Minnesota's History: The Jackson Street Roundhouse

Out of all the museums in the Twin Cities, I think this one is one of the most interesting. The Jackson Street Roundhouse, restored by the Minnesota Transportation Museum, is a turn-of-the-century railroad roundhouse restored by a team of volunteers. It now houses a collection of vintage trains and railroad memorabilia. There's plenty of hands-on displays for children to experiment with, and plenty of trains. The museum houses everything from 1970s models, going all the way back to the first locomotives to steam across the Midwest.

In the early days of American history towns lived or died on their links to the rest of the world, and in the last century, that meant one thing: the railroad. For a place as far from the coasts and other major cities as Minneapolis and St. Paul, the railroads were vital to survival.

I visited the museum with my son, who was fascinated by the trains, and it was enjoyable seeing the amount of love and care that has gone into restoring this place. Clearly this museum will interest train fans, but for anyone with an interest in the history of Minnesota, this museum makes a fascinating morning or afternoon out.

• The Jackson Street Roundhouse