Minnesota Transportation Museum

What Minnesota Transportation Museum does

The Minnesota Transportation Museum (MTM) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit heritage railroad organization founded in 1959, operating two physical venues in the Upper Midwest: the Jackson Street Roundhouse Museum in St. Paul, Minnesota (open Wednesdays and Saturdays year-round) and the seasonal Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway in Osceola, Wisconsin (operating weekends and selected weekdays from May through the third weekend of October). The Jackson Street Roundhouse is one of the last operating roundhouses built by James J. Hill for the Great Northern Railway and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places; the museum maintains a collection of more than 50 vintage train cars and operational steam and diesel locomotives (NP 328, NP 2153, NP 2156, BN 6234, BN 6327, GN 558), plus a working turntable and an active restoration program. The museum serves families with children, schools and community groups, railroad enthusiasts, and event hosts through themed train rides (Pizza Train, Princess Train, Superhero Train, Wine Tasting, Ice Cream, Fall Colors, Pumpkin Express, Santa), museum admission, birthday party packages, youth and adult education programs, and Federal Railroad Administration-approved crew training.

Revenue is generated through transactional ticket sales (museum admission $5.35–$16.05; train rides $21.40–$171.20), recurring memberships and supporter tiers ($26.75 apprentice to $5,000 locomotive), birthday party packages ($267.50 flat), retail gift shop sales, and tax-deductible donations. Ticketing is primarily processed online through FareHarbor with walk-up sales at both venues. Marketing relies on organic and paid digital channels (website, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Google Adsense, email newsletter). The organization is supported by 8 paid staff (Executive Director Josh Hoaby, Education Director Marie Abbott, and others) plus a substantial volunteer base that operates trains, restores equipment, staffs events, and delivers educational programming. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors chaired by Wayne Merchant, with no parent company or institutional investor backing.

Name

Minnesota Transportation Museum

Legal name

Minnesota Transportation Museum

Website

https://trainride.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1959

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Minnesota Transportation Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1959 that operates the National Register-listed Jackson Street Roundhouse Museum in St. Paul, MN, and the seasonal Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway in Wisconsin, serving families, schools, and railroad enthusiasts through themed train rides, museum admission, education programs, and volunteer-driven heritage preservation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heritage Museum and Railroad Services

NAICS

Historical Sites (71212), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land (48711), Museums (712110)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Tourist/Scenic/Heritage Passenger Rail Operators (TLAFADAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Historic Sites, Heritage Landmarks & Archaeological Sites (THAJACAC), Specialty Museums (e.g., Maritime, Aviation, Sports, Music, Film) (THAJADAF), Tourist/Heritage Regional Rail (Commuter-Adjacent) Services (THAIACAJ), History Museums (THAJADAB), Museum, Zoo & Attraction Gift Shops (CRALAJAG)

Keywords

• Heritage railway operations
• Transportation museum services
• Scenic train rides
• Railroad preservation education
• Historic roundhouse tours

Headquarters

HQ city

St. Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Train Ride Tickets: Revenue from selling tickets for themed and scenic train rides on the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway, including Pizza Train, Princess Train, Superhero Train, Wine Tasting Train, Ice Cream Train, Marine Excursion, Fall Colors, Pumpkin Express, and Santa trains. Prices range from $21.40 (Ice Cream Train) to $171.20 (Pizza Train).
2. Museum Admission: Admission fees to the Jackson Street Roundhouse Museum with prices tiered by age (Adults $16.05, Students $10.70, Pre-K $5.35, Infants free). Saturday train rides are included with admission.
3. Memberships: Annual memberships (Individual $53.50, Family $160.50, Large Family $267.50, Apprentice $26.75) providing free JSR admission, event discounts, and behind-the-scenes access. Supporter tiers ($500-$5,000) function as tax-deductible donations with membership perks.
4. Birthday Party Packages: Flat-rate birthday party packages ($267.50) at the Jackson Street Roundhouse including museum admission for up to 25 guests, exclusive party car rental, caboose ride, and party favors.
5. Supporter/Donation Programs: Tax-deductible supporter donations at three levels (Passenger Car $500, First Class $1,000, Locomotive $5,000) with membership-style benefits. General donations also accepted year-round.
6. Gift Cards: Gift cards with flexible monetary value redeemable for any museum offering.
7. Retail/Gift Shop: On-site depot store selling unique railway memorabilia, toys, and gifts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Minnesota Transportation Museum (MTM) operates a heritage railroad and museum complex with two primary venues: the Jackson Street Roundhouse Museum in St. Paul, MN, and the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway in Osceola, WI. The museum sells tickets for themed passenger train rides (Pizza Train, Princess Train, Superhero Train, Wine Tasting Train, etc.), museum admission to view vintage locomotives and railroad artifacts, birthday party packages, annual memberships, and gift cards. The organization preserves historic railroad equipment, runs FRA-approved crew training, and delivers educational programs including field trips and lecture series.

Product overview

The Minnesota Transportation Museum operates as a heritage railroad and museum complex with two main venues: the Jackson Street Roundhouse Museum in St. Paul, MN (a National Register of Historic Places roundhouse) and the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway in Osceola, WI. The core product portfolio centers on historic train rides (including themed experiences like Pizza Train, Princess Train, Superhero Train, Wine Tasting Train, and seasonal offerings), museum admission with behind-the-scenes tours and vintage train exhibits, and event rentals including birthday parties. Supporting offerings include various membership tiers, gift cards, sensory-friendly programs, youth education, and volunteer/crew training programs. The museum also operates a crew scheduling system for volunteer railroad operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Themed Train Rides

Quantifiable outcome

• One of the last operating turntables in the country
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of St. Paul, MNcoreOthers · 1 January 2023The City of St. Paul provided preliminary financial support enabling the Minnesota Transportation Museum to begin reconstruction of the Justus Ramsey House at its site. The museum was chosen as the new home for this National Register-listed 1852-1853 limestone cottage originally built by Alexander Ramsey's brother.
• CargillminorOthers · 1 November 2017Cargill donated GN 558, an original-condition SD7 six-motor road switcher, in November 2017. Described as a 'time capsule' of original-condition equipment.
• BNSF RailwayminorOthers · 1 January 2009BNSF Railway donated SDP40 6327 to the museum in 2009. Built in 1966 as Great Northern 325 for passenger service between St. Paul and the Pacific Northwest.
• Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF)minorOthers · 12 September 2003BNSF donated SD9 locomotive 6234 on September 12, 2003, and delivered it to the Jackson Street Roundhouse on October 16, 2003. BNSF also donated SDP40 6327 in 2009. Both donations significantly expanded the museum's operational locomotive fleet.
• City of East Grand Forks, MNminorOthers · 1 January 2000The City of East Grand Forks donated steam locomotive Northern Pacific 2153 to the museum in 2000, which was previously on display at a city park. The locomotive was transported to the Jackson Street Roundhouse for restoration.
• City of St. Paul, MNminorOthers · 1 January 1980The City of St. Paul originally housed NP 2156 in Como Park. When MTM began restoration in 1980, the city eventually sold the locomotive to the museum, transferring ownership and enabling restoration work.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Steam Railroading Institute: Heritage steam railway in Owosso, MI operating excursion trains and maintaining a locomotive restoration program. Direct peer with overlapping operational model (seasonal heritage train rides, volunteer restoration, themed events).
• Mid-Continent Railway Museum: Heritage railway and museum in North Freedom, WI operating vintage train rides with a restored equipment collection. Direct peer operating in the same Upper Midwest geography with a similar combination of scenic train rides, museum display, and volunteer-driven restoration.
• National Railroad Museum: Transportation museum in Green Bay, WI featuring historic locomotives and rail cars on static and occasional operational display. Direct peer in the same region with a comparable institutional structure, exhibit focus, and educational programming.
• East Troy Electric Railroad: Heritage streetcar/interurban railway in East Troy, WI operating seasonal scenic rides on vintage electric cars. Direct peer in nearby Wisconsin with a similar seasonal-tourism model and volunteer-driven operations.
• Wisconsin Great Northern Railroad: Heritage tourist railroad in Spooner, WI offering themed scenic train rides (dinner trains, pizza trains, seasonal events). Direct peer with a near-identical themed-ride product mix and Upper Midwest tourism base.

Broad incumbents

• Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad: Iconic heritage narrow-gauge railway in Colorado operating full-day scenic steam excursions. Broad incumbent in the heritage railway category with a much larger visitor base and brand recognition.
• Strasburg Rail Road: Long-established heritage steam railroad in Lancaster County, PA, recognized as the oldest operating railroad in the western hemisphere. Broad incumbent in the heritage railway space with a significantly larger scale and national tourism draw.
• Minnesota Historical Society: Statewide historical organization operating multiple historic sites and museums across Minnesota. Broad incumbent in the heritage/education space with overlapping interpretive mission and potential partnership/funding relationship.
• Science Museum of Minnesota: Major STEM-focused museum in St. Paul, MN serving the same Twin Cities family and school-group market. Broad incumbent in the regional educational attractions space competing for field trips and family visits.

Regional players

• Heritage Hill State Historical Park: Living history museum in Green Bay, WI preserving and interpreting Upper Midwest history through historic buildings and demonstrations. Regional peer in the same state with a comparable family/education visitor focus and nonprofit volunteer model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCE-LNNcbTwrJD0f0KLU13TA
• Facebookfacebook.com/transportationmuseum
• Instagraminstagram.com/mntrainride
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mntrainride

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Minnesota Transportation Museum