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Museum of Transportation
DESCRIPTION: The Museum of Transportation owns approximately 129 acres of land, and houses "one of the largest and best collections of transportation vehicles in the world," according to the Smithsonian Institution. With more than 70 locomotives, the museum has the most complete collection of American rail power in the world, and its collection of automobiles, busses, streetcars, aircraft, horse drawn vehicles and riverboat material reflects the ever-changing nature of transportation. A walk through the museum is a walk through history.
ADDRESS: 3015 Barrett Station Road, St. Louis, MO 63122
LOCATION: West St. Louis County
PHONE: 314-965-7998
WEB SITE: http://transportmuseumassociation.org/
GETTING THERE: Take I-64 West to I-270 South. Take the Daugherty Ferry Road Exit. Go right on Daugherty Ferry and follow it almost a mile to Barrett Station Road. Turn left on Barrett Station and go a half-mile. The museum will be on the right. Optional route: From downtown, take I-44 West to I-270 North. Take Daugherty Ferry Road Exit. Left on Daugherty Ferry to Barrett Station. Left on Barrett Station to Museum.
HOURS: Summer Hours (May 1 - September 1) Monday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.;
Sunday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Winter Hours (September 2 - April 30) Closed Monday except holidays listed below. Tuesday - Saturday: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Wednesdays in October open until 5:30 p.m. Open these Monday holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr Day; Presidents' Day; Columbus Day; Veteran's Day 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Open Christmas Eve & New Year's Eve 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year's Day.
ADMISSION: Children 5-12, seniors and military with a valid ID $4.00; Adults $6.00; No charge for children 4 and under and teachers with a valid current teaching ID.
ANNUAL ATTENDANCE: 100,000
HIGHLIGHTS:
- A 1920s Pullman sleeping car, diesel and steam locomotives that were state-of-the-art in their day, and a dining car equipped with a kitchen-on-wheels where the train's cook prepared sumptuous meals on a coal-burning stove.
- "Big Boy," the world's largest steam locomotive, and the Frisco #1621 steam locomotive that was built in the U. S. for czarist Russia. The revolution came before the train could be shipped.
- An automobile gallery designed as a "dealer showroom" features an ever-changing display of vintage vehicles from the museum's vast collection. Fun exhibits on speedometers, license plates and other auto ephemera fill a second floor gallery.
- Kids can pretend to sail a pirate ship and fulfill other transportation fantasies in an expanded, colorful playroom.
- Two mini-locomotives pulling passenger cars along a mile-long track.
HISTORY
- Founded in 1944 by a group of individuals dedicated to preserving the past with the acquisition of the 1870's mule-driven streetcar named "Bellefontaine #33"
- In 1948 the Transport Museum Association (TMA) incorporated as a nonprofit organization to better serve the financial and volunteer needs of the Museum
- On September 1, 1979 the St. Louis County Department of Parks and Recreation assumed operation of the Museum, and in February of 1984, the St. Louis County Department of Parks and Recreation officially accepted the museum as a gift from the initial founders
HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBILITY: The Museum is partially handicapped accessible.
GIFT SHOP: The Museum has a gift shop with a wide variety of gifts with a railroad theme. It also carries some Route 66 memorabilia.
WHAT'S NEARBY: The Magic House, Laumeier Sculpture Park and Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center are about three miles east. Queeny Park and the American Kennel Club Museum of the Dog are a few miles north.
PUBLIC RELATIONS CONTACT: Therese Brady, 314-965-7998 ext12, tbrady@stlouisco.com
Readers should call 1-800-916-0040 to request a free copy of the Official St. Louis Visitor Guide or point, click and explore St. Louis at www.explorestlouis.com
