1. Home
  2. Cities & Towns
  3. Washington, DC

National Capital Trolley Museum in Silver Spring, Maryland

By Rachel Cooper, About.com

The National Capital Trolley Museum preserves the history of Washington, DC's electric street railways with a collection of trolleys that date back to 1898 to 1945. Many of the trolleys were originally used in Washington DC, but there are also cars from New York, Canada, Germany and the Netherlands. See a model layout representing a Washington streetscape from the 1930's and exhibits of street railway artifacts and photographs. The highlight of your visit is that you can take a ride on a real trolley on the one-mile demonstration railway.

The museum has relocated due to the construction of the InterCounty Connector to a new larger facility adjacent to its original location in Northwest Branch Park. The new building will include a streetcar display barn, a building for streetcar maintenance, and a visitor center. Museum programming will expand with a dedicated auditorium, classroom, library, and archival storage spaces. The Grand Reopening is expected to take place on Saturday, November 28, 2009, during Thanksgiving Weekend.

The National Capital Trolley Museum offers school group tours and is available for birthday parties. During the holiday season, the museum hosts a Holly TrollyFest and you can ride the streetcar with Santa.

Location

1313 Bonifant Road
Silver Spring, Maryland
(301) 384-6088

Hours

January 2-November 30:
Saturday & Sunday noon-5 p.m.

March 15-May 15:
Thursday & Friday 10 a.m.-2 p.m

June 15-August 15:
Thursday & Friday 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

October 1 - November 15:
Thursday & Friday 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Holidays:
Memorial Day, July 4, and Labor Day noon-5 p.m.

December:
Open only during the Holly TrolleyFest Saturday & Sunday 5-9 p.m.

Trolley Fares

Adults $3; Children and Seniors $2

Official Web Site

www.dctrolley

Explore Washington, DC

About.com Special Features

On the National Mall in Washington, DC

Take a look at the capital's best sight-seeing spot. More >

Oktoberfest in Phoenix

Find the best places to celebrate and join the festivities. More >

  1. Home
  2. Cities & Towns
  3. Washington, DC
  4. Attractions & Things to Do
  5. Museums
  6. Museums in Maryland
  7. National Capital Trolley Museum in Silver Spring, Maryland>

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.