Aiken Visitors Center and Train Museum
Aiken Visitors Center and Train Museum
4.5
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Full view
About
The Visitors Center, located on the first floor of the rebuilt Aiken Railroad Depot, can assist you with any questions you may have, contains maps and brochures of the area, a calendar of events and more. The Train Museum, located on the second floor, has nine dioramas that depict the towns, as they were in 1916, along the South Carolina Canal and Railroad Company right of way. This railroad became the first designed steam powered commercial railroad in the US and the longest railroad in the world. These dioramas are done in the familiar HO scale and are complimented by interactive displays depicting railroad history. The Aiken Trolley Tour also departs from this location every Saturday at 10 am. Private trolley tours for groups of 14 or more may be available upon request.
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Aiken Visitors Center and Train Museum
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
188 reviews
Excellent
136
Very good
41
Average
9
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Robert M W
Aiken, SC27 contributions
Oct 2019
This is a museum dedicated to the train on rails that had served the Aiken area for decades. Trains still do but, much more limited in scope. The models of towns serviced by trains is truly a spectacle to see and to hear. The volunteer staff loves their job and are a pleasure to engage with to learn about history and trains.
Written April 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We love our volunteers!
Written May 18, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Travel Pros
Charleston, SC494 contributions
Apr 2021
We stopped by the Visitors Center ands Train Museum. We had a treat time. Lots of information. A train downstairs to watch and a number of train signs upstairs with a locomotive running through them on a loop . The daytime a nighttime effect was a nice touch. You can tell a lot of thought went into the museum. They do have a couple of passenger cards on the platform but none on tour. The scavenger hunt of the train scenes is a nice touch. (Never did find the peacock) It is a good place to stop if you are just getting to town. The staff was great.
Written April 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WinklerFamily777
Georgia7 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
This Aiken visitor center has a train museum with so much beautiful history. Kids loved the trains !!! We travel 45 minutes periodically just to see the trains, our boys LOVE trains. Great gift shop too!
Written January 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for sharing!
Written January 27, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
darkwriter1
Leesville, SC44 contributions
May 2020
View a caboose, and some passenger cars, along with a model train taking a scenic route about a small town. Get information about the city of Aiken, along with maps and pamplets of interest. Don't forget the gift area as well. Very pleasant and most informative.
Written May 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DME
Greenville, SC314 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
The volunteers staffing the center were welcoming and very helpful. They offered good suggestions for activities and great directions. The train museum upstairs is fabulous....interesting, informative and very well organized. Don’t miss this stop.
Written February 19, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your kind review. We could not operate our facility without our dedicated volunteers!
Written February 21, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
travelsafer
7,169 contributions
Dec 2022 • Family
This is my third time at this museum in about 10 years. All the dioramas have captions and displays that tells the story of the railroad that takes to Charleston with details taken from old photographs. At the ground floor there is a souvenir shop.
Written February 4, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert G
South Bend19 contributions
Jun 2014 • Family
Very interesting 2 hour ride through the streets of Aiken. Learned a lot about the rich history of the community with railroad and horses. Tour guide included personal interest item to hold the attention of all customers on the ride.
Written June 23, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maria R
Aiken, SC147 contributions
Aug 2019
Very well done introduction to the history of Aiken. Not only can visitor find information about things to see and do here, but the Visitors Center is centrally located near downtown restaurants and shops. Even long-time residents will find something new. A must for train buffs!
Written September 15, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review. We still have residents stop by that haven't been inside our facility.
Written December 2, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stew B
Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, United States18 contributions
Nov 2016 • Couples
Very interesting tour guide and 90 minute trolley tour by a volunteer whose family has lived in Aiken for 100 years - she knew the first and present owner of every remarkable house in the historical district.
Written November 14, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Glad you enjoyed the trolley tour!
Written November 22, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sarah H
Georgia18 contributions
Jan 2020
Very friendly and helpful staff. Cute little train display upstairs. Nice little stop on a rainy day or to get more information about the area.
Written January 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review!
Written January 27, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Museum is free, but they will gladly accept any donation and there is a gift shop.
Written August 31, 2015
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