During your visit to the Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center marvel at views of Union Pacific’s Bailey Yard from the sites’ observation tower. The Visitor Center includes Union Pacific Railroad and Nebraska memorabilia, educational displays and a gift shop with a large selection of Golden Spike Tower souvenirs.
Visitor Center
Start your visit to Golden Spike Tower in the Visitor Center. Here a welcome video will orient you with Union Pacific and Bailey Yard. Interpretive displays that tell the story of the Union Pacific, Bailey Yard and North Platte, Nebraska make up the core of the Visitor Center.
Golden Spike Tower
Enjoy panoramic views of the world’s largest rail yards. Golden Spike Tower, an eight-story observation tower with indoor and outdoor decks, offers views of Bailey Yard where east meets west on the Union Pacific’s rail line. With 17 receiving and 16 departure tracks, Bailey Yard sees around 10,000 railroad cars each day. The 7th floor observation deck is an open-air platform, 95 feet above the ground, that will let you hear the rumble of the diesel engines and the clang of the boxcars as they come together to make new trains on one of the bowl tracks. The top of the tower is reached by an elevator and offers spectacular views of the 2,850 acre rail yard. It is complete with coin-operated binoculars and is completely enclosed from the elements. Whether you prefer to experience the rail yard indoors or outdoors, Bailey Yard offers excitement for all.
The Courtyard
23 flags fly overhead in the Courtyard, representing each state Union Pacific Railroad serves. Also featured in the Courtyard is a Memorial Brick Pavilion with commemorative bricks embossed with the names of railroad employees, individuals from the community, region and around the world.
The Gift Shop
Be sure to stop by the Golden Spike Tower’s Gift Shop, located in the Visitor Center. Items for young and old alike, from traditional t-shirts and sweatshirts to train novelty items are available to purchase.
- Golden Spikes Tower is ADA complaint.
- On the grounds of the Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center is a vintage dining car that will take you back to the romance of passenger trains with both the look and feel of a real railroad dining car with all the amenities.
- Golden Spike Tower and Visitor Center regularly hosts special events. Visit the official Golden Spike Tower website to find out more about special events taking place during your visit.