Explore Railroad
History!
Located in historic downtown Council Bluffs, Iowa, on the Missouri River, we're a great place for friends and family to come and learn about the Union Pacific Railroad.
Directions200 Pearl St, Council Bluffs, IA 51503
Museum Information
Free, Self-Guided General Admission
The museum is open:
Thursday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sunday from noon to 6 p.m.
Planning your visit? Download our app, MuseumStars! Available in the App Store and Google Play Store!
Once downloaded, search 'Union Pacific Railroad Museum' to access our virtual tours and activities!
Visitor Reviews
"Keep up the good work. It was fun learning about trains. It's an amazing museum!" |
"This museum has fantastic displays! Love the demonstration of what made America great: hard working American spirit!" |
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Important Announcement!
We are currently undergoing window replacement, so there might be minor disruption in our galleries. However, we are still open to the public and the majority of our exhibits are unaffected!
Please give us a call at 712-329-8307 for more information on exhibit closures and general impact.
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Summer hours have started!
We are open regular hours plus Sundays from noon to 6pm!
Summer hours will be in effect until August 31st, 2025.
The museum will be closed on July 4th, 2025.
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Club Car Conversation: Pets on the Railroad
On June 24th at 5:30pm CDT, join us virtually to see Pets on the Railroad! From puppies to chinchillas, animals have had their fair share of train travels! As early as the 1880s Union Pacific created regulations on how dogs and pets can travel, posted to passengers in railroad timetables. Look back through time with us at some of our favorites.
Club Car Conversations are free and open the public. They are casual virtual chats about pop culture, history and the railroad.
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The Iron Horse in Indian Country: Native Americans and Railroads in the U.S. West
Historian and author Dr. Alessandra La Rocca Link will be joining the UP Museum on September 25 to present her book ‘The Iron Horse in Indian Country: Native Americans and Railroads in the U.S. West’.
Dr. Link earned her Ph.D. in history from the University of Colorado Boulder. Her research has been supported by Southern Methodist University's Clements Center for Southwest Studies, the American Council of Learned Societies, and the Huntington and Newberry libraires. She has been teaching history and English at Louisville Collegiate School since 2021.
Dr. Link’s talk will begin at 6:30pm, but guests are encouraged to attend a book signing prior to the event from 5pm to 6pm at the UP Musuem.
These events are free and open to the public. Please RSVP here to save your seat!
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Check out our new book!
Looking for some throwback recipes? Check out our new UP Commissary cook book! For more than a century, UP employees delivered high-quality meals and service to the public traveling on their iconic trains. This mid-20th century Dining Car Service Manual from the UP collection has been reproduced for you to enjoy!
Get a behind-the-scenes look into what it took to deliver world-class service in a moving restaurant. Recreate some of your favorites or try something new!
The Union Pacific Dining Car Cook Book and Service Instructions (replica edition) is available for purchase now!
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Check out our new temporary exhibit!
Law and Order on the Railroad:Learn about the evolution of railroad law enforcement from the beginning of the railroad until today!
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Join us for our free public events
History Express FREE Tour: Saturdays starting at 1:30 p.m.
Experience a standing tour that explores the overview history of 150 plus years of the railroad. No reservation needed. We will meet in front of the business car on the first floor.
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Our mission is to share American History through the lens of the railroad, connecting generations who have been impacted by Union Pacific
The museum is housed in a historic Carnegie Library building in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Visitors can explore an extensive compilation of items from 150 years of our nation's western history, including artifacts, photographs, documents and equipment.
All donations support the Union Pacific Museum Association, a 501(c)3 registered nonprofit.
