November 21, 2026 – January 18, 2027
Enter a locomotive wonderland at this one-of-a-kind holiday adventure!
A One-of-a-Kind Hoosier Holiday Tradition
Jingle Rails: The Great Western Adventure is unlike any holiday attraction you’ve experienced! Discover a magical model train wonderland featuring iconic landmarks in Indianapolis and out west. 8 G-Scale model trains ramble over 1,200 feet of track, through landscapes made entirely out of all-natural materials like twigs, nuts, and bark. This one-of-a-kind experience will become a bucket list adventure for you and your family this holiday season!
Come experience this immersive experience
How to visit: See exhibit Mon-Sat 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Sun 12 p.m.-5 p.m.
Extended Hours: See exhibit with extended hours every Saturday and Sunday in December until 7 p.m.
Admission: Exhibit is included with the cost of museum admission
Check out all our upcoming Jingle Rails events
Acorns and Elm Bark and Fungus, Oh My!
As you explore Jingle Rails and take in the different scenes, see what materials you can find within the backdrops. You may find model buildings made of twigs, sycamore leaves, pinecone scales, walnut shells or cinnamon sticks.
For example, the Soldiers and Sailors Monument is made of: slate, elm bark, mahogany pods, Brazilian mushroom, winged euonymus, eucalyptus seeds, forsythia, beech seeds, horse chestnut, pine cone scales, cinnamon, barley, acorn caps, crepe myrtle, hemlock cones, magnolia stems, beech, oak, elm, birch barks, eucalyptus, gourd, alder, poppy seeds, acorns, lichen, raffia, corn silk, grape vine, pepper corn, bamboo, pistachio shells, cloves, walnut, cinnamon, reeds and fungus.
Jingle Rails is created by Applied Imagination.
Highlights
- Family photo op with a near-life-size train engine model, made of all-natural materials
- Eight G-scale model electric trains
- Nearly 1,200 feet of track
- New hands on activities in Allen Whitehill Clowes Sculpture Court
More than 30 scenes, including:
- Indianapolis Motor Speedway
- Indianapolis’ Soldiers and Sailors Monument
- Lucas Oil Stadium
- OneAmerica Tower
- Route 66
- The Grand Canyon
- Old Faithful geyser (it actually erupts!)
- Golden Gate Bridge
- Las Vegas Strip
- Hoover Dam
Plus, access bonus content and videos about your favorite features with your smartphones via QR coding placed on the labels!
Events
- November 21: Members-Only First Look at Jingle Rails
- November 27 & 28: Winter Markets Featuring Native Artists
- December 6 (10-Noon): Jingle Rails Sensory Friendly Morning
- December 11: Members & Friends Family Night at Jingle Rails
- December 12 & 19: Winter Markets Featuring local Indy artists
- December 12: Paint Your Own Wooden Steam Engine
- December 19: Jingle Cottage
- Toys for Turtle Mountain: Toys can be dropped off by December 9th
Nina Mason Pulliam Education Center
After exploring Jingle Rails, head downstairs to our reimagined Nina Mason Pulliam Education featuring the R.B. Annis Western Family Experience! Explore, play, create and learn in this interactive space that focuses on five diverse families of the contemporary West. Unlock your imagination!
Presented By:
Additional Support Provided By:
The Butler Family Foundation Endowed Jingle Rails Fund
Stuart’s Household Furniture Moving and Storage Inc.
The Sunrise Foundation, a fund of the Indianapolis Foundation
Designed and Built By:
