Temple Railroad & Heritage Musem
The Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum inspires visitors to discover the rich railroad heritage and the history that shaped our community in the past and today.
The permanent exhibits explore working and traveling on the railroad with an emphasis on the Santa Fe Railway. The museum also hosts a range of changing temporary exhibits, as well as education programs and special events. The museum’s collection of railroad equipment is displayed on the grounds, next to an active railroad yard where rail fans can observe daily operations and traffic of the BNSF and Amtrak. The beautiful Santa Fe Gardens, Whistlestop Playground, and the Santa Fe Plaza are nearby.
Museum Hours
Tuesday - Saturday | 10 am - 4 pm
Admission
$4.00 (ages 13-59)
$3.00 (ages 60+)
$2.00 (ages 5-12)
Children under 5 Free | Active duty military admission is free with ID
Family Days
The Museum offers FREE Family Day activities on the first Saturday of each month from 10 am to 1 pm The theme changes every month, and there are different crafts and activities. Mark your calendar for the upcoming Family Days at the museum.
Rails to Rockets
July 5, 2025
This NASA inspired Family Day will have your little Astronaut ready for space exploration! Come for the fun, and stay for our newest special exhibit, First Fleet: Nasa's Space Program.
Be Wild! (Texas Wildlife)
August 2, 2025
Texas wildlife is great! We have armadillos, opossums, and the Texas Longhorn. What kind of wildlife is your favorite? Come and tell us at the Railroad and Heritage Museum!
Muggle*
September 6, 2025
Calling all Muggles! Join us at the Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum for an adventure in the Wizarding World as the Santa Fe Depot is transformed for this magical experience. Participating in games, crafts, and other activities. Make sure to check out the vendor spaces while you are here!
**Paid Event! Registration is required**
Exhibits at the Museum
Temporary Exhibit
June 7 - September 13
First Fleet: NASA's Space Program 1981-1986
First Fleet is a powerful photographic exhibit chronicling the first five years of NASA’s groundbreaking Space Shuttle program. Captured by a photographer whose lifelong fascination with spaceflight began as a child watching early missions on television, this collection offers an intimate, artistic look at one of the most complex technological achievements in human history.
Between 1981 and 1986, NASA launched the first operational fleet of reusable manned spacecraft—Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, and Atlantis—marking a new era in space exploration. Granted rare access to Kennedy Space Center, the photographer embarked on a five-year journey to document the Shuttle program from behind the scenes and on the launchpad, creating striking images that celebrate both engineering brilliance and human dedication.
Using custom-built camera systems and early computer technology, he captured the majesty, symbolism, and ingenuity of the Shuttle program—what he describes as “portraits” of spacecraft that were as much sculpture as they were science. The project was halted following the Challenger disaster in 1986, and the negatives remained in storage for over 25 years. Revisited and revived in 2013, these images now serve as a visual time capsule of a pivotal moment in space history.
First Fleet reflects the spirit of innovation and wonder that defined early Shuttle missions, from launching satellites to sending the first American woman into space. More than just a record of missions, it’s a tribute to the people who made them possible—and to the dreams of a boy who once aimed his camera at the stars.All photographs copyright John A. Chakeres. This show is organized by art2art Circulating Exhibitions.
