thomas & friends: explore the rails!

Be transported to the Island of Sodor for hands-on STEAM learning.

Thomas the Tank Engine returns to National Children’s Museum’s Visiting Exhibit Hall! From September 20 through January 4, guests can step into the imaginative world of this beloved children’s series, exploring the Island of Sodor and discovering engaging engineering-based experiences around every corner. So don your conductor’s cap, punch those tickets, and get ready for fun because it’s full STEAM ahead with Thomas & Friends™: Explore the Rails!

recommended for learners ages 2 to 7 and their families

exhibit experiences

The island of Sodor is full of hands-on experiences where little engineers can roll up their sleeves and have fun:

Two little boys playing in the cab of Thomas the Train

all aboard thomas!

climb into the cab and explore the inner workings of a train’s engine

A little girl in a conductor hat at the ticket window with a little boy on the other side

knapford station

suit up in a conductor’s uniform as you operate a ticket booth

two little girls loading pretend luggage onto a cart

loading zone

sort, stack, and stow freight heading to the proper destination

A little girl adjusting the hands of a large clock

tick tock, fix the clock

adjust large clocks to match announced arrival times

Two little boys playing with trains on large play table with wooden tracks

sodor island table

explore the island and take on challenges at this interactive train table

Group of children playing near a life-sized Percy the train

sodor steamworks

work together to source coal and water for Percy’s engine

Little girl fixing a wobbly wheel on a life-sized Percy the train

woobly wheel

experiment with parts to find the right fit for Percy’s wobbly wheel

Little toddler girl and father playing with items on an activity wall

sodor tot spot

a semi-enclosed space with a tactile “busy wall” designed for toddlers

little boy looking at a video on a wall with old historical pictures of thomas the train

thomas & friends retrospective

look back on models, toys, and media from thomas through the years

visiting exhibit hall

The Visiting Exhibit Hall serves as a space to showcase some of the world’s most innovative and engaging traveling exhibits, designed especially for children, ensuring that the Museum is constantly reflecting the world around us.

september 20, 2025 - january 4, 2026

Thomas & Friends™: Explore the Rails! was designed and developed by Minnesota Children’s Museum in partnership with Mattel, Inc. Fisher-Price, the leading manufacturer of infant and preschool toys, is the presenting sponsor for the exhibit. 3M is the national tour sponsor.

upcoming exhibits

The Pigeon Comes to Washington DC: A Mo Willems Exhibit—spring 2026
Enter into the imagination, whimsy, and humor of Mo Willems. Many familiar characters will be featured, including best friend duo Elephant and Piggie, faithful companion Knuffle Bunny, and The Pigeon, the wily city bird best known for his antics in Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
Curious George: Let’s Get Curious!—summer 2026
Climb into the imaginative world of Curious George and The Man with the Yellow Hat in this playful exhibit inspired by the world’s most curious monkey!
Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice—fall 2026
Go face-to-face with the prehistoric world and meet dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes.

where is the exhibit located

all exhibits

The Visiting Exhibit Hall is located on the Exhibit Level, one level down from the main entrance, next to the Tinkering Corner and Creative Corner.