East Ely State Railroad Museum

The East Ely State Railroad Museum, designated a National Historic Landmark, offers an extraordinarily authentic glimpse into early 20th-century American industrial history. Located in Ely, Nevada, the museum is not merely a collection of artifacts, but an entire, fully preserved operational complex that served as the primary hub for the historic Nevada Northern Railway. Often called the “Ghost Train of Old Ely,” the facility preserves virtually every component of a working railroad from the copper-mining boom era, including the original 1907 East Ely Depot, the massive machine and boiler shops, and the historic engine house. Visitors can explore these gritty, working spaces, where locomotives were maintained and rebuilt, and then ride heritage excursions pulled by operational steam and diesel engines over the original mainline tracks. This immersive experience highlights the critical role the railroad played in linking rural Nevada to the industrial world, establishing the East Ely State Railroad Museum as one of the best-preserved short-line railroad complexes in North America.