Historic Things To Do in St. Thomas

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The Bygone Days of Rail

Beneath St. Thomas' quiet streets and towering trees beats the heart of the railway. Follow this itinerary to immerse yourself in the city’s history and culture.

Day 1 : Railway Heritage

A city this steeped in railway history, it's no wonder there exists not one but two railway museums. Start your day off at the Elgin County Railway Museum with a tour. This impressive facility is located inside an old railway machine shop, and houses some of the biggest artifacts around!
Once you're finished at the Railway Museum, pop over to the CASO Station across the way, home of the North American Railway Hall of Fame. Walk the halls of this heritage train station (the largest of its kind in North America!) and use this self guided tour to navigate.

Here is a lady walking beside the CASO Station. The CASO Station is covered in red brick and each window has an olive green frame. The lady is walking with a brown purse on her shoulder and is wearing a blue and white dress. To the left of the shot are some train tracks.

Day 2 : Explore Further

OPTION 1 - This is for the railway enthusiast! Want to delve even deeper and explore all the remnants of railway history in St. Thomas? Use our Railway Experience Guide to help you find your way!
Download Railway Experience Guide here.

OPTION 2 - For an overview of all things that make St. Thomas great, we recommend The Landmarks Tour!
Throughout the tour of historical landmarks in St. Thomas, you will explore local history and heritage by visiting various buildings, monuments, and murals. Some of the locations may be more or less familiar to you, but we are confident that everyone will learning something new!

PRO TIP: At the end of a busy day, stop by Railway City Brewing for a pint and a little more history!

Here is a shot at Railway City Brewing Company. In the middle is a sign that says

Day 3 : Beyond the Rail

St. Thomas' boom time came during the heyday of rail - but there is a lot more to this little city than that! Take an afternoon, and pick up a guide or use the web versions below, to explore two incredible heritage districts, filled with towering oaks, magnolias, and heritage properties that'll be sure to impress.
BONUS! Explore the history in St. Thomas and beyond using the Elgin County Heritage Guide here.

Here is Lotus Thai restaurant. Straight ahead is the historic beige bricked building. The front door is red with windows on either side. The windows are also framed in red. The second floor of the house has three windows, with the one in the middle having a black balcony bar in front. Below the house is a small front deck with a ramp to the right. In front of the deck is a table of four sitting on the patio. At the very front of the picture is a sign that says 'Lotus Thai Parking in Rear' with an arrow pointing left.

The Bygone Days of Rail ​

Day 1 : Railway Heritage

Day 2 : Explore Further

Day 3 : Beyond the Rail

The Bygone Days of Rail