madison railroad station museum

We were delighted to stumble across the Railroad Museum in Madison during our stay at Clifty Falls. "Red" White, our guide, shared tons of interesting information about Madison's days gone by when railroads were fast replacing waterways as the primary mode of transportation. Sprinkled among the fascinating story of the railway were snippets Red shared about his personal experiences as a longtime Madison resident. We found him humorous, charming and engaging. Red also gave us a wealth of info about the history of Madison and the surrounding area. Well worth the meager $6 admission! Well-maintained facility and well-preserved artifacts. Thank goodness for history buffs like Red, who volunteer their time, energy and personality to give us a glimpse into the past.

We were greated by the gentleman who obviously loves the place. He was glad to point out many of the interesting maps and photos in the small museum and answered every question. My daughter and I are not that up on trains and were eager to learn new things. Really though, unless this is your area of expertise you won't be there long. But it was nice learning about that part of Madison's history.

The Building was very interesting, but it was closed on the Friday we were in Madison. The doors and windows appeared to be original bubble glass. As we peeked through the windows , we could see interesting artifacts. Disappointed that it was closed.

Always a fan of restored and reused old buildings...especially train stations...but six bucks a person? We opted not to enter. sigh. Deano

We wish we had budgeted more than a half-hour to visit this museum because there is a lot of information to read. Probably more an attraction for people with long attention spans because there isn't much interactive here. Discovered that kids 16 and under are free!

This was a delightful find, especially if you like trains. The station has been lovingly restored, attractive and clean. The docent that guided our tour was "a character" and very knowledgable, he brought history alive. A good value, and is near the Lanier Mansion.

The Madison Railroad Station Museum has an octagonal waiting room. The exhibits and items on display are interesting, especially the railroad lanterns, as there was an unusual glass lantern we had never seen before.

Closes at 4:30 we arrived at the station at 3:30 but attendant was doing a "tour" and sent us to the other building that, we were informed, closed at 4P as opposed to 4:30 which all the signs said. So closed early on a nondescript county museum (yes, I ran through much to the consternation of the... volunteer) Not worth any effort.

This is more than a mere museum with a few things about the railroad. This was major in Madison, it also involved the Underground Railroad as well. So lots to read and then followup once you leave the building. .

this place is a little gem. its not on the main drag but down from the lanier mansion. there is a very good small museum inside and a gift shop its worth finding and visiting. alot of thoght has gone into the displays.

My husband and I enjoyed a weekend in Madison, Indiana. It wasn't our first visit and is definitely worth a few more. There is so much to see and do! We especially like the Railroad Station Museum and the Lanier Mansion tours. The shopping in town is very nice although we did notice a lot of empty stores on this visit as compared to two years ago. That seems to be happening more and more. Taking a stroll down by the beautiful riverfront is always wonderful.

This is a museum of Madison and the surrounding area. Many displays are of limited interest to those of us from outside the area (changes in the county borders over the years, who settld the small towns, etc.). Still a quick way to get aquainted with the area and some truly interesting RR artifacts.

Many items to read and train artifacts to see. Great for a family outing or school field trip to see in the fall. Madison is a wonderful town to visit with lots of history and character.

We visited this museum as a family which included my husband, myself, and our three sons ages 2,3,and 5. We had the museum to ourselves and were treated to a fantastic introduction by a grandfatherly retired policeman, John. My husband and I enjoyed listening to the history of the railroad and the kids enjoyed ringing the old bell. We are frequent visitors of The Children's Museum of Indianapolis, which houses an engine that ran the route between Indy and Madison, so this place was extra fascinating for our kids. I love that the kids will be able to connect the story of these two museums.Children under 6 are free and adults are $4. The price also includes a restored caboose, and admission to The Heritage Center. The Heritage Center is a small, but well done museum, devoted to local history. The kids enjoyed playing dress up and the miniature school house and furrier set up for dramatic play for the children. The Visitor Center, which sits next to the railroad station blocks the view of this fantastic piece of architecture. If you plan to visit, be sure to bring cash!

This unique railroad station sits directly behind the madison visitor center. You can park in the visitors center parking lot and visit the Lanier Mansion, the Jefferson county heritage center and this museum at the same time. If you like wineries, one of Madison's best, Lanthier, is across the street. So you can three unique experiences at one stop. Built in 1895, this unusual shaped train station was the entry point for those traveling from Indianoplis to the riverboat town of Madison, Indiana's second largest city at the time. After the train descended the unusually steep 7000' 5.9% grade into Madison, passengers disembarked at this station and caught horse drawn "buses" to their hotels. As it is convenient and inexpensive, add it to your visit of the Lanier mansion