Kingston Trolley Museum - About the Museum

Lee and Sara Schopmeier visit the museum in their 1924 Chrysler. Behind them is the museum's R-16 subway car.
(Photo credit: Harry Greenblatt, May 2003)

About the Museum

Background

The Trolley Museum of New York is a non-profit educational museum founded in 1955. The goals of the museum are to offer a ride to the public and through exhibits and educational programs to share the rich history of rail transportation and the role it played in the Hudson Valley region. In addition to static displays of trolley, subway and rapid transit cars from the United States and Europe, an excursion ride runs 1 1/2 miles from the foot of Broadway in downtown Kingston, New York, to picnic grounds on the shore of the Hudson River. Picnic tables are available at the Hudson River and the West Strand Park (Rondout Creek) trolley stops. Along the way, we stop at the museum grounds.

The museum is on the original site of the Ulster and Delaware Railroad yards at Milepost 1. The main building is built on the foundation of the engine house which existed at the turn of the century. The upper level includes a Visitors Center featuring seasonal and permanent displays, a video viewing area and large windows overlooking the restoration shop. Visitors can see up to eight trolley cars being housed and restored below.

The Trolley Museum of New York is a member of the Association of Railway Museums and the American Association of Museums.

Here, Barbara Rumsey looks over a selection of new books in the Museum Store:
(photo credit: Evan Jennings)

Visitors Center trolley pole display; gallery lighting by Zumtobel Staff.
(photo credit: Evan Jennings)

Museum Store

The Museum Store carries everything for the trolley fan, from toys for the kids to books for the collector.

Major credit cards accepted at the Trolley Museum.

Visitors Center

See exhibits and displays about trolleys and related history.

A Suggested Tour of the Trolley Museum Site

Trolley Stop
Rail Yard
Restoration Shop
Mini-Park
Visitors Center and Museum Store

(photo credit: David Jeron)

Trolley Stops

There are three regular stops along the line. Board at any of these locations:

89 East Strand--at main Museum entrance gate
1 Broadway--at T. R. Gallo Park/Mariners Harbor
Kingston Point--across the foot bridge from the park

There are also two flag stops:

North Street Extension crossing (also known as the marina crossing)
Hudson River Maritime Museum
There is no loading platform at these locations, but if you wave at the car as it approaches it will stop for you.