The Glancy Trains

A crowd favorite for years, The Glancy Trains are from the collection of Alfred R. Glancy Jr. (1908–1973), real estate financier and former-owner of the Empire State Building in New York City. During the 1950s and 1960s, Mr. Glancy enjoyed hosting “train parties” for friends, neighbors, schoolchildren and scout groups each holiday season at his home in Grosse Pointe Shores.

After his death in 1973, the Glancy family donated their extensive collection to the Detroit Historical Museum. The family’s generous support of the Museum’s train exhibit and Society continues to this day.

The latest version of this model train layout includes a playful representation of rare artifacts and one-of-a kind trains, along with interactive buttons that control different functions, making it one of the Museum’s most popular attractions for children of all ages! In addition, the exhibit also includes four panels along the back wall that discuss the history of rail travel in Detroit — including railroads, the city’s train stations, the streetcars and trolley age, and interurbans. Two more panels located on the side walls of the gallery discuss model trains, the Glancy family and their train collection.

Special thanks to our Glancy Train volunteers for all their work building and maintaining the layout.