This weekend, Thomas & Friends: Explore the Rails! rolls into The Magic House, bringing to life the Island of Sodor and transforming it into a hands-on, STEM-powered playground where young fans can climb, build, fix, and imagine their way through a limited-time exhibit.
For kids, it’s a chance to step straight into a favorite story. For parents, it’s the rare exhibit that blends nostalgia with meaningful, movement-filled learning—without feeling like you’re giving a lesson. Designed to spark curiosity and cooperation, the experience invites families to slow down, play together, and rediscover why Thomas has been a “really useful engine” for generations.
The last time that Thomas and his railway buddies visited the Kirkwood children’s museum was 2018, which means a whole new generation of train enthusiasts have an opportunity to get up close with the timeless engines. “It’s designed for kids—and parents who grew up loving Thomas—to explore hands-on activities that mix play with learning think STEM challenges, pretend play, and plenty of train adventures,” says director of marketing Marissa Lorance.
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What to know before you go
It’s play-first, STEM-forward. Kids learn by jumping right into the action: climbing into Thomas’ cab to trigger real train sounds, fixing Percy’s wobbly wheel at Sodor Steamworks, selling tickets as a conductor, and tackling hands-on challenges that build early science, technology, engineering, and math skills through imaginative play.
Classic Thomas meets modern Magic House. Created by Minnesota Children’s Museum and inspired by the Nick Jr. series, the exhibit brings the Island of Sodor to life with immersive spaces such as Knapford Station. It pairs beloved characters and settings with thoughtfully designed, museum-quality interactives.
There’s a bonus for grown-ups. A nostalgic retrospective rounds out the experience, featuring model engines, original drawings, and memorabilia from Rev. W. Awdry’s original Thomas stories—a quiet nod to the generations who grew up with the “really useful engine.”
It’s here for a limited time. Thomas & Friends: Explore the Rails! will be at The Magic House from January 17–September 7.
It’s perfect for preschool and early elementary students. The exhibit is designed with younger kids in mind, including a dedicated activity zone with age-appropriate challenges and pull-along Thomas trains that let littles explore at their own pace.
The exhibit encourages getting active, not just pushing buttons. This is full-body play: climbing, lifting, repairing, role-playing, and exploring physical spaces—encouraging kids to move, think, and engage rather than stand and watch.
It’s built for shared play. Many stations are designed for collaboration, making it easy for siblings, friends, and parents to problem-solve together and jump into the story side by side.
