Mark your calendar for 2024 Railroad Days at Mile Zero!
Railroad Days is an annual celebration of all things train and track! Celebrate CB's rich railroad heritage and place in history as historic Mile Zero for Union Pacific Railroad. There will be numerous train-themed activities and locations to visit between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, September 21, 2024.
Add to Calendar
The Union Pacific Railroad Museum, RailsWest Railroad Museum, Pottawattamie Arts, Culture and Entertainment (PACE), the Historic General Dodge House, Council Bluffs Public Library, 712 Initiative, and the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce are teaming up to offer this annual event. Kids will be excited to ride the trollies to each participating location and to take part in numerous hands-on activities that explore the vast world of the railroad!
Get Your Tickets
Passes for the family event are $20 per group, which includes two adults and unlimited children under 18. An additional adult pass can be purchased for $10. Tickets may be purchased online. On the day of the event, you can purchase your ticket at the Union Pacific Museum, Historic General Dodge House, and the RailsWest Railroad Museum.
Tickets that are purchased in advance can be redeemed the day of the event at the Union Pacific Museum, Historic General Dodge House, and the RailsWest Railroad Museum, where each person will receive a wristband that allows you unlimited rides on the trolleys and admission to all trolley stops.
Purchase Tickets
Take a Ride on Our Trolley!
Ollie the Trolley will transport ticket holders to the trolley stops from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on September 21, 2024. The trolley will depart and arrive on Pearl Street in front of the Union Pacific Museum and will take visitors on the Council Bluffs loop to other participating venues. All transportation is provided for your convenience, but you are able to walk/drive to destinations if you desire.
Trolley Stops:
Union Pacific Railroad Museum
-
Discover the fascinating history of law and order on the railroad in the temporary exhibit at the Union Pacific Museum. Discover the history of railroad police, how they developed, what makes their service different from city police and why railroads still have police officers today! The exhibit is free and open to the public through September 2025. Special Railroad Days 2024 activities at the Union Pacific Museum also include:
- A fully landscaped N-Track model train layout depicting typical Midwestern scenes. Stop by and watch these unique scale trains travel through rural, urban, and mountainous spaces.
- Drive an interactive T-Track model train display along the tracks!
- Hang out at our board game station and play Ticket to Ride with Spielbound!
- View a Council Bluffs Police Department cruiser, learn fun safety tips, and get to know local officers!
- Made New Makerspace is back as a partner and will provide a safety-themed activity for all visitors to dig into!
- Come and see the Council Bluffs Public Library's table at the UP Museum! We will have a display of railroad photographs from the library's collection, a demonstration of the library's digital archive focusing on historical railroad materials, and free 3D-printed train engines!
- Stop by Bayliss Park for Squirrel Junction Jamboree, organized by The 712 Initiative and the Council Bluffs Area Chamber of Commerce! Ride a mini train, grab a snack, and have a little fun.
Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center
-
Gather your family and friends for a day packed with fun and adventure at the Hoff Center. Dive into the enchanting world of trains at our Miniature Train Exhibition, where you can marvel at the intricate details of these tiny locomotives. Capture the moment with unique photo opportunities that will make for perfect keepsakes.
But that's not all! Unleash your creativity with our Arts and Crafts activities designed for all ages. Plus, don't miss the chance to admire stunning artwork from local talents during the Southwest Iowa Art Tour. This is a rare opportunity to witness the vibrant art scene of our community and perhaps find that perfect piece to take home.
RailsWest Railroad Museum
- The RailsWest Railroad Museum, located in the historic Rock Island Depot, features displays and artifacts from numerous rail lines that passed through Council Bluffs. Outside in the train yard, visitors are invited to climb aboard the old steam engines, walk through the Omaha Club Car that stopped in Council Bluffs, or imagine themselves riding along behind the train in the 1918 cupola-style caboose or the 1967 bay window-style caboose.
Historic General Dodge House
- Visitors will begin their Dodge House experience at the Beresheim House, just south of the Dodge House. Here, you will enjoy an orientation video, appreciate the local history displays, visit the gift shop, and more. Visitors are welcome to rest in the shade and enjoy affordable bottled water, hotdogs hamburgers, and chips served by the VFW Post 11355. You will be engaged by Civil War educators, a Civil War Cannon, and a step back in time to 1869 in the home of the greatest railroad builder of all time, General Grenville M. Dodge. As you stroll through the home of General Dodge, our tour guides are there to answer any questions you may have about the house, the family, and the man himself. The basement of the house has many displays and railroad and civil war artifacts.
Historic 100 Block of West Broadway
- Come down to the Historic 100 Block of West Broadway for a N scale model train display and variety of food and drink specials. In addition, a Classic Car Show will be taking place on the 100 Block for you to enjoy.
- Inside the former Jefferson's Lounge space at 157 W Broadway, the Omaha N Trak model train layout will be on display. Spanning 32 feet by 16 feet, it offers an immersive N scale experience with its diverse landscapes, including bustling urban centers, scenic rural areas, and dramatic mountainous regions. For the past 35 years, the club has meticulously crafted this layout with realistic terrain, detailed structures, and lush vegetation, featuring a range of authentic locomotives and rolling stock navigating multiple track loops and intricate switching yards.
- The Railroad Days food and drink specials on the 100 Block are as follows:
Railroad Days FAQ
Other Railroad Days Perks in the Metro:
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Railroad Days is made possible thanks to the generous support of Union Pacific Railroad and a grant provided by the Iowa West Foundation.
