Entry No. 12 — the Miami file — filed under: trains
Gold Coast Railroad Museum
Founded in 1957 on the old Naval Air Station Richmond airfield, this nonprofit's yard holds over 30 historic locomotives and more than 50 pieces of rolling stock — including the Ferdinand Magellan, the armored Pullman car that carried FDR and Truman — parked along a three-mile loop of track that visitors can still ride most Saturdays.
The story
Tucked away in South Miami-Dade on the concrete footprint of the former Naval Air Station Richmond—a World War II naval air base—lies a massive collection of heavy iron that most people drive right past on their way to the zoo next door. Founded in 1957, the Gold Coast Railroad Museum was established to salvage Florida's fading rail history before the subtropical climate and scrap yards wiped it out entirely.
The crown jewel sitting in the yard is the Ferdinand Magellan, designated U.S. Car No. 1. It isn't just an old passenger car; it's a custom-built, heavily armored rolling bunker complete with steel plate protection and bullet-resistant glass, engineered specifically to transport President Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II and later used by Harry Truman. Standing next to it, you're looking at the exact mobile command post that carried the commander-in-chief across the country during wartime.
Beyond the presidential car, the museum's tracks hold over 30 historic locomotives and more than 50 pieces of rolling stock, ranging from old Florida East Coast Railway engines to vintage freight cars. The whole operation is maintained by a non-profit volunteer crew that keeps these massive steel relics standing and runs live train rides along a three-mile loop of track carved directly through former military land.
What it's like
Expect a sprawling, sun-baked yard that feels more like an active industrial depot than a air-conditioned museum. You will be walking outdoors across concrete and ballast among massive steel cars, so bring sun protection and stay hydrated. The real highlight comes on operational days (frequently Saturdays), when you can ride standard-gauge equipment along the three-mile track loop rather than just viewing static displays.
The move: Ride the standard-gauge train together, then walk the yard afterward to find the presidential car and the old Florida East Coast engines up close.
- 📍 South Miami-Dade, next to Zoo Miami
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 12450 SW 152nd St, Miami, FL 33177
Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Wild Night: Night Tour — Zoo Miami — Since the museum shares an entrance area with Zoo Miami, you can explore the rail yard during the day before heading next door for an after-dark guided wildlife tour.
- Cauley Square Historic Village — A four-mile drive south connects this rolling stock collection with a preserved 1903 railway depot village built during Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway expansion.
- Deering Estate — Tequesta Burial Mound & Cutler Fossil Site — Trade 20th-century industrial locomotive steel for ancient Tequesta burial mounds and prehistoric fossil sites located just five miles east on Biscayne Bay.
- Coral Castle — Pair the military-grade steel engineering of FDR's presidential train car with Edward Leedskalnin’s hand-carved, 1,100-ton limestone monument eight miles down in Homestead.
Good to know
What is the most famous train car at the museum?
The Ferdinand Magellan, an armored Pullman car custom-built for President Franklin D. Roosevelt and used by Harry Truman, which sits on permanent display in the yard.
Can you actually ride a train here?
Yes, the museum operates train rides—including rides on standard-gauge equipment and their Link train—along a three-mile track loop, typically offered on Saturdays.
Where is the museum located relative to Zoo Miami?
It sits directly adjacent to Zoo Miami on the grounds of the former Naval Air Station Richmond airfield in South Miami-Dade.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · miamiandbeaches.com · Official site
last checked: 2026-07-19