Thomas the Tank Engine and his very useful buddies will be at Kohl Children’s Museum in Glenview, Illinois for just two more weeks! If you live in Chicagoland or are visiting for the holidays, we highly recommend that you visit this exhibit before it chugs away. Kohl Children’s Museum is hosting Thomas & Friends: Explore the Rails in their special exhibit space from October 5, 2024 to January 5, 2025.
We have visited Thomas and his friends multiple times, so keep reading for our experience of this exhibit plus an overview of all of the practical details.
Thomas & Friends at Kohl Children’s Museum
Stepping into the special exhibit area at Kohl Children’s Museum right now feels like visiting the island of Sodor. Seeing kid-sized Thomas, Percy and Victor peering out of familiar Sodor locations gives even the adults in our family a thrill.
Among all the exhibits we have experienced at children’s museums, our favorites are the ones that invite you to really step inside the story. We love getting to inhabit the island of Sodor. Of course, another crucial element of a great exhibit is the chance for kids to experience it with their hands. Thomas & Friends: Explore the Rails has those opportunities by the boxcar load!
Visit a Nostalgic Train Station on the Island of Sodor
As you enter Thomas & Friends: Explore the Rails, you will encounter a train station area to your right. Our kids love selling and buying tickets at the ticket window.
Adults who grew-up with Shining Time Station or Thomas toys (as we did) will be charmed by the nostalgic retrospective in the other portion of the “station.” Do you remember Ringo Starr and George Carlin conducting trains and videos on PBS? You will love this part!
Beneath the signs detailing the history of Thomas and his friends, there is also a small adjustable train ramp. Here, kids can experiment with toy trains traveling on different inclines.
See Thomas the Tank Engine at Kohl Children’s Museum
Across from the ticket window, Thomas himself is waiting for some industrious kids to climb into his cab.
Our youngest engineer appreciated the dials and levers here as well as the familiar sounds. All of our kids liked “meeting” the familiar blue engine and getting a peek at his inner workings.
We like that all of the engines in this exhibit are large enough to impress kids but not so large as to intimidate them. Thomas, Percy and Victor all feel approachable and, well, really cool!
Help Percy Get Going
Beyond Thomas, his friends Percy and Victor are waiting at what might be the most immersive portion of the exhibit: Sodor Steamworks. Victor is peeking out from behind a door and provides a great photo opportunity. Next to him, Percy needs some help!
In our favorite part of the whole exhibit, kids are asked to attach Percy’s funnel, wheels and other parts. But—even with all of his parts—Percy is not ready to go yet! Kids also need to load coal and water into Percy.
The coal consists of squishy black balls; kids need to crank the lumps of coal up a conveyor belt and fill Percy’s boiler with water. When Percy is all full, he gives a congratulatory “toot toot!” Our kids love this, and the exhibit is well designed to let multiple kids work together to achieve these goals. There are also signs explaining the working of a steam engine (in kid-friendly language).
Explore the Island of Sodor
Behind the Sodor Steamworks, kids are invited to drive toy trains around an impressive train table. Our kids have a great time at this train table.
There is a nice train table elsewhere in Kohl Children’s Museum, and our kids have their own impressive wooden railway collection at home, but that has not stopped them from spending hours at this train table. They are not alone. We have seen many kids and their caregivers camped-out here for long stretches of time.
Load the Trains
Our kids also loved the baggage loading area next to the train table. Here kids can transfer squishy passenger luggage, freight, and even a “bee hive” between luggage carts and two train cars. There are also some passenger benches here, so this is where we pretend to use our tickets.
Keep Sodor Rolling at Kohl Children’s Museum
To round out Thomas & Friends: Explore the Rails, there is a large “clock tower” kids can manipulate to trigger announcements about the arrival (or delay) of inbound trains. There is also green screen stage where kids can pose with their Sodor friends. (The stage is a permanent feature at Kohl Children’s Museum and adapts to whatever exhibit is in that space.)
Tips for visiting Kohl Children’s Museum and Thomas & Friends: Explore the Rails
Stop in now!
If you want to visit Thomas and his friends, be sure to visit Kohl Children’s Museum before the exhibit ends on January 5, 2025. There is no extra charge to visit this awesome exhibit. It is included in your general daily admission, so we suggest visiting while it is still there!
Visit early or during nap time
This is a great exhibit and can draw crowds, if you want to visit during a less popular time, consider showing-up right when the museum opens or visit during the afternoon when many little ones are taking naps. If you want tips on the least crowded times to visit, sign-up for the Kohl Children’s Museum email list, they send-out a weekly “crowd forecast” with daily predictions.
Just be sure to check-out the special opening hours during these holiday weeks. Like many attractions, Kohl Children’s Museum has a special holiday schedule. Plus, they are hosting some evening events like Kohlights and New Year’s Eve Bash.
Consider a membership
Want to take advantage of less crowded member-only hours and save money over multiple visits? Consider a membership to Kohl Children’s Museum. Even better, look at their PlayKCM Plus Membership: you get daily admission for up to six people at Kohl Children’s Museum plus five other Chicago-area children’s museums! We think this membership is one of the best deals for young families in Chicagoland, and we make good use of ours!
Check out the rest of the museum!
We love Kohl Children’s Museum and visit often. Our kids are especially fond of the grocery store and sandwich shop play areas. If you have train loving kids, there is a permanent exhibit at Kohl Children’s Museum called “City on the Move,” you will also want to visit. Be sure to leave time to explore the rest of the museum (and good luck rounding-up your kids when it is time to leave).
Getting there
Kohl Children’s Museum is located at 2100 Patriot Boulevard in Glenview, Illinois 60026. There is ample free parking around the museum.
Want to take the train to meet Thomas? Kohl Children’s Museum is about half a mile from the North Glenview station on the Metra Milwaukee District North line. If you prefer to take a bus, check-out Pace Bus Route 423.
Thank you for reading about Thomas the Tank Engine’s stop at Kohl Children’s Museum in Chicagoland
If your kids (or you) love Thomas and trains, be sure to read our article: Bring This Easy Christmas Tradition Home on a Small Budget.
For tips on other Chicago are fun, check-out our articles on the Christkindlmarket and Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo Chicago. We also recently saw the new Wonder of Water exhibit at the Shedd Aquarium and suggest you experience it too!
Finally, be sure to subscribe to our free newsletter to get future articles straight in your inbox. Thanks again for reading!