Charlotte Trolley Powerhouse Museum

1507 Camden Rd., Charlotte
704/375-0805
www.powerhousemuseum.org [1]

HOURS: Mon.–Fri. 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

COST: Free

Calling the Charlotte Trolley Powerhouse Museum a museum is a bit of a misnomer. The 5,000-square-foot facility is more of an interactive exhibit on wheels. It was founded in 1989 at Atherton Mill [2], but after a decade the nonprofit had outgrown its space and expanded into a brand-new $1.6 million facility.

The museum offers a glimpse into the history of trolley transportation with unique exhibits that let you experience what it was like to drive a streetcar in the 1920s, learn the mechanics of a trolley car, and get your hands on trolley artifacts.

The museum also takes vintage and replica streetcars on the road, traveling through the heart of Charlotte [3]. The 30-minute tours leave from the museum on weekends and run through Uptown ($3 adults, $1.50 seniors 65+ and students, free children under 5 with an adult).