Largest model railroad train museum in the U.S. opening soon in Gulfport

For those who like railroad trains, a Mississippi Coast Model Railroad Museum is opening soon in Gulfport.

In June 2023, the total redesigned south station of the Mississippi Coast Model Railroad Museum: Traintastic will open its doors with 50,000 square feet of exhibit space.

Glenn Mueller, who is president of the Traintastic Board, says the facility will be the largest model railroad museum in the United States. “We’ve been working on this project for four years and a lot of the construction is just happening, but the planning has been going for several years. We’re really excited about it and just like anything that is about to be open, we’re a little nervous.”

Currently the Mississippi Coast Model Railroad Museum is housed on the north side of Pass Road in Gulfport. During the eight years it has been in Gulfport, the original museum has grown from one building to four. Traintastic Board CEO Cynthia Minton-Walker said, “It began with a conversation that said when you see this new museum, what will it look like? What will be there? What will we offer to the community? And we’ve come from there to plans and multiple contractors being involved.”

Train layouts are being produced by world class design teams that replicate the Mississippi Gulf Coast. The overall investment in property and museum content will cost seven to 10 million dollars. “This is a unique property and it will have unique features. If you’ve been to the smaller version across the street, I can tell you there is going to be so many things you’ve never seen when you come into this expanded site.”

The museum will include a climbing structure, birthday party rooms, roleplay train exhibits, workshop areas, a toddler area, STEM activity centers, and displays that teach the history and fun of trains.

For more sneak peeks, visit Traintastic Gulfport on YouTube.