The Brandywine Railroad & Holiday Critters Display

About this adventure

A Brandywine Valley holiday tradition since 1972, the Brandywine Museum of Art presents the Brandywine Railroad—a massive O-gauge model train layout covering nearly 2,000 square feet with over 1,000 feet of track. Five simultaneous running trains loop through countryside villages, past limestone quarries, over trestle bridges, and past animated carnival rides and oil wells, featuring interactive buttons that let children trigger trackside animations. Throughout the museum's soaring glass atrium overlooking the Brandywine River, towering evergreen trees are decorated with thousands of handcrafted 'Critter' ornaments—endearing animal figurines made entirely by volunteers from natural pinecones, acorn caps, dried milkweed pods, and teasel. The museum is fully stroller and ADA accessible with elevators and coat check.