Welcome to

North Carolina Transportation Museum

The N.C. Transportation Museum is a historic site and museum highlighting North Carolina’s important transportation history including railroading, automotive, aviation, and more. Located at the former Southern Railway Spencer Shops, once a major steam locomotive repair facility between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, the 60-acre site is rich in history and full of fun. Visitors can enjoy seasonal train rides, hands-on exhibits, special events, and a gift shop with a wide variety of unique items.

Historic structures include Barber Junction Depot, an authentic train station built in 1898 that serves as the museum’s Visitor Center.  The Bob Julian Roundhouse is the largest remaining roundhouse in North America, and is home to locomotives, passenger rail cars, and a full-size replica Wright Flyer.  The massive Back Shop, where steam locomotives were once completely overhauled, now houses rail cars of the past, antique automobiles, fire trucks, and the restoration of the Piedmont Airlines’ Potomac Pacemaker DC-3.  The Flue Shop houses the museum’s Bumper to Bumper automotive exhibit.

If you’re planning to visit the museum, please be aware that our Roundhouse is currently under construction for maintenance, and portions of it are closed to the public.  Access to Roundhouse exhibit areas will vary through summer 2025.  We apologize for any inconvenience and will update when the maintenance is complete. Thank you for your continued support of The Museum That Moves You!