LOWER GALLERY

TRAQUEROS: MEXICAN TRACKWORKERS and the AMERICAN RAILROAD
Celebrating Colorado 150 & America 250

The Colorado Railroad Museum is proud to showcase “Traqueros: Mexican Trackworkers and the American Railroad.” This compelling exhibit highlights the vital, yet often untold, stories of Mexican and Mexican American laborers who built and maintained America’s railroads from the late 19th century through the mid-20th century.

UPPER GALLERY

CENTER for RAILROAD PHOTOGRAPHY & ART

Every year, the Center for Railroad Photography & Art holds a contest that attracts some of today’s finest and most creative photographers. Those who placed in this year’s program will have their photographs displayed at the Colorado Railroad Museum in Golden into 2026. The Museum’s goal is to showcase not only Colorado’s rich railroad history, but also the many creative people—around the world—who keep the spirit of railroading alive and well in the 21st century.

This exhibit of 16 visually engaging works (Judges Also Liked honorees are included along with the winners) is included with regular Museum admission, and located in the main hallway and staircase areas of the Museum Depot. It will continue through summer 2026.

For more information about the contest winners, their photographs visit the Center for Railroad Photography & Art online here. Now Open – Included with admission.

TELEGRAPHER’S OFFICE

This diorama shows a typical telegraph office that could be found at a train depot in the early 20th century. It comes with a working “sounder” encouraging visitors to decode and send messages coming over the wire.

VOTAW SCALE MODEL TRAINS

Herbert W. Voltaw built a series of 1-inch scale locomotive and railroad car models in the 1940s, 50s and 60s using aluminum, steel bar, soft and hard woods, plastic, and glass. The Museum displays a number of these intricate works of art in this gallery. Available Year-Round.

COMING SOON

A new exhibit will open soon! Check back for more information soon!

MODEL RAILROADS

DENVER GARDEN RAILWAY SOCIETY 

Delight to the Outdoor Garden Railroad. Located outdoors in the Railyard, just north of the main Depot building, the Denver Garden Railway Society’s outdoor garden railroad is one of the largest public garden railroad layouts in the U.S. The Club’s operating garden railroad features two different track gauges, a number of scales, buildings, carefully maintained landscaping, and even a loop for operating scale live steam locomotives! This layout is operated whenever members of DGRS are available, and during special events, so it may not have train operating during your visit. However, the layout itself is quite interesting to see regardless!

Want to learn more about the Garden Club? Click Here to watch “Big Train Tours: The Museum’s Outdoor Garden Railroad”

DENVER HO MODEL RAILROAD CLUB

Located in the lower level of the Depot Museum building, the Denver HO Model Railroad Club is one of the oldest and largest model railroad clubs in the Rocky Mountain region. The Club’s operating layout replicates the various types of Colorado mountain railroading in HO and HOn3.

HO scale is 1/87th of the real size of standard gauge trains and track. HOn3 is the same scale, but designed for narrow gauge trains and track.

Members of the Denver HO Model Railway Club maintain and continue to improve the layout throughout the year. Guests can insert quarters (available in the Depot Store) to make a train operate and also to power the scale amusement park on the layout! For more information, visit DenverHOModelRRClub.org.

Want to learn more about the HO Club? Click Here to watch “Big Train Tours: Small Trains in the Basement”