Indianapolis Children's Museum Pt. 2 - The Trains

One of the exhibits at the Indianapolis Children's Museum is a Rueben Wells Steam Engine.  This steam engine was built to conquer Madison Hill in Indiana, the steepest railroad grade in the United States in 1890.

We love reading and learning about the 1800s in the United States.  We have watched every single episode of Little House on the Prairie and read every book (well, Laura and I have.  Megan's time will come.).  Seeing the train up close was charming.  However, there were other wonderful surprises awaiting us.

The miniature town and gigantic train collection was beautiful.  The various toy trains that were all running was so fun to watch, to imagine being on one.

I was probably more enthralled than the children.  I LOVE miniature villages and things.  I often wonder if that is how we would see our lives if we looked at them from a distance. 

The charm of the trains and miniature village wasn't completely lost on the girls however.  Megan enjoyed watching them for a bit.

Then, we stumbled into the "train station".  It was like a small time traveling experience. 

The girls rushed to play with the antique phone.  It was so cute.  Megan had no idea that it even was a phone.  She just saw buttons and levers.

Laura had seen enough Little House on the Prairie and old movies that she knew what to do.

The old sign was adorable.

The entire thing was such an amazing way to show the girls a glimpse of the past.  (Sorry, I had to turn one picture into sepia for effect.)