With assistance from the San Diego Electric Railway Association, the San Diego Electric Railway Museum is dedicated to education about and furtherance of the history of San Diego’s electric railway system which served as the main mode of transportation along its 165 miles of track and dedicated to meeting the needs of riders from the late 1800s to 1949.

Around 1887, San Diego became the first location on America’s west coast to operate an electric trolley car system. The other trolley railway system in the country during this time period was in Boston, Massachusetts.

The San Diego Electric Railway Museum is housed in the restored National City Depot. As an example of Italian architecture dating back to 1882, this building has been meticulously restored with great care being taken to preserve its wooden exterior and fine wooden interior accoutrements.

Among the highlights for visitors is the 3-track model train exhibit complete with realistic sounds and operational features. Guests are invited to man some of the operating switches along the layout. In the Rolling Stock Car exhibit area, full-size , antique electric railway cars from Bellingham, Washington and post-World War II Vienna, Austria provide a thrill for electric railway history buffs.