NORTH FREEDOM, WI
Mid-Continent Railway Museum
At a Glance
- TypeHeritage railroad & tourist attraction
- LocationNORTH FREEDOM, WI
- Rating4.7 ★1,002 Google reviews
- UpcomingThu, Aug 13
About Mid-Continent Railway Museum
Mid‑Continent Railway Museum runs a heritage railroad from North Freedom, Wisconsin, offering a 7‑mile (11 km) round‑trip excursion through the former mining community of La Rue and out to a historic rock quarry. Trains travel at up to 15 mph, covering the line in roughly one hour, with a brief locomotive turn‑around at the far end.
Upcoming Events
Plan Your Visit
- ParkingFree lot
- AccessibilityWheelchair-accessible entrance · accessible restroom · accessible parking
- HoursMonday: ClosedTuesday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PMWednesday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PMThursday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PMFriday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PMSaturday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PMSunday: 9:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Find the Depot
The Trains
The museum runs a 7‑mile (11 km) standard‑gauge round‑trip excursion that departs from North Freedom, traverses the former mining community of La Rue, reaches a former rock quarry, and returns along the same line. Its collection includes the Chicago and North Western steam locomotive No. 1385 and the Western Coal and Coke steam locomotive No. 1, both under restoration, eight diesel locomotives, nine steam locomotives in total, and more than 100 pieces of rolling stock such as the nation’s largest assortment of wooden passenger cars, five of the six surviving wooden Mather boxcars, and the Wisconsin Fish Commission “Badger Car No. 2” fish car.
History
See full history
The Chicago and North Western Railway built a 3‑mile branch line to serve the Illinois Mine after engineers surveyed the route on July 8 1903 and President Marvin Hughitt announced the line on August 12 1903; the spur was completed in December 1903 at a cost of $40,533. Mining activity declined, the Illinois Mine closed in 1908 and the neighboring Iroquois Mine ceased operations in 1914, after which the line served a Harbison‑Walker quarry from 1917 until the quarry shut down in 1962. In 1959 a group of Milwaukee rail enthusiasts formed the Railway Historical Society of Milwaukee, secured an agreement with the Hillsboro and Northeastern Railway to run diesel trains in 1962, purchased the North Freedom branch that same year, and moved their collection to the site in 1963, completing repairs to steam locomotive No. 1385 and offering the first passenger rides that summer. Floodwaters from the Baraboo River inundated the museum in June 2008, forcing a closure until February 2009; bridge repairs finished in July 2018 restored full rail‑network access. On May 27 2023 the museum celebrated the 60th anniversary of the inaugural passenger train on its 7‑mile route.
Around the Depot
From North Freedom, Wisconsin, the Mid-Continent Railway Museum is close to the Circus World Museum about 7 mi off and the Riverside & Great Northern Railway roughly 13 mi away.
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.
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Tours & Activities near North Freedom
Tours
Guided tours, day trips, and things to do around the area, bookable in advance through Viator.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Mid-Continent Railway Museum located?
NORTH FREEDOM, WI 53593
How do I get tickets to Mid-Continent Railway Museum?
Tickets and current schedules are available on the operator's official website at https://www.midcontinent.org/.
When is the next event at Mid-Continent Railway Museum?
The next scheduled event is "Caboose Rides" on Thursday, August 13, 2026. See the full upcoming-events list on this page.