For more than three decades, the “Hayes Train Special” has been a beloved holiday tradition at the Hayes Presidential Library & Museums, enchanting families with its charming blend of history, nostalgia and hands-on fun. Since its debut in 1994, the multi-tiered model train display has captivated visitors of all ages as tiny locomotives wind through a snowy Victorian landscape inspired by the era of President Rutherford B. Hayes.
The exhibit opens Friday, Nov. 28, and runs through Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, offering weeks of whimsical holiday magic. Free to the public and located in the museum auditorium, the display invites guests to explore its miniature villages and festive scenes at their own pace. Interactive buttons add a playful twist, visitors can set a train in motion, launch ice skaters gliding across a frozen pond, spin a Ferris wheel and bring other charming details to life. A donation box is available for those wishing to support the display and the work of Hayes Presidential.
The “Hayes Train Special” operates during regular museum hours and is also open during major seasonal events, including Lights of Spiegel Grove and Hayes Home Holidays. Sponsored by Croghan Colonial Bank and the Knight Family, the display is a highlight of A Presidential Christmas, a month-long celebration supported in part by Wright Leather Works.
Hayes Presidential, the nation’s first presidential library, sits within the historic Spiegel Grove estate at Buckland Avenue. For event details, hours and holiday programming, visit rbhayes.org or call 419-332-2081. Visitors can also follow updates on Facebook, Instagram (@rbhayespres).
