Celebrate the season at the Washington State History Museum’s 27th annual Model Train Festival.

The annual Model Train Festivalis set to return to the Washington State History Museum from December 22, 2023, through January 1, 2024.

Model train clubs from throughout the region share incredibly detailed and expansive layouts throughout four floors of the museum. This Tacoma holiday tradition has brought together generations of families, friends, and train enthusiasts from throughout the Pacific Northwest for 27 years.

“I always enjoy seeing people experience Model Train Festival for the first time,” said the museum’s director, Jennifer Kilmer. “From infants to grandparents, they all seem to share a universal look of amazement.”The theme of this year’s Model Train Festival is the 150th anniversary of the Northern Pacific Railroad’s arrival in Tacoma. Visitors can see the final days of the exhibition Collections Selections – End of the Line: The 150th Anniversary of the Northern Pacific Railroad in Tacoma and other railroad artifacts throughout the museum. This exhibition showcases original documents, objects, and photographs related to the railroad and its impact on Washington.

Guests who attend the festival can expect to see a wide variety of model trains of different sizes and scales, presented by eight clubs. One of the highlights of the festival is the largest permanent layout in Washington, which depicts a miniaturized Tacoma in the 1950s. Throughout the event, Seymour History, the museum’s Olympic marmot mascot, will make special appearances; the schedule can be found at http://www.ModelTrainFestival.org. Guests can also capture memories at the train depot photo setting. In addition, model train videos will be screened in the auditorium, which is a perfect family activity to enjoy.

The Model Train Festival opens on Friday, December 22, 2023, and operates daily from 10 AM to 5 PM through January 1, 2024. Please note that the museum will be closed on December 24 and 25 and will be open on January 1.

Washington State Historical Society members enjoy free admission and a 10% discount in the new museum store. General admission visitors can experience the Model Train Festival at regular museum rates, along with the other exhibitions on view. Advanced tickets are recommended and available online or at the door. Get all the details at this link: The 27th Annual Model Train Festival – Washington State Historical Society (washingtonhistory.org)

To view a short video showcasing the Model Train Festival, visit this link: Model Train Festival Members Night 2022 (youtube.com)

This article and images are courtesy of the Washington State Historical Society.