The West Virginia Railroad Museum, Elkins, West Virginia

Here you are. You are in Elkins, West Virginia. You have done one of the best things to do in Elkins: ride the train. You just got off the Cheat Mountain Salamander or the Tygart Flyer or the Mountain Explorer. Your day is done here. Right?

Wrong! You must make your way to the West Virginia Railroad Museum.

Just a short walk from the Elkins Depot is the West Virginia Railroad Museum. You will not see any old locomotives, old rail cars or old cabooses. What you will find is detailed chronologic history of railroading in the state of West Virginia. From the arrival of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad to the coal mines to the different towns across the state, the railroad has been a big part of the state. The museum features model trains to include displays of towns and industrial areas, old railroad maintenance equipment. There are also old photos of the railroads. It is a small museum, but you will see much about the railroads of West Virginia, and they have changing exhibits each year so you will want to come back again and again.

The West Virginia Railroad Museum is a project site of the Appalachian Forest National Heritage Area. It is located on the upper floor of the old Darden Mill which was built on railroad property making it a great place for the museum. Opened in 2014, it is a great compliment to your visit to Elkins. It is open from mid-April to October from Thursday to Sunday 9:30am to 5:00pm. General admission only $5.00 with children under five free. It is located at 2 Railroad Avenue in Elkins, West Virginia. Parking is on the street, or you can park at the depot. You can learn more about the museum and about some of the restoration projects they are working on at https://wvrailmuseum.com.