Travel Town Museum
  • Information
    About The Museum Meeting Space / Birthday Party Cars Rules Recreation and Picnicking Location and Map Admission and Parking Policy Group and School Visits Gift Shop and Conveniences Miniature Train Ride Volunteer Opportunities Film and Photography​
  • Collection
    Locomotives Freight Cars & Cabooses Passenger Cars Interurbans & Motorcars
  • Master Plan
  • Wish List
  • Contact Us

Travel Town Museum


Travel Town Museum is open 10am-5pm seven days a week (closed Thanksgiving Day & Christmas Day).

No Reservations to visit are needed.

The Exhibit Hall, Gallery, and Depot are now open.

We are now accepting reservations for picnic spots and party areas

Feel free to give us a call at (323) 662-5874 if you have any questions.

Travel Town Map
Griffith Park Map

In the late 1940s, Charley Atkins, a Recreation and Parks employee, along with a handful of rail enthusiast friends, had the idea that a steam locomotive would make an attractive addition at the Griffith Park miniature railroad ride. The original intention of the Museum was to be a "railroad petting zoo," an opportunity for the children of Los Angeles to "imagineer" themselves as engineers. The City of Los Angeles Harbor Department had two little engines destined for scrap that seemed to fit the bill. The idea escalated as Atkins, with the enthusiastic support of former Recreation and Parks Department General Manager George Hjelte and Superintendent of Recreation William Frederickson, initiated contacts with major railroads in California to determine what equipment they might be willing to donate. At that time, the steam locomotive era was drawing to a close, and Atkins found a good response. Travel Town was dedicated on December 14, 1952. The concept of a combined transportation museum and recreation center blossomed, and wishes for donations were generously fulfilled. In 1965, Travel Town's exhibits were re-grouped, and the park re-dedicated. Today, Travel Town is in a state of new growth and development. Charley Atkins passed away in 1959, but he left Los Angeles a grand legacy at Travel Town.

COLLECTION HISTORY


LOCOMOTIVES

 

FREIGHT CARS & CABOOSES

 

PASSENGER CARS

 

INTERURBANS & MOTORCARS

 

BIRTHDAY PARTY CARS


Reserve Online Now!

Have your child's next birthday at historic Travel Town located conveniently in the Los Angeles area, in Griffith Park.

The City of Los Angeles, Department of Recreation and Parks, offers a service that provides a beautifully refurbished birthday train car within the confines of the Travel Town Museum on a reserved basis for a nominal fee.

Historic Railroad Cars for Birthday Parties or Business Meetings
5200 W. Zoo Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Phone: (323) 662-5874

Here are the details:

  • Party reservations must be made in advance
  • The rental fee is $200.00 for 3 hours, which includes: $50 refundable cleaning/ damage deposit and $150 for basic rental.
  • The 3 hour period includes your set up, party, and clean up time.
  • The party car is equipped with tables, chairs, a refrigerator-freezer, air conditioner, and heater.
  • The Pennsylvania Dining Car (aka Brown Car) comfortably seats 20-30 people while our Southern Pacific (aka Green Car) can seat 30-40.
  • Parties are reserved on a daily basis:
    • Weekdays & Weekends:
      • 10am - 1 pm & 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm
  • Cancellation fee is $75.00

Travel Town will provide patrons a full refund in the event of a rainy day. However, should the patron not make any conscious effort to reach out to the Travel Town office about canceling before the end of the day in which their event is scheduled, then the patron will be seen as a no show and the original scheduled date will be considered canceled without prior notice and the cancellation fee will apply as normal. After a cancellation, should the patron wish to reschedule their event, they must revisit the lapark.org/traveltown website and complete the reservation process once again.

For additional information and available dates / times, please call (323) 662-5874, or go to our Reservation Website
Monday- Saturday 10am - 2pm (booking dates fill as early as-2 months in advance)

RENTAL PICNIC AREAS


How to Reserve

Reserve Online Now!

Family and group picnics at historic Travel Town are a long and happy tradition. Now, picnic arrangements at Travel Town are even better.

The City of Los Angeles, Department of Recreation and Parks, offers a service that provides that "Special Picnic Spot” at Travel Town Transportation Museum on a confirmed reservation basis for a nominal fee.

Each picnic area comes with 4 tables and 8 benches to seat up to 30 people and features 2 BBQ grills. Areas are either shaded by a canopy structure.

Here are the details:

  • Picnic reservations are made in advance
  • The rental fee is $100.00, which includes: $25.00 refundable cleaning / damage deposit and basic rental of $75.00
  • Picnic areas are reserved on a daily basis as follows:
    • Weekdays:
      • 10am - 4:30pm
    • Weekends:
      • 10am - 4:30pm
  • Cancellation fee is $35.00

However, in the event of rain at Travel Town on the scheduled day during operational hours, the reservation may be rescheduled on any other available calendar time without cancellation fee.

For additional information and available dates/ times, please call (323) 662-5874, or go to our Reservation Website
Monday - Saturday 10am-2pm (booking dates fill as early as 2 months in advance)

GUIDELINES FOR SAFETY AND PROPER CONDUCT


https://covid19.lacounty.gov/face-coverings
https://covid19.lacounty.gov/covid19-news/physical-distancing-guidelines-incident-report-social-media/

Please read, follow and discuss with the children and also among the other supervising adults in your group before you enter the Travel Town Museum.

  • Please keep the children in your care under control or your group will be asked to leave.
  • At least one (1) adult must supervise every ten (10) children.
  • The ground surfaces are uneven. Please watch your step.
  • Do not climb on top of or under locomotives, railroad cars, including artifacts in the Exhibit Building.
  • Do not force any object open or closed and leave the Collection in the condition you found it
  • Do not run anywhere on the Travel Town premises, Including the Exhibit Building.
  • Please report immediately any accidents or incidents to a Travel Town attendant.
  • Please no smoking or alcohol is allowed on the premises.
  • Please walk your bicycle throughout the facility.
  • Please have pets secured on a leash at all times and pet waste must be immediately picked up by owner.
  • A strict film/photography policy is enforced, please Inquire within.
  • Water devices are not allowed (e.g. squirt guns, water balloons, swimming pools, etc.).
  • Barbequing Is only allowed in the designated areas.
  • Amplified music or sound Is only permitted with prior approval by manager.
  • Please do not stake or drill into turf, rocks, trees, or asphalted areas.
  • Please no alterations to park/museum property.
  • Park Rangers are authorized and may terminate or control any activity when deemed necessary for the safety of the public and protection of resources; or for violation of any rules and regulations of the Department of Recreation and Parks.

Travel Town is concerned about your safety and in providing a pleasant environment for all its visitors. Upon entering the premises, you are assuming responsibility for your safety, including those in your care. If we can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to ask a Travel Town attendant

LOCATION


Directions to Travel Town

ADMISSION AND PARKING


Travel Town Museum gladly accepts donations for admission. Sufficient parking is available on the Museum premises during operational hours.

GROUP AND SCHOOL VISITS


Group & School Visits are self guided. For tours please call (323) 668-0104.

GIFT SHOP AND CONVENIENCES


The Museum has a gift shop which sells railroad related toys, clothing items and books, as well as snacks and drinks.
The Gift Shop phone number is (323) 662-4253. Vending machines providing cold beverages and snacks are located by the Gallery building.

MINIATURE TRAIN RIDE


For a different view of Travel Town, ride the scale train which circles the perimeter of the museum for a nominal charge.
The Train Ride phone number is (323) 662-9678.

FILM AND PHOTOGRAPHY​


2009 - Rules and Policies for Filming and Photography at Travel Town PDF

No filming or photography may take place without a film permit from the City. and advance permission from the Recreation and Parks Film Coordination Office (323) 644-6220 and Travel Town (323) 662-5874. The staff and Operations Manager will distinguish those private individuals whose filming or photography is a normal extension of a visit to Travel Town and is exclusively for personal use. which is permitted without advance approval. Any filming or photography which uses models, costumes, props, formalized posing, any substantial or unusual equipment, or which in any way interferes with normal visitor circulation requires advance approval.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES


The Travel Town Museum is in constant motion and offers many possibilities to contribute and share your existing skills, abilities, and knowledge. More importantly, as a Volunteer Participant, you will enjoy a myriad of opportunities to learn and grow personally and professionally, meet new and diverse people, and gain useful life skills.
For more information, on how to become a Travel Town Museum Foundation Volunteer, please call (323) 668-0104 or visit the website to sign up online.

Additional Information


Mailing Address:
Travel Town Planning and Development
Department of Recreation and Parks - Park Services Division
4800 Griffith Park Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Mail Stop #: 663

Download files:
Travel Town Map - Griffith Park Map

Contact Us


Travel Town Transportation Museum
5200 W. Zoo Dr. Los Angeles, CA 90027
Operations: (323) 662-5874
Email: Travel.Town@lacity.org

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