RailsWest Railroad Museum

RailsWest Railroad Museum is housed in the 1899 depot built for the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad on South Main Street in Council Bluffs. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is about a 10-minute drive from downtown Omaha and is operated by the Historical Society of Pottawattamie County.

Inside the depot, displays cover local railroad history and the role rail played in Council Bluffs' growth. Outside, a rail car display lets visitors get close to real rolling stock, including a club car, engines, a railway post office car and cabooses. Part of the appeal is simply standing next to full-size equipment.

The museum is small and easy to see in an hour or less, which suits families with younger children and railfans making a quick stop. Train enthusiasts may also enjoy watching working freight movement in the surrounding rail corridor, though the museum itself does not promise this.

Operating days are limited to Thursday through Saturday, so plan accordingly. Pair it with the Union Pacific Railroad Museum and the Squirrel Cage Jail downtown for a rail-and-history afternoon in Council Bluffs.

Highlights

• 1899 Rock Island depot
• Walk-through rail cars
• Railway post office car
• Cabooses and engines
• National Register of Historic Places building

Tips for your visit

• Open Thursday to Saturday only, 10 am to 4 pm.
• Rail cars are outdoors, so dress for the weather.
• Admission is lower-cost for seniors, students and kids; members are free.
• Combine with the Union Pacific Railroad Museum downtown.