Ride History at the Seashore Trolley Museum

Most visitors come to Kennebunkport for the beaches, the boutiques, and the Bush family compound. But hidden in the woods just a few miles inland sits one of the world’s great transportation museums—a place where you can ride a century-old streetcar through the Maine forest and explore the largest collection of vintage transit vehicles anywhere on Earth.

The Seashore Trolley Museum isn’t just a museum—it’s an operating railway staffed by volunteers who have dedicated themselves to preserving an era of American transportation that nearly vanished. The electric streetcar once defined urban life across the country. By the 1960s, most were gone, replaced by buses and automobiles. The Seashore Trolley Museum exists because a handful of enthusiasts refused to let that history disappear.

The History

How It Started

In 1939, a group of transit enthusiasts watched as the trolley system in Biddeford-Saco, Maine, prepared to shut down. Rather than let the cars be scrapped, they purchased a single streetcar—Biddeford & Saco Car No. 31—for $150. They had no museum, no land, no plan. They just knew the trolley deserved to survive.

That single act of preservation launched what would become the world’s largest electric railway museum. Over the following decades, the collection grew as transit systems across America and eventually the world dismantled their streetcar lines. Each time a system closed, Seashore’s volunteers worked to rescue vehicles before they were destroyed.

The Collection Today

From that single 1939 streetcar, the collection has grown to over 250 transit vehicles from around the world—the largest such collection in existence.

What You’ll See

The Streetcars

The heart of the collection is the streetcars—the electric vehicles that once carried millions of Americans through their daily lives.

Notable cars include:

Beautifully restored cars from Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and cities across America
Open-air “breezers” from the early 1900s
Sleek PCC cars from the streamlined era
Work cars, snowplows, and service vehicles that kept the systems running

International collection:

Double-decker trams from England
Streetcars from Australia, Japan, Germany, and other countries
Examples showing how different cultures approached the same transportation challenges

The Restoration Shop

One of the museum’s highlights is the working restoration shop, where volunteers rebuild vintage vehicles from the ground up.

What you’ll see:

Cars in various stages of restoration
Original woodworking, metalworking, and electrical techniques
Volunteers explaining their craft
The painstaking process of returning a rusted hulk to operating condition

The gallery: An elevated viewing area lets you watch the restoration work without interrupting the craftsmen.

Beyond Streetcars

The collection extends beyond streetcars:

Rapid transit cars: Subway and elevated railway cars from Boston, New York, and other cities.

Interurban cars: The larger, faster electric cars that once connected cities before highways.

Buses: A collection of vintage buses, including models that replaced the streetcars they’re now displayed alongside.

Trackless trolleys: Electric buses that drew power from overhead wires.

The Trolley Ride

The Experience

Your admission includes unlimited rides on the museum’s demonstration railway—a 3-mile round trip through the Maine woods on vintage streetcars.

What makes it special:

The cars are real: These aren’t replicas. You’re riding vehicles that actually carried passengers in cities across America and the world.
The operators: Volunteer conductors in period-appropriate attire operate the cars, explaining the history and mechanics as you ride.
The sensory experience: The smell of the electric motors, the clatter of the wheels on the track, the clang of the bell, the sway of the car around curves—it’s a time machine for your senses.

The Route

The demonstration railway runs through wooded New England countryside, passing:

The Visitors Center and Town House
The main carbarn displays
Restoration facilities
The turnaround loop

Duration: Each ride takes approximately 25 minutes. You can ride as many times as you like.

Different cars: The museum rotates which cars operate on different days, so you may ride a different vehicle each time—or return on another visit for a completely different experience.

For Families

Why Kids Love It

It’s real: Unlike theme park rides, these are massive, heavy, industrial machines that once served actual cities. Kids sense the authenticity.

Interactive elements:

Climb aboard vintage buses and “drive”
Ring the bell (sometimes)
Talk to conductors about how the cars work
Watch restoration in progress

The ride: What kid doesn’t love a train ride through the woods? The trolley experience is engaging without being overstimulating.

Age Recommendations

Toddlers: Enjoy the ride and the big vehicles
Elementary age: Begin to appreciate the history and mechanics
Tweens and teens: Often surprisingly engaged by the restoration process and volunteer stories
All ages: The novelty of riding a century-old vehicle transcends age

Special Events

The museum hosts seasonal events that draw families from throughout New England:

Pumpkin Patch Trolley (October)

Ride a vintage trolley to the museum’s pumpkin patch. Pick your pumpkin, enjoy fall activities, and return by trolley. A beloved autumn tradition.

Trolley Christmas (December)

Holiday-themed trolley rides through the winter woods. Decorated cars, carols, and seasonal cheer. Hot cocoa awaits. One of the few times the museum operates in winter.

Ice Cream Trolley (Summer)

Take a trolley ride, get ice cream at the turnaround. Simple pleasures.

Daniel Tiger and Friends

PBS Kids events featuring everyone’s favorite trolley-riding tiger. Popular with the preschool set.

Check the calendar: Special events often sell out. Book in advance for popular dates.

Practical Information

Location

195 Log Cabin Road, Kennebunkport, Maine

About 3 miles from Dock Square (downtown Kennebunkport) and 8 miles from Kennebunk’s beaches. Easy to combine with a beach day or town exploration.

Getting There

From Kennebunkport: Head north on Route 1, turn left on Log Cabin Road.

From I-95: Exit at Kennebunk and follow Route 35 east, then Route 1 north.

Parking: Free and plentiful.

Hours and Season

Main season: May through October Typical hours: 10 AM to 5 PM (trolleys run throughout) Winter: Closed except for special events (Christmas, etc.)

Check the website for exact hours and special event schedules.

Admission

Prices (2024):

Adults: ~$14
Seniors: Reduced rate
Children 6-16: ~$10
Children under 6: Free
Family passes available

What’s included: Museum admission, unlimited trolley rides, access to all exhibit areas.

Time Needed

Minimum: 1.5 hours (quick tour and one trolley ride) Recommended: 2-3 hours (multiple rides, explore exhibits, watch restoration) For enthusiasts: Half day or more

Tips for Visiting

Ride multiple times: Each ride can be on a different car. Ask at the station what’s running.

Talk to the volunteers: The conductors and restoration crew are passionate and knowledgeable. Ask questions.

Check the schedule: Some days feature special cars or events. The website lists what’s operating.

Bring layers: Even in summer, the Maine woods can be cool, and the open-air cars let the breeze through.

Combine with Kennebunkport: The museum is an easy add-on to a day at the beach or exploring Dock Square.

Dogs

Dog-friendly! Well-behaved dogs on leashes are welcome on the grounds and even on the trolley rides. One of the more pet-friendly museums in Maine.

Who Should Visit

Transit enthusiasts: This is the pilgrimage site—the largest collection in the world, with vehicles you can actually ride.

Families: The combination of big machines, hands-on experiences, and trolley rides appeals to kids without boring adults.

History buffs: The museum tells the story of how Americans moved through cities for most of the 20th century.

Photography enthusiasts: The vintage vehicles against the New England backdrop offer endless subjects.

Anyone seeking something different: After your third lobster roll and fifth beach, the trolley museum provides welcome variety.

Supporting the Museum

The Seashore Trolley Museum is a nonprofit staffed largely by volunteers. Your admission supports preservation and restoration of vehicles that would otherwise be lost.

Get more involved:

Membership provides free admission and supports the mission
Volunteer opportunities exist for those interested in hands-on preservation
Vehicle sponsorships help fund specific restorations

The Seashore Trolley Museum preserves a chapter of American history that nearly disappeared—the era when electric streetcars connected neighborhoods, defined cities, and carried ordinary people through their daily lives. The museum exists because a handful of enthusiasts in 1939 decided that history mattered enough to save. Today, you can ride that history through the Maine woods, and for a few minutes, experience what urban transportation felt like before the automobile took over.