Museums hold tales of the past that can teach you about your present and future. There’s a lot to learn at the Virginia Museum of Transportation. There is something for every member of your family here. You can better appreciate the history of transportation in Virginia, from trains and cars to planes and boats. The impressive collection of transportation devices here will catch your eye and entice you to come back again.
Admission Information
The museum is at 303 Norfolk Ave. in Roanoke, VA. You can reach museum staff by calling 540-342-5670. It is closed Monday and Tuesday; however, the museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. It is also open Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free for young children ages two and under. Children ages 3 to 12 can get in for $8.44, while youth ages 13 to 17 get in for $10.55. Students can also get in for $10.55, but they must present their IDs. Adults ages 18 to 59 can visit the museum for $12.66. Furthermore, admission for seniors 60 and older is $10.55.
About the Museum
The Virginia Museum of Transportation has been around since 1963. It achieved the designation as the “Official Transportation Museum of the Commonwealth of Virginia 20 years later. It overcame a flood in 1985 by securing a new home in the form of an old freight station. Today, the museum consists of 45,000 square feet. It houses a collection of 2,500 items, which includes more than 50 locomotives and rail cars.
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Collections That Will Mesmerize
The museum will wow you and other guests with the largest collection of train pieces. It has a Class A locomotive, which could pull 150 cars and move at 70 miles per hour. You’ll also see a Class J locomotive, which could travel at 110 miles per hour. The locomotive is the only one left here in the U.S. You can also check out model railroads, a model circus exhibit, freight cars, cabooses, and passenger cars.
Secondly, the museum boasts a large air collection. This includes exhibits about early aviation, commercial aviation, helicopters and emergency transport, military bases, civilian aviators, and women in aviation.
Thirdly, you won’t want to miss the naval exhibit. It features modern-era ships as well as luxury cruise ship models. Furthermore, if you’re a car lover, you won’t want to miss the automobile collection. There are numerous classic cars to love here at the museum for display. These include a Ford Mustang GLX Convertible, a Mercedes-Benz 450 SL, a Ford Model T Touring car, etc.
To see trains, planes, cars, and boats, you need to come to the Virginia Museum of Transportation. Plan your upcoming visit today.
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