Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum
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
The Temple Railroad and Heritage Museum is offering free admission to active-duty military personnel and their families, including National Guard and Reserve. Free admission will run May 16 through September 7, 2026, as part of the Blue Star Museums program.
Exhibits at the Museum
Temporary Exhibit
Circulating Exhibitions.
Vaquero: Genesis of the Texas Cowboy
March 20–July 10, 2026
Explore the deep roots of cowboy culture through photographs by distinguished Texas photographer and writer Bill Wittliff. The exhibition highlights the enduring traditions of vaqueros—Mexican horsemen whose skills, tools, and working methods shaped ranching life in Texas and the American West. Through documentary-style images and bilingual interpretation, visitors gain insight into daily ranch work, horsemanship, and the cultural exchange that gave rise to an enduring symbol of the region.
Upcoming Special Exhibitions
Gadgets Galore!
August 2 – August 27, 2026
Various gadgets, both recognizable and strange, will be on view in Gadgets Galore!, a special exhibition illustrating how industrialization transformed every American household in the 19th century. The invention of mechanical processes and the discovery of electricity and steam power had a major impact on day-to-day life around the world. Mass production, faster communication, and widespread transportation systems combined to industrialize the American household by inspiring the invention of the gadgets we rely on today.
StitchPUNK
October 9, 2026 – January 16, 2027
Imagine an existence where you pull one string and reality unravels.
Twenty-seven artists from the U.S., United Kingdom, France, and Canada have interpreted the riotous creativity and far-out fusions of punk (Steampunk, Biopunk, Atompunk and more) to tell their own distinctive stories using fabric as their medium. In their hands, texture, stitching, stuffing, and more add a depth that cannot be conveyed through two-dimensional paintings or photographs. The dedication, skill, and unique perspectives of these creators form a rich tapestry of human expression. StitchPUNK, the exhibition, stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of sewing and the boundless possibilities it holds for artistic expression and social commentary.