Colorado Model Railroad Museum

Our wonderful museum, located in Greeley Colorado, has a variety of exhibits that will appeal to all ages.  The centerpiece attraction is a highly detailed 5,500 sq ft model railroad layout that is set in 1975.....which is the last year cabooses were run as the final car of most trains.   We have a LEGO town exhibit with a working train, a children's play-table, a small circus-themed children's layout, a Thomas the Train layout and a real red caboose you can climb in and explore.  

As the trains run through the miniature world, volunteers mingle with the visitors to answer questions and share history.  Train trestles and tunnels are included throughout the layout.  There are fascinating details and interactive displays to explore in the landscape, including a forest fire scene complete with a fire crew and smoke that is activated by pushing a button.  Several small towns with mercantile shops, hardware stores, hotels, and brick facades with painted advertising are on the layout along with historic automobiles on the town streets.   One of the miniature towns has a fire at a fireworks factory and the fire department is on the scene. This interactive display, activated by a button, has smoke and flashing lights, similar to the forest fire scene.

The layout includes tiny clucking chickens (interactive display), a mama bear and cubs, dogs, skunks, and cows. There is a large lake with people fly fishing, canoeing, camping, and swimming.  A vintage food truck with customers eating at a nearby picnic table gives you an idea of the impressive attention to detail.  Other "scenes" include boy scouts camping, families enjoying picnics, rock climbers, construction workers,and a gentleman changing a tire.   are Our Eye-Spy games are fun for all ages.  We will give you a list of items to find around the museum, with some items being part of the train displays and other items hanging on the walls.  A second part of the game is the challenge to  fin at least five dinosaurs hidden in the centerpiece train layout. (Hint....there are more than five!)  Of course there is a small prize for finding all the items!

We have an amazing collection of railroad artifacts such as lanterns, photographs, railroad pins, dishes from the dining cars, and a full-size traffic warning device in the building.  We currently have a "Department 56" North Pole Village on display in its own case.  We are the only museum to have the entire Department 56 collection, thanks to a very generous benefactor, and the displays are changed out once a year as we are only able to showcase 1% of the collection at any given time.

Plans for our immediate future include building an outdoor garden railroad for visitors to enjoy, creating a space for S.T.E.A.M. projects for our local students, and providing a library of railroad history.  Donations may be earmarked for general funds or special projects.

Our museum is a Colorado favorite along with having a national and international following.  People come from all over country and around the world come to visit this wonderful miniature world.

We have a small staff of 3 with dozens of dedicated volunteers.  We rely on train enthusiasts, history buffs, and families looking for unique learning experiences to help keep our doors open.  Our membership levels range from our individual Brakeman level at $30 to our Empire Level at $2,500 and in between. Please visit our website at www.cmrm.org.  Better yet, come visit us in Greeley, Colorado