7 Charming Old Railroad Towns In Washington
Across the Pacific Northwest, railroads once connected Washington’s small towns with growing cities like Seattle and Tacoma. Before highways became the main routes of travel, trains carried passengers and freight through river valleys, along the Columbia River, and over the Cascade Mountains. Many communities developed around depots, rail yards, and division points, with agriculture and industry depending on reliable rail service to reach larger markets. Some were early transportation crossroads; others were servicing hubs or key stops along transcontinental lines. Though passenger service has faded, their depots, museums, and surrounding landscapes still reflect a time when the railroad shaped daily life.
Steilacoom
Steilacoom, Washington's first incorporated town, once linked regional rail service with ferry routes on Puget Sound. Built in 1914, the town's depot offered access north to Tacoma and Seattle and south toward Olympia and Portland, Oregon. Though passenger service ended in the 1960s and freight trains stopped running in the early 1970s, the depot still stands on the waterfront as one of the town's most beloved landmarks. Beyond the depot, there's much to see and do. Nearby, Pioneer Park pays tribute to local pioneers who settled the area and hosts events, including a summer concert series.
From there, The Bair, housed in the historic Bair Drug & Hardware building, provides a unique dining experience. For breakfast, it offers everything from griddle items to omelets, while the lunch menu features burgers, sandwiches, and salads, along with a classic soda fountain. The space also includes a living museum and hosts art gallery pop-ups, author readings, and community events. Just a short walk away, the Steilacoom Historical Museum, open seasonally from April through October, features exhibits highlighting the town’s railroad and pioneer heritage.
Kalama
Along the Columbia River, Kalama sits among the most charming railroad towns in Washington. It became an important Northern Pacific Railway hub in the early 1870s when it was selected as the western terminus of the transcontinental line. From the 1880s until the early 1900s, rail cars were ferried across the river before bridges were built, which made Kalama an essential link between Portland and Tacoma.
Today, its history can be explored at the Port of Kalama Transportation Interpretive Center. Located near the waterfront, the center features models, replicas, educational videos, and interpretive displays, including a 1917 Northern Pacific Steam Locomotive that once ran through the region. From there, walk over to Marine Park to take a stroll, explore the beach, enjoy a scenic picnic, or go windsurfing or fishing along the river. The Port of Kalama's Westin Amphitheater, located near McMenamins Kalama Harbor Lodge, adds entertainment to the area by hosting concerts and special events year-round.
Wishram
Wishram, on the northern side of the Columbia River, was developed in the early 20th century as a division point for the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway. The railroad crossed the river on the Oregon Trunk Rail Bridge, also known as the Celilo Bridge, near Celilo Falls. In 1970, the Spokane, Portland & Seattle Railway merged with the Northern Pacific Railway, Great Northern Railway, and Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad to form the Burlington Northern Railroad, which later merged with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway in 1995 to create the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway.
Trains still pass through Wishram today, and the current railroad station stands on the site of the original depot. A short walk away stands a historic monument honoring explorers and pioneers, from Meriwether Lewis to John C. Fremont. For things to do in the area, wineries, such as Cascade Cliffs Vineyard & Winery and Jacob Williams Winery, offer tastings with scenic views of the Columbia River. Nearby, the Columbia Hills Historical State Park has plenty of outdoor activities, from hiking trails like Crawford Oaks and Dalles Mountain Ranch to paddleboarding and kayaking along the river or at Horsethief Lake. The park is also home to Horsethief Butte, an iconic landmark popular with rock climbers.
Skykomish
Skykomish, which sits along the South Fork of the Skykomish River, was founded in the early 1890s by John Maloney, a guide on the Great Northern Railway survey crew, who established Maloney's General Store after the railroad line was completed. A hotel was built soon after to serve railroad workers and travelers. For decades, steam and later electric locomotives ran through the town, including passenger trains such as the Empire Builder. Skykomish also served as the western end of the electrified line through the Cascade Tunnel from 1927 until the mid-1950s. Passenger service ended in the 1970s, and the rail line later became part of the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway.
The original depot is now home to the Great Northern & Cascade Railway, featuring a visitors center, a gift shop, and miniature train rides on Saturdays from May through October. To learn more about Maloney's life and the town's early days, the historic general store building now houses the Skykomish Historical Society Museum, a seasonal attraction with displays inside. For recreation, the town is a convenient base for exploring the Cascade Mountains, with skiing and snowboarding at Stevens Pass Mountain Resort in the winter and mountain biking, hiking, and disc golf during the warmer months.
Kittitas
In central Washington, Kittitas was established in the 19th century and grew around the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad, known as the Milwaukee Road. The depot and rail yard served as the hub for shipping agricultural products and connecting to other communities. Essential services, like a post office, general store, and church, soon began to form around the depot, while the rail yard included maintenance buildings, storage facilities, and a water tower to support operations on the transcontinental line. However, after competition with other railroads, the Milwaukee Road ended service in Washington in 1980.
Today, the historic depot is the only major structure remaining from the original yard and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In downtown Kittitas, grab a burger and fries at The Haymaker or a classic Philly cheesesteak at 509 Philly Stop before heading out to explore the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail. The roughly 250-mile rail-trail corridor passes near Kittitas and offers hiking, biking, and horseback riding along the scenic route. A short drive away, Olmstead Place Historical State Park features a working pioneer farm with historic buildings, interpretive trails, and picnic areas.
Wenatchee
Situated along the Wenatchee River and the Columbia River, Wenatchee became a thriving railroad town when the Great Northern Railway arrived in the early 1890s. Before the railroad, the surrounding mountains made transporting goods difficult, but trains let farmers send fruit and other products to distant cities. By 1901, growers were shipping their first railcars of apples, and within a few years, apple production became central to the local economy, giving the town its nickname, “Apple Capital of the World.” Today, the railroad continues as the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway, connecting with the Cascade & Columbia River Railroad for freight, while passenger service is provided by the Empire Builder at Columbia Station.
Wenatchee's railroad history can be explored at the Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center, where a Great Northern Railway model H0-scale train is one of its highlights, alongside exhibits on Native American trade and agriculture. Beyond the museum, the Apple Capital Recreation Loop Trail follows 10 miles of scenic riverfront paths through Wenatchee Confluence State Park, which offers opportunities for camping, boating, fishing, and other outdoor activities.
Coulee City
Coulee City, near Banks Lake, saw its railroad history begin in the late 1880s when the Central Washington Railroad, a Northern Pacific Railway subsidiary, extended its line from Cheney to Coulee City, helping establish the town as a regional rail hub. It once had extensive servicing facilities, including a roundhouse, coaling dock, water tower, icehouse, and stockyards.
In that same year, Coulee City was officially platted and later served as the headquarters for the Grand Coulee Dam engineering staff during construction in the 1930s and 1940s. Passenger service ended by the 1950s, and the line eventually became part of the Palouse River & Coulee City Railroad, a short line owned by Watco, which the state purchased in the 2000s. Today, it mainly transports agricultural products and connects with the Burlington Northern & Santa Fe Railway and the Union Pacific Railroad.
Today, Coulee City is a center for outdoor recreation. Sun Lakes-Dry Falls State Park offers boating, kayaking, and paddleboarding on its surrounding lakes, along with camping and other seasonal recreation. When it comes to hiking, the park's trails lead through sagebrush-covered hills and cliffs with panoramic views. Within the park, Sun Lakes Park Resort conveniently provides lodging, dining, a pool, and a golf course. Nearby, the Dry Falls Visitor Center features exhibits detailing the Ice Age floods that shaped the region.
From the shores of Puget Sound to the Columbia River and into the Cascade foothills, these seven communities still carry the imprint of the railroad era. In Steilacoom and Kalama, historic depots and waterfront landmarks recall the days of passenger travel and river crossings. In Skykomish and Wishram, trains continue to roll past reminders of their time as division points.
Wenatchee and Kittitas reflect the strong link between rail service and agriculture, while Coulee City’s story is tied to both the railroad and the construction of Grand Coulee Dam. Each town offers its own way to experience that history through museums, preserved buildings, scenic parks, and working rail lines, making them worthwhile stops on your Washington exploration.
