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The Gold Coast Railroad Museum is Miami’s Hidden Treasure

THE MUSEUM: Cully Waggoner has coined the term “train-scendental meditation.” He’s the chief of training at the Gold Coast Railroad Museum and can teach you how to drive a train.

The Gold Coast Railroad Museum, established in 1957, is a hidden treasure in Miami. It’s home to more than 40 historic railcars, including the “Ferdinand Magellan” Presidential Railcar, better known as U.S. Car No. 1, whose history is directly tied to Miami.

The very first use of this Presidential Railcar was when President Franklin D. Roosevelt came to Miami before heading to Casablanca, where he would meet with other world leaders about the next phase of WWII. They were planning D-Day.

The state purchased the railcar at auction for a dollar, and you can take a tour of it at the museum. It is still operational for use by any sitting president.

FUN FACT: There are other “celebrities” on site, such as the trains featured in “Under Siege II” and “Lethal Weapon 4.”

QUOTABLE: “I just kind of fell for the place,” Cully says. “You come out here and it’s just a different vibe, it’s a different way of life. It takes you back to a simpler time.”

CHECK IT OUT: The museum offers free admission on the first Saturday of every month, in addition to a train ride.

Hear more from Cully in our video.