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History Guide

Ride History at the Seashore Trolley Museum

The largest electric railway museum in the world is hidden in the woods of Kennebunkport. Ride vintage streetcars and explore a massive collection of transit history.

Most people come to Kennebunkport for the beaches and the Bush compound. But hidden in the woods just a few miles inland is a world-class museum that has nothing to do with lobsters.

The Seashore Trolley Museum is the oldest and largest museum of mass transit vehicles in the world.

The Collection

Started in 1939 to save a single trolley car from Biddeford, the collection has exploded to over 250 vehicles from all over the globe.

  • The Variety: You’ll see streetcars from Boston, subway cars from New York, double-deckers from England, and trams from Japan and Australia.
  • The Restoration Shop: You can walk through the gallery above the restoration shop and watch craftsmen rebuilding 100-year-old vehicles from the frame up.

The Ride

This isn’t a “look but don’t touch” museum. Your ticket includes unlimited rides on the museum’s demonstration railway.

  • The Route: Vintage trolleys run on a 3-mile track through the Maine woods.
  • The Experience: Conductors in period uniform operate the cars, explaining the history and mechanics. It’s a sensory time machine—the smell of the electric motors, the clatter of the wheels, and the clang of the bell.

Why Kids Love It

  • It’s Real: This isn’t a plastic ride at a theme park. These are massive, heavy, industrial machines.
  • The Bus: They also have a collection of vintage buses that kids can climb aboard and “drive.”

Special Events

The museum hosts fantastic events throughout the year:

  • Pumpkin Patch Trolley: In October, take a trolley ride to the pumpkin patch.
  • Trolley Christmas: Riding a heated trolley through the snowy woods with carols playing.
  • Daniel Tiger: PBS Kids events often feature a trolley ride (naturally).

Location: 195 Log Cabin Rd, Kennebunkport. Season: May through October (plus December events). Dog Friendly: Yes! Well-behaved dogs are allowed on the grounds and even on the trolleys.