Model railroading in Balboa Park began at the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition.

The Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, as well as Pennsylvania Railroad, hired him to create giant model railroads for world fairs to stimulate interest in train travel and help revive the national economy during the years of the Great Depression.

His 40-by-70-foot model railroad exhibit was the "chief transportation feature" of the 1935 exposition.

"[3] With 27,000 square feet (2508 m2) of exhibit space, the museum is home of some of the largest HO and N scale layouts of their types.

The library has a collection of books, magazines, VHS tapes, blueprints and other materials for research.