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today at the museum Open today 10 am–5 pm
Families looking at the Reuben Wells train inside the exhibit.
Home Experiences Exhibits All Aboard!

All Aboard!

Admission
Included with Admission
Dates
Permanent

Utterly powerful and full of possibilities for adventure, trains have captivated us for centuries. Get your imagination back on track in All Aboard! centered around the Reuben Wells steam locomotive.  

  • Examine the mighty Reuben Wells a 19th-century steam engine that once pushed trains up a steep hill
  • “Ride” the rails in the tool car
  • Operate lights, control switches, and signals on the track
  • Watch miniature trains and crawl through tunnels to see them up close
  • Prepare others for “boarding” by selling tickets at the train station

Watch the mighty Reuben Wells "take off" in a spectacular three-minute sound and light show that occurs every 30 minutes, beginning at 10 a.m.

A brief history of the Reuben Wells

Dreamed up by Reuben Wells, a railroad master mechanic from Jeffersonville, Indiana, the mighty train was in service in Madison, Indiana, for about 30 years, starting in 1868. Eventually, it ended up in a Pennsylvania railyard. So how did it arrive at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis?
Find Out How
Archive footage of Reuben Wells on Madison Hill.

Sensory information

Get ready for your visit by reviewing the sights and sounds you'll experience in All Aboard!

Loud Noises
Tactile Opportunity
Low Light
Flashing/Lightning
Please Note

The historic tool car is currently not accessible by wheelchair.

today at the museum