Since our founding in 1944, the museum and staff have worked to curate the largest collection of its kind in the world. Today, our mission is to be the leader in protecting and interpreting North America’s transportation heritage.
Since our founding in 1944, the museum and staff have worked to curate the largest collection of its kind in the world. Today, our mission is to be the leader in protecting and interpreting North America’s transportation heritage.
The National Museum of Transportation is pleased to present our A Museum on the MovePodcast sharing transportation history.
Step into the stories behind America’s greatest machines in A Museum On the Move, a TNMOT podcast, where aviation, railroading, automotive innovation, and trolley travel come alive. Discover the exceptional collection of planes, trains, automobiles—and trolleys, too—through expert insights, history, and behind-the-scenes tales from one of the nation’s premier transportation museums.
Insects, particularly larger bees. do pollinate some daffodils, especially species with open, accessible, and scented blooms, such as Narcissus poeticus. Here at The National Museum of Transportation our daffodils are in full bloom, signaling the start of our pollinator season and beautiful (and fun) parks. If you or or someone you know needs a quiet, comforting place to enjoy, our Missouri natives pollinator park area is just the right size and vibe. In the past we have had hidden decorated rocks for children to hunt and then rehide for other guests to find.
While many hybrid daffodils are cultivated and rarely produce seed, they can be pollinated by long-tongued bees, butterflies, and moths that visit for pollen or nectar.
Key Details on Daffodil Pollination:
Primary Pollinators: Bumblebees, honeybees, and various moths are the main visitors.
Challenges: Many modern hybrids have little nectar or pollen, and their deep, tubular shape can make it difficult for short-tongued insects to reach the resources.
Methods: While they can be pollinated by insects or wind, daffodils often reproduce primarily through bulb division (asexual cloning) rather than seeds.
Pollinator Interaction: In some cases, pollinators only visit to collect pollen from the anthers.
For the best results in supporting local pollinators, it is recommended to plant wild or heirloom types of daffodils.
Why can’t you put daffodils with other flowers? They are toxic as a neighbor: For cut flowers, never mix daffodils with others in a vase as their sap kills other blooms; so never put daffodils in a vase with other flowers (in particular, tulips) since their sap (which is toxic to other plants) can cause the other plants to wilt prematurely. You should avoid planting daffodils with edible plants like onions, garlic, potatoes, and tomatoes, due to their toxicity and to prevent confusing bulbs during harvest. Also, keep them away from tulips and hyacinths (heavy nutrient competition), shallow-rooted trees (root competition), and tall, dense perennials (shading).
When to cut down daffodil stalks? If you want your daffodils to bloom again, it’s best to let the leaves turn yellow or brown before tying or cutting them back. Though you may be tempted to cut down those unsightly clumps of decaying leaves, waiting until the leaves die back ensures that the bulb has stored enough energy to flower next spring.
Wearing multiple hats while pursuing his academics at the National Museum of Transportation
As one of the young guns in preservation, 21-year-old Aiden Drohr wears multiple hats while pursuing his academics at the National Museum of Transportation. Aiden Drohr photo
At the National Museum of Transportation in St. Louis, Aiden Drohr wears multiple hats. He serves as an exhibit tour guide and an operator of the 2-foot gauge railroad. The 42-acre facility also hosts the 21-year-old’s internship as he pursues his academics in history and museum studies.
How did you get involved in rail preservation?
Aiden Drohr: I’ve been visiting the Museum of Transportation since I was 3 years old, and made it a point to go out there two to four times a year, roughly.
When I was a junior in high school, I needed service hours, and one of the ways to obtain them was to do a job shadow. I reached out to the museum at that time, asked if I could shadow some of the people who work there, and they reached back out and said, “Absolutely.” So that day, I shadowed the executive director, the curator of collections, and the people who worked in the archives. That was an amazing experience altogether.
Fast forward to about a year or so later, I reached out to them again, asking if they had any open positions for a tour guide. I just so happened to be in the right place at the right time. And so I’ve been working at the museum since the summer of 2022.
As a young preservationist, what have you found to be the most challenging aspects in the industry?
Aiden Drohr: I say on a personal level, at least, and this is just my experience with the museum, I haven’t found anything to be super challenging. Everybody here is incredibly friendly and open. They always wanted to share information with you and how something is supposed to work. So, on a personal level, I’ve not experienced anything too challenging.
But on a grandiose scale, and this is also with the Museum of Transportation, funding is always a challenge. This is a thing across the board with rail museums and rail preservation in general is getting funding for projects, and also finding the people to do those projects. I know we have a few projects that have slowed down by a lack of people who can work on that kind of stuff. But it’s definitely the funding aspect of getting money and grants. I haven’t really dug into the weeds of this quite yet, but I’ve definitely touched on the learning aspects of how to obtain grants, how to go after donations, and how to get funding.
What’s been the most rewarding for you so far?
Aiden Drohr: I’d say probably one of the most rewarding things is just seeing people’s reactions to the collection, especially their positive reactions. At the museum, we have a series of special talks called Feature Fridays. They usually take place in early summer, about May, and all the tour guides are allowed to pick a certain artifact to do in-depth research and give a presentation. I’ve done a number of these talks, in addition to giving people a tour around the locomotives while highlighting the different mechanical aspects and history. Just seeing the way people react to stuff like that, I’d say is the most rewarding thing for me.
Where do you see rail preservation as it is today and what do you hope it’ll become for the future?
Aiden Drohr: I’d say today, rail preservation is in a pretty good spot. I try to keep up to date on all other kinds of rail museums and see what projects they’re doing, and almost every time I look at something, it’s like either someone’s announcing a new project or they’re giving an update on an ongoing project. From what I can see, things look pretty good.
As for the future, I hope that we can keep this momentum going, and maybe someday see Class Is get more friendly towards excursions again. But I think as long as we can keep this momentum right now going, I think rail preservation will be in a pretty good spot in the future.
What advice would you give for any young person looking to get involved in the industry?
Aiden Drohr: I’d say go to your local railroad museum and railroad club. Get involved in some way, shape, or form. Be like, “I’m here. Put me to work.” Then if anyone would want to pursue it for a career, I say get a plan and try to stick to it as best as possible.
But don’t go too fast. Weigh your options, because for me, originally my plan was to go to community college for two years, and then get a job with a Class I railroad. But after I started working at the museum, I really didn’t want to leave. So definitely don’t go too fast, and weigh out your options if it’s a good fit.
The National Museum of Transportation Celebrates 100 Years of Route 66 with New Exhibit: “Roads, River, Rooms, and Reels”
St. Louis, MO – The National Museum of Transportation is proud to announce a special exhibition celebrating the 100th anniversary of historic Route 66. Titled “Roads, River, Rooms, and Reels,” the exhibit will open to the public on March 14, 2026, and will explore the stories, memories, and modes of travel that shaped America’s most iconic highway and the communities connected to it.
Two iconic features anchor the exhibit. Visitors will experience a stunning 26-foot model of the S.S. Admiral, beautifully restored by the skilled craftsmen of Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 36, honoring the legendary riverboat that once defined river travel and entertainment in the Midwest. The exhibit will also spotlight the beloved ’66’ Park-In Theatre on Watson Road, owned by the Wehrenberg Family of St. Louis, Missouri, a treasured symbol of drive-in movie culture and shared community memories along Route 66.
As part of the exhibition, the Museum invites the public to participate in a special storytelling initiative titled, “I Remember…” Community members are encouraged to share personal memories of the S.S. Admiral, the ’66’ Park-In Theatre, or any drive-in theater “back in the day.”
Submissions of 600 words or less may be emailed to [email protected] with the subject line “I Remember.” Essays must be received by January 25, 2026, and selected submissions may become part of the exhibition.
The National Museum of Transportation, 2933 Barrett Station Road, Kirkwood, MO, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and receives no governmental funding. The Museum relies solely on the generosity of the community to continue its mission of preserving the past for future generations.
The Museum boasts “one of the largest and best collections of transportation vehicles in the country,” according to representatives from the Smithsonian Institution, and has been voted one of the top open-air museums in the nation for the past two years by a USA Today Readers’ Choice poll.
For more information about the exhibit or how to support the Museum, please visit The National Museum of Transportation or contact the Museum directly.
Media Contact: The National Museum of Transportation Email: [email protected] Website: tnmot.org Cheers to a great 2026. May the new year bring you good health and much happiness….
The National Museum of Transportation Thanks Community for Supporting ALL Aboard Program
Amanda Ryman, TNMOT Grant Writer, and Major Adam Moore, General Secretary and Greater St. Louis Area Commander of The Salvation Army.
St. Louis, MO – The National Museum of Transportation (TNMOT) extends its heartfelt gratitude to the community for generously supporting its ALL Aboard Program – an initiative that ensures every child can experience the wonder of the Museum, regardless of their ability to pay. Through ALL Aboard, TNMOT distributes Museum admission tickets and miniature train ride passes directly to partner agencies across the region.
This holiday season, because of overwhelming community support, TNMOT proudly distributed 8,000 Museum tickets to the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program. Angel Tree, founded in 1979 by Majors Charles and Shirley White, remains one of the Salvation Army’s highest-profile Christmas efforts, providing essential clothing, toys, and joy to children during the holidays.
“We love to assist an organization whose tagline includes ‘Hard Times Call for Soft Hearts,” said Terri McEachern, Executive Director at The National Museum of Transportation. “Our ALL Aboard Program is rooted in that same spirit of compassion. Thanks to our donors, thousands of children will experience a day of discovery, wonder, and joy at the Museum.”
For just $10, community members can sponsor a child’s visit to the Museum through the ALL Aboard Program by visiting tnmot.org and selecting the agency that is closest to their heart. TNMOT encourages the community to give generously and help create lasting memories for local families. Corporate sponsors include Employees Community Fund of Boeing, Union Pacific Foundation, and Walmart Spark Good.
The National Museum of Transportation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that receives no government funding. Its operations and preservation efforts rely solely on the generosity of the community. The Museum was recognized by representatives of the Smithsonian Institution as having “one of the largest and best collections of transportation vehicles in the world.” Additionally, TNMOT has been named one of the Top Five Best Outdoor Museums in the country for the past two years by the USA Today Readers’ Choice Poll.
For more information on the ALL Aboard Program or to make a donation, please visit tnmot.org.
