About the Museum > Museum History
Museum History
Since 2008, the Transportation Museum has been a unique, one-day event for toddlers, adults, and everyone in between. Each year, visitors are treated to interactive and educational exhibits related to all kinds of transportation, from the Transcontinental Railroad and projects to solve Bay Area traffic to programming miniature robots and solving an Amtrak-themed escape room.
Museum History
As a young child, museum director Andrew Mancini loved transportation of all kinds, especially trains. In fact, at the age of five, he had memorized all of the stations on the CalTrain line and knew all of the train engine numbers.
As a way to share his love for, and knowledge of, transportation with friends, family, and neighbors, Andrew created The Transportation Museum at the age of five. The museum, like those in subsequent years, occurred on a single day during the summer at Andrew's house. Early exhibits included displays of the schedules of every Bay Area transit route, organized on the family sofa; learning about the R.M.S. Titanic by allowing guests to send their own Morse code messages; and slot car racing at the "Grapefruit 500," a track set up on the cover of the hot tub in Andrew's backyard.
In 2013, Andrew wrote hand-written, personalized letters to transit agencies in the 40 largest cities in the U.S. and each transit agency in California and Nevada. Over 75 percent of these organizations wrote back, sending in not just the schedules and maps that were requested, but also fun items — chapstick, Yo-Yo toys, and rain ponchos — branded with their logo, forming the foundation of what is today the museum collection.
About the Museum > Museum History
About the Museum > Frequently Asked Questions
Museum History
Frequently Asked Questions
We'll admit that The Transportation Museum isn't your typical museum! It's a one-day event held annually featuring interactive and educational exhibits related to all kinds of transportation, from historical displays (like the Pony Express or the Transcontinental Railroad) to those looking toward the future (solving Bay Area traffic and traveling to Mars). If it's your first time visiting the museum or you're interested in a refresher on what to expect, read answers to common guest questions.
What are the exhibits like?
Each of the museum exhibits are different, but each year's museum brings between 10 to 12 brand-new exhibits to the public. Each exhibit combines both educational components and interactive activities, so every display can be enjoyed by both kids and adults. For example, in the Float Your Boat exhibit at the museum in 2016, guests learned the science behind how boats float and discovered what buoyancy and water displacement is. Then, guests worked to build a boat out of LEGOs that could carry cargo containers while remaining afloat. In an exhibit at the museum in 2019, visitors programmed miniature robots through a San Francisco-themed obstacle course to learn, hands-on, how self-driving cars function. These two exhibits are just a couple of examples of the educational and interactive combination present at each of the museum's displays.
Since 2008, the Transportation Museum has been a unique, one-day event for toddlers, adults, and everyone in between. Each year, visitors are treated to interactive and educational exhibits related to all kinds of transportation, from the Transcontinental Railroad and projects to solve Bay Area traffic to programming miniature robots and solving an Amtrak-themed escape room.
Museum History
As a young child, museum director Andrew Mancini loved transportation of all kinds, especially trains. In fact, at the age of five, he had memorized all of the stations on the CalTrain line and knew all of the train engine numbers.
As a way to share his love for, and knowledge of, transportation with friends, family, and neighbors, Andrew created The Transportation Museum at the age of five. The museum, like those in subsequent years, occurred on a single day during the summer at Andrew's house. Early exhibits included displays of the schedules of every Bay Area transit route, organized on the family sofa; learning about the R.M.S. Titanic by allowing guests to send their own Morse code messages; and slot car racing at the "Grapefruit 500," a track set up on the cover of the hot tub in Andrew's backyard.
In 2013, Andrew wrote hand-written, personalized letters to transit agencies in the 40 largest cities in the U.S. and each transit agency in California and Nevada. Over 75 percent of these organizations wrote back, sending in not just the schedules and maps that were requested, but also fun items — chapstick, Yo-Yo toys, and rain ponchos — branded with their logo, forming the foundation of what is today the museum collection.
Get ready for The Transportation Museum 2018!
October 14, 2018 at Brittan Acres Elementary School — 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Don't miss the 11th Annual Transportation Museum...
All-new interactive exhibits and games. A transit-themed escape room. Unique displays on topics including solutions to Bay Area traffic, the history of getting around on the Peninsula, and how self-driving cars work. A model railroad display. Representatives from the California High-Speed Rail Authority and Capitol Corridor train to answer visitor questions. Featuring the most diverse range of exhibits yet, this year's Transportation Museum is not to be missed.
11th Annual Transportation Museum
Get ready!
Sunday, October 14
10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Brittan Acres Elementary School
875 Tamarack Avenue, San Carlos
Free Admission
Get the scoop on
about the Transportation Museum
1. What is The Transportation Museum?
The Transportation Museum is an annual, one-day event featuring interactive and educational exhibits related to all kinds of transportation. The museum was created in 2008 (we're celebrating 11 years!) and is directed by 15-year-old Andrew Mancini in San Carlos, California. With interactive games and activities (like a transit-themed escape room, programming self-driving cars, and more) and thought-provoking exhibits, the museum promises to be a fun time for all ages of visitors. Watch the video below >
Transportation Museum 2017 Recap
2. Where is the museum?
This year's museum will be held inside the Multi-Use Room at Brittan Acres Elementary School. Parking is available on Tamarack Avenue (a one-way street) or in the teachers' parking lot of Brittan Acres. Enter the museum through this parking lot, off of Tamarack Avenue.
Get directions >
3. Who's invited to the museum?
The goal of the museum is to be both educational and interactive, making it fun and enjoyable for all ages! At each museum, there are fun games and interactive activities (like playing transit-themed carnival games, building a LEGO Hot Air Balloon, and taste-testing astronaut ice cream) along with a variety of unique, transportation-related museum exhibits. Feel free to invite friends or family that you think might enjoy the museum!
Browse past museum exhibits >
4. What's at this year's museum?
Every year, the museum's exhibits change so that both new and repeat visitors will be engaged! This year's exhibits include solutions to Bay Area traffic, an interactive self-driving car display, the history of Peninsula travel, a video showing the world's most scenic train rides, an exhibit on the museum's collection, and more. There will also be a transit-themed escape room for visitors of all ages! Lastly, there will be booths staffed by the California High-Speed Rail Authority, Amtrak's Capitol Corridor train, and a group looking to start a Bay ferry service, for visitors to learn more about these methods of transit.
Upon your arrival at the museum, an introduction video will guide you to the exhibits!
A visitor simulates flying a plane on a realistic software with the help of 12-year-old pilot Brandon D., right.
5. How did the museum begin?
When Museum Director Andrew Mancini was five years old, he was so fascinated by transportation that he started The Transportation Museum as a way to share his fascination of transit. Today, 11 years later, the museum has expanded in size and changed locations, but continues to be an exciting, fun day for kids and adults alike.
Read more about the museum's history >
No RSVPs are required to attend the museum. We'll see you there!
Sunday, October 14 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., Brittan Acres Elementary School
If you have questions or want to learn more, contact the museum.
For more information, check out:
Previous Museum Exhibits Guest Testimonials
Frequently Asked Questions Museum Collection
Otherwise, we'll see you at the museum!
