Event · STEM & discovery

30th Annual Model Train Festival at the Washington State History Museum

When

Through Jan 1Dec 18, 2026 – Jan 1, 2027; closed Dec 24 & 25; open Mondays during the festival

Where

Washington State History Museum1911 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98402Open in Google Maps ↗

Ages

All ages; kids 5 and under free

Cost

Included with admission; kids 5 and under free; members free; outside discounts and library passes not valid

Organizer

Washington State Historical Society

The Washington State History Museum's Model Train Festival, a Tacoma holiday tradition, marks its 30th year with room-sized layouts from local model railroad clubs on four floors of the museum. Displays include the Puget Sound Model Railroad Engineers' permanent layout of 1950s Tacoma, European villages, scenes from across Washington, a Lionel club and Kitsap Live Steamers. Rotating limited-run layouts include Tim Jordan's 'Tribute to Seattle' (Dec 19, 20, 26 and 27), a Z-scale club and a Japanese rail layout. Families also find hands-on activities, train films in the auditorium and festive photo stations. National Model Railroad Association workshops on December 21 and 22 at 10 am are included with admission for the first 20 participants. The festival is included with admission, and kids 5 and under are free.