1 / 3Empire State Railway Museum
📍 Phoenicia, NY
Restored 1899 Phoenicia Railroad Station housing three rooms of Ulster & Delaware Railroad artifacts, an HO-scale diorama, antique telegraph equipment, and Steam Locomotive #23. Admission is free; donations accepted.
I had actually planned to take more pictures while I was here but I became so enthralled with the history and information the volunteers had during their tour. This museum is free but has the option to give donations. They have a little gift shop as well. They have a lot of original parts of the building, and a great little recreation of what the train station(s) looked like back in the day, it is made with as much accuracy as was possible, so it is really neat to look at. You certainly learn a lot from here, including about how trains used to stay on time, money security in the old building, and an overall history of the area. Although this is not at all by fault of the museum, we had asked if we could look at the trains and were given permission as long as we stayed on the grass but when we were on the grass, a girl from the business next door yelled at us that we weren't allowed over there, so come communication with that business may be needed.
🏆 Family Action Verdict
Best for train-enthusiast families and kids old enough to engage with historical storytelling — roughly ages 6 and up get the most from the volunteer-led tours. Toddlers can enjoy the scale models and the station building itself. The visit runs 45–90 minutes and pairs well with other Phoenicia-area stops.
ℹ️ What to Know Before You Go
💬 What Families Are Saying
View all reviews →115 Google reviews
Hobby Experiment
4 years ago
“I had actually planned to take more pictures while I was here but I became so enthralled with the history and information the volunteers had during their tour. This museum is free but has the option to give donations. They have a little gift shop as well. They have a lot of original parts of the building, and a great little recreation of what the train station(s) looked like back in the day, it is made with as much accuracy as was possible, so it is really neat to look at. You certainly learn a lot from here, including about how trains used to stay on time, money security in the old building, and an overall history of the area. Although this is not at all by fault of the museum, we had asked if we could look at the trains and were given permission as long as we stayed on the grass but when we were on the grass, a girl from the business next door yelled at us that we weren't allowed over there, so come communication with that business may be needed.”
Aye Kaye K
8 months ago
“Excellent trip either for train enthusiasts or smaller children. The price is right and there is ample parking with beautiful views of the mountains. There’s a small museum in an old antique and a beautifully restored train station high up in the Catskill mountains. This is a very historical railroad and this was one of the stops. The team of volunteers that run this beautiful piece of historical magnificence are awesome and you can see they put a lot of time and love into the restoration of these beautiful machines. This is not a long and in-depth trip, but absolutely worth it.”
Nicole
7 months ago
“Had the best experience at this railway museum. It’s like taking a trip back in time with so many cool artifacts and photos of the old railroad station. The volunteers and guide were very sweet to me and my son. All so enthusiastic to share the history and explore the caboose. It’s free but donation based and really was a cool place to see how the Catskills railway used to be!”
Dani
8 months ago
“Cute little gem with tons of history, Steve was our tour guide, very kind and welcoming. Great views!!”
Reviews from Google
Overview
Empire State Railway Museum occupies the original 1899 Phoenicia Railroad Station in the Catskill Mountains. Three exhibit rooms display photographs, railroad artifacts, working antique telegraph equipment, and a detailed HO-scale U&D Railroad diorama. Volunteer guides deliver in-depth tours covering Catskill Mountain railroad history. Group visits can access Steam Locomotive #23 and restoration equipment. A gift shop carries train-themed souvenirs.