Georgia State Railroad Museum, Savannah

The Georgia State Railroad Museum examines the history of Savannah’s railroads and transportation industry, historically one of the most important economic influences in the city’s growth.

It is located on the former site of the shops and terminal facilities of the Central of Georgia Railway (the site is a National Historic Landmark), a short walk over from the Visitor Center and Savannah History Museum. The museum is considered to be the largest and best preserved antebellum railroad repair facility in the United States.

Georgia was an early leader in the development of the nation’s railroad network. Savannah businessmen chartered the Central of Georgia Railroad and Canal Company in 1833. Its first line, from Savannah to Macon, was completed in the 1840s.

The railroad would remain a vital part of Savannah’s economy well into the 20th century. The repair shops at Savannah, used to service the Central of Georgia’s rolling stock, finally closed in 1963. More than two decades later, the site was restored and converted into the present railroad museum.

Please note that many of the exhibits at the Georgia State Railroad Museum are outdoors.

What To See & Do At The Georgia State Railroad Museum

Guided & self-guided tours To get the most out of your visit to the Georgia State Railroad Museum, take one of the guided tours of the site and its historic railroad cars (call the museum at 912-651-6823 for tour times for the day you want to visit). Otherwise, there is a printed self-guided tour that you can follow.

Historic engines and railcars More than a dozen historic steam and diesel locomotives and railcars are on display at the museum, with engines large and small, plus railcars ranging from hand-powered maintenance vehicles to the luxury passenger cars built for wealthy travelers, all represented.

Historic railroad structures Around a dozen of the more-than-a-century-old Central of Georgia railroad shop’s original buildings survive on the grounds of the museum. Several of them are used as display spaces for the locomotives, railcars and other exhibits.

There is also a roundhouse with operational turntable, moved from another Central of Georgia site in Columbus, a large brick smokestack, and a small workers’ garden.

Train rides Short train rides on either a 1913 steam locomotive or a 1947 diesel locomotive are available several days per week.

Rides are almost always available on weekends; weekday availability varies according to the season. Rides are available in the late morning or early afternoon, with two per day on Sundays and four or five per day on other days.

See the train ride schedule for available times and dates, and to see which locomotive will be in use. Please note that the schedule occasionally varies, so if anyone in your party is especially eager to ride the train, call ahead to verify that this will be possible at the time and day that you want.

Online materials For additional history of the site and the railroad industry in the United States, visit the Georgia State Railroad Museum’s Pinterest board, where you can find historic photographs and information on a variety of topics, such as: old locomotives; the people who worked on the railroads, including women and African-American workers; the Savannah repair shops before their restoration; miscellaneous items from the history of the Central of Georgia and other railroad companies, and more.

Georgia State Railroad Museum Visitor Information

The following is correct at the time of writing. Please verify details before planning your trip. For additional information call 912-651-6823 or visit the official website.

Opening hours Open Wednesday-Sunday, 9am-4pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Admission Adults $11, children (2-12) $7. A combination ticket allowing entrance to three of the Coastal Heritage Society’s sites is also available: adults $20, children (2-12) $15. See details

Please note that some of the Coastal Heritage Society’s other sites are located several miles outside of Savannah, and may be difficult to get to if you do not have a car.

Pets Leashed dogs are welcome at the Georgia State Railroad Museum, but they may not enter any of the railcars.

Getting There

Address 655 Louisville Road, Savannah, GA 31401

The museum is located to the west of Savannah’s Historic District, just south of the Visitor Center and Savannah History Museum. See on map

Public transport Savannah’s fare-free express shuttle has a nearby stop, outside the Visitors Center on Martin Luther King, Jr Boulevard at Liberty Street, 2-3 minutes walk away. More about Savannah’s public transport services

Several paid Chatham Area Transit (CAT) services also stop at this intersection. Get directions by public transport.

More Savannah Museums

– American Prohibition Museum
– King-Tisdell Cottage
– Massie Heritage Center
– National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force (Pooler, GA)
– Pin Point Heritage Museum
– Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum
– Savannah History Museum
– Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum
– Webb Military Museum