California State Railroad Museum Foundation

What California State Railroad Museum Foundation does

The California State Railroad Museum Foundation is the nonprofit cooperating organization that supports the California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento and Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown, California. The Foundation operates as a 501(c)-style nonprofit affiliated with California State Parks, raising and deploying funds to preserve, interpret, and program across a heritage rail complex that includes 19 historic steam locomotives, rolling stock from 1862-1950, the nation's largest railroad research library (over 1 million images and archival items), and the Sacramento Southern Railroad excursion line.

The organization's product surface spans admissions and on-site museum exhibits, 45-minute excursion train rides (coach and first-class), seasonal event programming (Polar Express, Golden Hour Express, Game Night at the Museum), facility rentals, educational K-12 programs including the Lemelson-MIT-affiliated Rail Innovation in Action, a retail gift store, and a research Library & Archives. Distribution is regional: physical sites in Old Sacramento and Jamestown, online ticketing through Etix, online digital exhibits, and a Constant Contact newsletter.

Revenue is generated through unit-priced admissions, train fares, membership subscriptions, donations, gift-store sales, and private-event/facility rentals, supplemented by episodic filming revenue and foundation grants. The Foundation's 11-50 employee base is supported by volunteers, with Smithsonian Affiliate status (since June 2017) and KultureCity certification (May 2025) reinforcing its brand and accessibility credentials.

Name

California State Railroad Museum Foundation

Legal name

California State Railroad Museum Foundation

Website

https://californiarailroad.museum

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The California State Railroad Museum Foundation is a Sacramento-based nonprofit that supports the California State Railroad Museum and Railtown 1897 State Historic Park, preserving 19 historic steam locomotives, operating excursion trains, and delivering educational programming for families, K-12 school groups, rail enthusiasts, and event clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heritage railroad museum and cultural institution

NAICS

Museums (71211), Historical Sites (71212)

akta.pro primary industry

History Museums (THAJADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Museums & Heritage Sites (History, Science, Specialty) (BPAGAHAA), Tourist/Scenic/Heritage Passenger Rail Operators (TLAFADAG)

Keywords

• Railroad museum exhibits
• Heritage excursion trains
• Educational field trips
• Museum gift store
• Foundation donations

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Museum Admissions: Revenue from general museum admission fees for visitors to the California State Railroad Museum.
2. Excursion Train Rides: Revenue from 45-minute, 6-mile round trip excursion train rides along the Sacramento River on the Sacramento Southern Railroad, with coach and first-class options.
3. Gift Store Sales: Retail sales of railroad-themed merchandise including clothing, toys, books, DVDs, and souvenirs.
4. Membership Program: Annual membership program offering free admission, discounted train rides, and other benefits.
5. Facility Rentals and Charters: Private event rentals of museum facilities, including the roundhouse, and charter train experiences.
6. Donations and Foundation Support: Charitable donations from individuals and organizations supporting museum preservation and educational programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The California State Railroad Museum Foundation operates a railroad museum complex that displays 19 historic steam locomotives and extensive rolling stock, runs 45-minute excursion train rides along the Sacramento River on the Sacramento Southern Railroad, maintains the nation's largest railroad research library and archives, and provides educational programs, a museum gift store, and seasonal events. The Foundation is the nonprofit partner of both the California State Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento and Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown.

Product overview

The California State Railroad Museum Foundation supports a comprehensive museum complex offering multiple interconnected products and services. The core offerings include world-class physical exhibits featuring 19 historic steam locomotives and diverse rolling stock, alongside excursion train rides on the Sacramento Southern Railroad with both coach and premium first-class options. The museum provides digital exhibits for remote visitors, maintains the nation's largest railroad research Library & Archives, operates a retail store, and delivers educational programming including the Rail Innovation in Action student program. Special seasonal events like Polar Express Train Rides and facility rentals round out the portfolio, all united by a mission to collect, preserve, and share railroad heritage stories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sacramento Southern Railroad: Historic railroad operating excursion train rides from Old Sacramento along the Sacramento River. Has been serving guests since 1984 with over one million guests having taken rides.

Products and services

• Excursion Train Rides (Sacramento Southern Railroad) 45-minute, 6-mile round trip historic excursion train rides along the Sacramento River aboard vintage railroad cars, departing from Old Sacramento Waterfront with coach and first-class seating options. Open to the general public on Fridays and weekends.
• Museum Exhibits World-class collection of restored locomotives, rolling stock, railroad artwork, and interactive exhibits showcasing railroad history, including the Chinese Railroad Workers' Experience, Golden Spike Exhibit Gallery, Small Wonders toy trains, and more. Open to the public daily.
• Library & Archives Research Services The nation's largest and most comprehensive railroad research facility, with over one million graphic images, books, corporate archives, and research materials covering the entire United States. Serves 5,000+ annual research requests.
• Museum Store Retail merchandise including clothing, kids and adults railway souvenirs, railroad china reproductions, BRIO and HAPE wooden trains, railroad books, DVDs, and Polar Express keepsakes. Operated on-site at the museum.
• Facility Rentals & Charters Private event rentals of museum facilities including the roundhouse, plus charter train experiences, for corporate functions, weddings, birthday parties, and other events.
• Rail Innovation in Action Educational program for high school students created in partnership with the Lemelson-MIT Program, where students conduct research and develop innovative solutions to real-world issues facing the rail industry.
• Polar Express Train Ride Seasonal holiday-themed train ride experience based on the popular children's book, offering special event tickets during the winter season.
• Special Events Program Various special events including the Golden Hour Express, Museum Market Mixer, Game Night at the Museum, and seasonal celebrations held throughout the year.
• Digital Exhibits Online virtual exhibits allowing remote access to railroad stories and history, including Black and African American Experience, The Gold Coast with Lucius Beebe and Charles Clegg, The Solano Train Ferry, and the Chinese Workers' Experience.
• First Class Train Cars Premium excursion experience aboard elegant historic railcars including The El Dorado (1920s lounge car), The French Quarter (New Orleans-inspired lounge), and The Audubon Dining Car with John James Audubon bird illustrations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 500,000+ annual visitors
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor, flagship and core.

• Sojourner Truth African Heritage MuseummajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 July 2024Project partner on community engagement initiatives resulting in a vibrant mural. Collaboration on the Black & African American Railroad Experience exhibit development.
• RabobankminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 23 September 2017Presented Farm-to-Fork Cocktail Train Rides, supporting the Farm-to-Fork initiative with VIP cocktail train experiences.
• B Street TheatreminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 July 2017Partnership for B Street & Brews at the Museum event combining theatre performances with museum experiences.
• Smithsonian InstitutionflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 June 2017Official Smithsonian Affiliate since June 2017. The museum partnered with Smithsonian Digital Services to produce the Gold Coast virtual exhibit.
• California State ParkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe museum operates as an official cooperating organization with California State Parks. The nonprofit Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the educational and interpretive programs of the California State Railroad Museum and Railtown 1897 State Historic Park.
• Railtown 1897 State Historic ParkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Foundation is the nonprofit partner of both the Museum and Railtown 1897 State Historic Park in Jamestown, CA. Railtown features 100-year-old Sierra Railroad Shops and offers excursion train rides.
• National Model Railroad Association (NMRA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with NMRA for 'The Magic of Scale Model Railroading' exhibit featuring model layouts and scale trains. NMRA is the oldest and largest scale model railroad organization in the world.
• California State University, Sacramento - Public History ProgrammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGraduate students created the Farm-to-Fork exhibit examining the railroad's role in California agriculture. Partnership on student-designed exhibits through the Laboratory of Learning program.
• Lemelson-MIT ProgrammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Rail Innovation in Action program - an 8-week online interactive course for high school students to develop innovative solutions to real-world rail industry issues.
• Sacramento Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on two exhibits showcasing local artistry created by Parks and Tranquility grant awardees.
• Nevada State Railroad MuseummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEquipment loan arrangement with the Nevada State Railroad Museum, including the V&T No. 21 J.W. Bowker and V&T No. 12 Genoa locomotives.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Smithsonian Institution: National museum and research complex that grants CSRM's Smithsonian Affiliate status and partners on digitized exhibits. Comparable as a broader institutional umbrella within the same cultural heritage and museum ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania: State-affiliated railroad museum in Strasburg, Pennsylvania with a large collection of historic locomotives and rolling stock. Closely comparable archival and exhibit mission to CSRM.
• Steamtown National Historic Site: National Park Service site in Scranton, Pennsylvania featuring one of the world's largest collections of steam locomotives and offering heritage excursion train rides. Comparable as a heritage railroad museum with operating rail rides.
• Travel Town Museum: Los Angeles-based transportation museum in Griffith Park with a collection of historic locomotives and rail cars, operated by the City of LA Department of Recreation and Parks. Comparable as a regional transportation heritage museum.
• National Railroad Museum: A nonprofit railroad museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin housing historic locomotives and rolling stock with a similar educational mission. Directly comparable as a peer heritage railroad museum with immersive exhibits and excursion operations.
• Strasburg Rail Road: The oldest continuously operating railroad in the western hemisphere (since 1832), offering heritage excursion rides along the Pennsylvania Railroad. Similar tourism-driven excursion business model to the Sacramento Southern Railroad.
• B&O Railroad Museum: Baltimore-based railroad museum affiliated with the Smithsonian and home to an extensive collection of historic locomotives, including the B&O No. 1 Atlantic. Shares the Smithsonian Affiliate status and heritage rail museum focus.
• Nevada State Railroad Museum: Nevada state-operated museum in Carson City with a comparable collection of historic locomotives (including equipment loaned to CSRM like V&T No. 21 J.W. Bowker). Shares the state-affiliated museum structure and heritage rail focus.
• Golden Spike National Historical Park: National Park Service site at Promontory Summit, Utah, commemorating the completion of the first transcontinental railroad. Comparable as a heritage railroad cultural institution tied to the same Transcontinental Railroad story CSRM highlights.

Others

• Heritage Rail Alliance: Industry trade association representing heritage and tourist railroads across North America. Comparable as an ecosystem peer reflecting the regulatory and operational community CSRM operates within.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJG5oqLILoDZC叉
• Xx.com/csrm_foundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/CaliforniaStateRailroadMuseumFoundation

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about California State Railroad Museum Foundation