RailsWest History Museum

Overview

Step back in time at RailsWest History Museum and experience the railroad heritage that helped shape Council Bluffs, the American West, and the nation's transportation network. Housed in Council Bluffs' last remaining passenger railroad depot, the museum invites visitors to imagine what it was like to purchase a ticket and wait for the next train to arrive during the golden age of rail travel.

Visitors can explore exhibits and artifacts throughout the historic Rock Island Depot and step inside preserved locomotives and railcars for a hands-on experience rarely found today. Council Bluffs served as the eastern terminus of the nation's first transcontinental railroad and remains one of the most significant railroad communities in the American Midwest, making the museum an ideal place to discover the stories, people, and innovations that transformed America.

The original Rock Island Depot was established in 1869 and replaced by the current brick structure in 1899. During its operating years, the depot served generations of travelers and was shared by both the Rock Island Railroad and the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Road) before passenger service ended in 1970. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995, the depot continues to preserve an important chapter of Council Bluffs' transportation history while bringing the railroad era to life for modern visitors.

Please call or visit the museum's website for admission information and current hours.

Explore More Railroad History

• Union Pacific Railroad Museum
• Historic General Dodge House
• Golden Spike Monument

Phone: (712) 323-5182
Category: Attractions