Westward Bound - California State Railroad Museum

Westward travel on the Transcontinental Railroad represented a triumph against time for nineteenth-century travelers. First-class tourists expected a luxurious travel experience, while emigrants wanted safe passage to start their new lives in California. Set on the site of the 1876 Central Pacific Passenger Station in Old Sacramento State Historic Park, Westward Bound explores what it was like to travel on the Transcontinental Railroad and how it made the transportation of people and goods easier, safer, and cheaper than ever before.

The classroom portion of the program takes about 1 hour. The train ride is about 40 minutes. Recommended for 4^th or 5^thgrades.

Spring 2023 programs run in March and April.

Stations for Students:

Travelers tell why they are moving to California.
A Pullman Porter explains how he made travel more comfortable for the passengers on his car.
Students listen to the travel experiences of a first-class traveler (American author, Sarah Chauncey Woolsey) and a third-class traveler (Novelist, Robert Louis Stevenson).
Tour the Central Pacific Passenger Station and ride the train! (The next day for registrants of the blended access program.)

Digital - Mondays

Join a CSRM Guide and Q&A Chat Moderator for a live, interactive, and personalized Zoom program.

This field trip includes a remote portion via Zoom on Monday only. This program does not include entrance into the museum or a train ride.

For Title 1 schools, reservations start on October 1, 2022.

For all schools, reservations start on October 15, 2022

Make Your Reservation!

Free for all schools

Blended Access - Mondays Digital & Tuesdays Train Ride

Join a CSRM Guide and Q&A Chat Moderator for a live, interactive, and personalized Zoom program. Then visit Old Sacramento to go for a train ride!

This field trip includes a remote portion via Zoom on Mondays, plus a train ride on the following Tuesday. This program does not include entrance into the museum.

For Title 1 schools, reservations start on October 1, 2022.

For all schools, reservations start on October 15, 2022

Make Your Reservation!

Free for all schools

In-Person - Tuesdays

Join a CSRM Guide and docents for an interactive program in the Central Pacific Passenger Station in Old Sacramento. Then go for a train ride!

This field trip includes an on-site educational program, plus a train ride, on Tuesdays. This program does not include entrance into the museum.

For Title 1 schools, reservations start on October 1, 2022.

For all schools, reservations start on October 15, 2022

Make Your Reservation!

Free for all schools

Train Ride Information

A group has a maximum of 45 people, including teachers and chaperones.
There must be a minimum of 1 adult for every 10 students for the train ride.
Participants should arrive 30 minutes prior to the departure time.
Please contact the CSRM Group Desk if you cannot make your train ride.

CANCELLATIONS: If you need to cancel the train ride, please make sure to contact the Group Desk so that the spot can be opened up for another group: ([email protected] or (916) 323-9274)

Questions?

Please contact the California State Railroad Museum Group Desk if you have any questions or to make reservations over the phone.