The National Railway Museum in York is set to undergo a £50m renovation in the biggest upgrade in its 40-year history.
It is hoped that the seven-year project will enable the museum to grow to more than one million per year.
Work will include the renovation of the Victorian-era Great Hall and creation of a new 'Wonderlab' to education younger generation on the science and engineering behind the railways.
Leeman Road, which currently splits the site, will also be rerouted to bring the two elements of the museum together and enable a new Central Gallery to be built.
Judith McNicol, director of the National Railway Museum, said: "We have a really bold vision for the museum and exciting ambitions for its transformation that would bring huge benefits to the local community and all our visitors. The redeveloped museum would open up our fantastic collections to many thousands more people and enable them to discover the vital impact that railways have had upon all our lives as well as inspiring the next generation of rail engineers.
"The detail of our plans and the exact timetable are all subject to funding and we have a long way to go to make our vision a reality. There are many things that need to come together to enable us to deliver our aspirations, including the broader York Central development.
"We want to take our visitors on this special journey with us over the coming years and I look forward to sharing more about our plans and how people can get involved as this detail is firmed up."