Phoenix Trolley Museum

The Phoenix Trolley Museum tells the story of the streetcar system of Phoenix, Arizona, from 1887 through 1947 and connects this history to today's resurgence of local passenger transit, including light rail lines and modern streetcars.  We:

• Engage the community,
• Offer interactive educational experiences, and
• Collect, preserve and showcase historic streetcars, paraphenelia, and memorabilia

The Phoenix Trolley Museum relocated in 2018 from its long-time home at Hance Park to  1117 Grand Avenue.

From 1887 to 1948, Phoenix's trolley system was the way that most people got around downtown. Numerous streetcars ran on the line, which covered Phoenix and eventually extended into Glendale. The trolley system operated successfully through World War Two, transporting thousands of people to their work and leisure destinations. The system floundered in the post-War period, and came to an end in 1947 when a fire destroyed most of the streetcars.

Three of the surviving streetcars have been preserved by the museum. The first car to be collected, numbered 116, was partially restored by a group led by Larry Fleming, a lawyer and trolley enthusiast. Fleming founded the Phoenix Trolley Museum in 1977. The museum was established as a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization in 1978 as the Arizona Street Railway Museum, doing business as the Phoenix Trolley Museum (PTM). The PTM is dedicated to the preservation of historic Phoenix trolley cars and associated memorabilia, as well as educating the public about the transportation history of Phoenix.

Testimonials

"I remember traveling to downtown Phoenix on Saturday afternoons with my cousin and going to the Fox Theater while our parents shopped at the department stores. The Phoenix Street Railway that ran downtown was gone by that time, but we could still see the tracks in many of the streets. Fortunately, some of the history of that railway has survived and is being revived by a group of dedicated volunteers.

When I learned of the relocation of the Trolley Museum from Hance Park to Grand Avenue, I realized that it had to be an organized event - no matter how little notice the volunteers had. With my knowledge of non-profit finances and experience as treasurer, I took on the task of writing a business plan. The business plan will guide activities of supporters and organizers as we embark on a journey to build a new museum telling the story of Phoenix and its trolleys.

The new Phoenix Trolley Museum is the means to reviving a neglected part of local history. One important element in the formation of a new museum on Grand Avenue was the business plan. I hope someday visitors to the new Phoenix Trolley Museum will be fascinated as I was when I saw the old tracks downtown."

Dean Isaac, past president of the Pioneer Cemetery Association, past board member and treasurer of the Heritage Square Foundation, and member of the First Families of Arizona.