Photo by Jpawela, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)
About Las Cruces Railroad Museum
City-operated museum in restored 1910 ATSF depot. Hands-on model railroad layouts, full-size caboose on display, free admission. Walking museum only. Listed as 'in DB' per brief; included here as canonical record.
At a Glance
Verified daily- Type
- Railroad museum
- Location
- NM
- Rating
- 4.5 ★ 320 Google reviews
Upcoming Events
No ticketed events are currently listed for Las Cruces Railroad Museum. Many heritage operators publish schedules seasonally or run on regular open hours instead of dated events.
Check the operator’s website for current hours and special runs, or subscribe to event alerts and we’ll email you when something is scheduled.
Plan Your Visit
- Parking
- Free lot
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance · accessible restroom · accessible parking
- Hours
- Monday: ClosedTuesday: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PMWednesday: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PMThursday: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PMFriday: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PMSaturday: 9:00 AM – 4:30 PMSunday: Closed
Find the Depot
History
See full history
The Las Cruces Railroad Museum occupies the city's historic Santa Fe Railroad station, a restored 1910 depot, and exhibits the impact of the railroads on the surrounding area. The railroad's arrival is itself a founding story for the city: when the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe reached the Mesilla Valley, the landowners of neighboring Mesilla — then the area's leading settlement — refused to sell rights-of-way, so Las Cruces residents donated the rights-of-way and land for a depot, and the first train arrived in 1881. The depot area anchors the Alameda-Depot Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985, which counts the museum among its roughly 271 contributing buildings' setting. One of four City of Las Cruces-operated museums, it offers hands-on model railroad layouts and a full-size caboose on display, with free admission — a walking museum rather than a ride operation.
Around the Depot
Las Cruces is the heart of the Mesilla Valley, the Rio Grande's agricultural floodplain in southern New Mexico, with the Organ Mountains rising dramatically about ten miles east of town. New Mexico's second-largest college town vibe comes from New Mexico State University, while the pedestrianized Main Street downtown hosts a farmers' market on Wednesday and Saturday mornings plus museums, galleries, and theaters — including the city-run Branigan Cultural Center, Museum of Art, and Museum of Natural History. El Paso lies about 42 miles southeast.
Getting There & Staying Nearby
Optional trip extras from our travel partners.
Rent a Car
Most heritage railroads sit well off the interstate. Picking up a rental at the nearest airport is usually the easiest way in.
Compare rentals on Discover Cars →Bookings made through this link support usatrainrides at no extra cost to you.
Tours & Activities Nearby
Tours
Guided tours, day trips, and things to do around the area, bookable in advance through Viator.
Browse nearby tours →Bookings made through this link support usatrainrides at no extra cost to you.