The Hayes Train Special Returns to This Presidential Home in Fremont

Trains and Christmas are synonymous, whether it’s because of the toy trains that bring back the childhood memories this season is so full of, or because many of us had the desire to climb aboard the Polar Express after watching the movie.

Even though we can’t board a real train to the North Pole and get our golden tickets punched by a Tom Hanks-voiced conductor, trains are still a beloved part of the season, especially at the home of our nation’s 19th president. 

The Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museums plays host to special events, tours and displays year-round, and since 1994, it has hosted the Hayes Train Special during the holiday season. This beloved display is part of the larger A Presidential Christmas, a lineup of events held throughout the season that includes special tours through the home, which will be decorated in a fashion akin to what it may have looked like when Lucy and Rutherford walked the halls.

The train display, presented in the museum’s auditorium, keeps up the historically accurate feel too, with trains weaving around a wintertime scene that includes houses and buildings that would have been period appropriate in the Hayes’ day. It features multiple tiers of moving trains that light up as they pass homes, a horse-drawn sleigh (Hayes was known for using one during his time in the White House) and a carousel as they move along the tracks.

The best part is, visitors can get in on the fun in a hands-on way. Push buttons on the side of the display to bring certain elements to life, like a rotating Ferris wheel, gliding ice skaters on a pond and other small moments of delight. 

The displays opens at museum auditorium on Nov. 29. Built to be enjoyed all season long, the trains run through Jan. 5. There is no admission fee to see the trains, although donations to the museum are always appreciated.

For more information about the Hayes Train Special, visit rbhayes.org

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