The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Museum is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Museum and a National Historic Landmark. The museum showcases a variety of artifacts related to early American railroading.

  • What rail lines are represented at the B&O Railroad Museum?
    • The museum features the B&O line, the Western Maryland line, and the Chesapeake and Ohio line, among others.
  • What is significant about the location of the B&O Railroad Museum?
    • The museum sits on a 40-acre campus that includes the site of the first commercial long-distance rail line.
    • It is also home to the first passenger train station in American history.
  • What does the B&O Railroad Museum’s permanent collection include?
    • The collection includes over 200 locomotives and railroad artifacts such as tools, timepieces, uniforms, furniture, fine art, and silver.
    • A collection of toy trains and train models showcases America's fascination with railroading.
  • What types of locomotives are in the B&O Railroad Museum collection?
    • The locomotive and rolling stock collection dates back to the start of American railroading.
    • It includes steam engines from the 1820s, both restored originals and replicas.
    • The museum also has electric and diesel engines, passenger and freight trains, and a 1915 hand pump car.
  • What exhibits can visitors see at the B&O Railroad Museum?
    • The Alex Brown & Sons Exhibition Gallery displays small artifacts from the collection on a rotating basis.
    • Current exhibits include the Smithsonian’s collection of railroad models, considered among the finest in the world.
    • The About Time exhibit showcases wall clocks, pocket watches, and other timepieces used by the B&O Railroad.
    • This exhibit highlights the importance of accurate timekeeping in the railroad industry and the role of railroads in standardizing time.
  • Why is the B&O Railroad Museum’s site historically significant?
    • The museum’s buildings and structures are recognized as a National Landmark.
    • The ruins of the “tender kitchen”, built in 1919, where locomotive tenders were repaired, can be seen.
    • The Mt. Clare depot, built in 1851, is the oldest building on campus and originally served as a passenger station.
    • The Baltimore & Ohio Passenger Car Works, built around 1870, originally housed facilities for building and repairing passenger cars.
    • The Roundhouse, built in 1884, was once a passenger car shop.
    • The Annex building, built in 1884, now serves as the museum's main entrance, featuring permanent collection galleries and a gift shop.
  • What is the history of the B&O Railroad Museum?
    • The B&O Railroad was America’s first commercial long-distance railroad.
    • By the 1880s, the railroad actively promoted itself as America’s First Railroad and hired a publicity agent.
    • The museum's origins trace back to PR agent Joseph G. Pangborn, who created a gold-medal-winning exhibit showcasing historic locomotives and replicas.
    • The collection was eventually housed in the Mt. Clare Roundhouse, opening to the public as the B&O Transportation Museum in 1953.
    • After the B&O Railroad merged with other lines, the museum became an independent nonprofit in 1990.
    • In 1999, it became one of only seven U.S. museums affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution.
    • Today, it is known as “America’s Railroad Museum” and attracts over 200,000 visitors annually.
  • What educational programs does the museum offer?
    • The museum provides lesson plans for field trips, guided tours, and downloadable materials for educators.
    • The Lego programs for children under 15 allow hands-on learning about rail cars and railway building.
    • The Steam Days event, held annually in October, features operating steam engines and associated activities.
  • Where is the B&O Railroad Museum located?

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