-to-year railroad history
in a fascinating 75-foot timeline - Colorfully depicted in dramatic images of the people, places, trains, and events which defined our State, and our nation.

Dakota Junction Learning Layout

This operational HO scale railroad features something interesting for everyone! You will see locomotives and rolling stock from many of the railroads that have and are still operating in South Dakota, plus replicas of other famous trains from around the United States. There are also numerous scale buildings and scenes from around the State and region that you may recognize.

Home Town Depot

What did a railroad depot look like? Who worked there and what did they do? How do you operate a telegraph? All of these question and more are answered in the South Dakota State Railroad Museum's Home Town Depot display. You might even see a train speed by the window…

For the Kids 

Fun Projects and Exhibits for South Dakota Students...

Numerous hands on items...