B&O Railroad Museum

B&O Railroad Museum The Birthplace of American Railroading 🚂

Join us on the journey to the 200th Anniversary in 2027! Now on Tiktok! Visit us
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With the Tony Awards coming on Sunday and today being the start of Pride, we thought we would give a quick shoutout to “...
06/01/2026

With the Tony Awards coming on Sunday and today being the start of Pride, we thought we would give a quick shoutout to “Cats: The Jellicle Ball” in NYC! A twist on the classic musical “Cats” by Andrew Lloyd Webber, “Cats: The Jellicle Ball” features aspects of q***r ballroom culture.

But what does Cats: The Jellicle Ball have to do with the railroad? The character Skimbleshanks’s costume is heavily inspired by conductors, since Skimbleshanks is a railway cat in the original production. Currently portrayed by the talented Emma Sofia, her outfit includes iconic conductor uniform pieces like the conductor’s hat and the conductor’s vest. But where did the original conductor’s uniform come from?

After the Civil War, railroad companies felt that their employees needed a way to distinguish themselves in a recognizable and uniform way. Drawing inspiration from formal men’s fashion and soldiers' uniforms, the conductor’s uniform featured pieces such as the conductor's vest, conductor’s cap (usually this varied in look based on the railroad), and conductor’s suit/jacket. While this uniform was initially associated with all railroad workers, overtime the uniform became a easy way to represent conductors in popular media. Qween Jean, the Tony nominated costume designer for “Cats the Jellicle Ball”, told Yahoo that she was inspired specifically by “the hardworking women and femmes on the MTA” and wanted to highlight their work and the ways they customize their own uniforms to stand out. This is one of the major examples of how railroads appear in culture as we know it today.

Check out their performance of “Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat” in collaboration with the MTA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjN-dLtPwlc

Photo Credit 📸: The "Cats: The Jellicle Ball" website

05/31/2026

Ice Cream Sundays are so back! 😎🍦Enjoy a delicious treat on the first mile of commercial rail in the United States. Mark your calendars because our first Ice Cream Sunday of the year is on June 7 at 12:30 PM. Stay cool this summer at the B&O Railroad Museum. Check out our full Ice Cream Sunday schedule at the link below:

https://www.borail.org/events/ice-cream-sundays/

Today is the LAST DAY to double your impact! Your gift made by midnight tonight will help unlock our $25,000 matching c...
05/31/2026

Today is the LAST DAY to double your impact!

Your gift made by midnight tonight will help unlock our $25,000 matching challenge!

Your support enables the Museum to share important stories, maintain our world-class collection and bring you exciting programming!

Don’t miss your chance to make a lasting impact as we approach our 200th anniversary year!

Donate today at the link below:

https://theborailroadmuseuminc.donation.veevartapp.com/donation/view/home/your-gift-keeps-us-on-track-for-2027

We are finishing National Inventors Month with Peter Cooper, the creator of the first American steam locomotive, the “To...
05/29/2026

We are finishing National Inventors Month with Peter Cooper, the creator of the first American steam locomotive, the “Tom Thumb.” Peter Cooper was born in 1791 in New York City. After completing a year of formal schooling, Cooper became an apprentice for a coach maker. This apprenticeship would inspire him to create several inventions in the future, many of them related to the railroad.

The most notable of these inventions was the "Tom Thumb" steam locomotive. Cooper was able to create it using just scrap iron, rifle barrels, wheels, and other spare parts he found. This locomotive would go on to carry the B&O Railroad’s directors to Ellicott’s Mills (now Ellicott City, MD) in 1830, proving itself (and steam in general) as an alternative to the B&O’s horse powered locomotives. It would also gain national fame and would even have an appearance on a US postage stamp in 1952. Peter Cooper made sure his influence on the engineering world wouldn’t end with him. In 1859, he founded Cooper Union, a college which offered free courses for students interested in science, engineering, and art. Cooper Union still exists to this day in New York City.

In addition to his more industrial inventions, Cooper is also credited for patenting the first ever powdered portable gelatin in 1845. This would be the first step to creating what we know today as Jell-O!

We have almost reached our $25,000 goal. Help us pull this train into the station by May 31!Your donations fuel the foun...
05/29/2026

We have almost reached our $25,000 goal. Help us pull this train into the station by May 31!

Your donations fuel the foundation of our mission — to preserve the legacy of American railroading.

Make your gift to bring the history of railroading technology to the next generation.

Your support allows the Museum to restore important pieces of railroading history in our collection, maintain the first mile of commercial railroad track ever laid in the country, share the history of America through the lens of the railroad with the world.

Thank you for your continued support!

Donate today at the link below:

https://theborailroadmuseuminc.donation.veevartapp.com/donation/view/home/your-gift-keeps-us-on-track-for-2027

Talk about an all-rounder! The B&O No. 6607 was produced in 1956 by the General Motors’ Electro-Motive Division (GM-EMD)...
05/28/2026

Talk about an all-rounder!
The B&O No. 6607 was produced in 1956 by the General Motors’ Electro-Motive Division (GM-EMD) as a GP9. GP is short for “General Purpose” and meant that this type of locomotive was used for several types of jobs from hauling freight to switching in the yard. Because of their versatility and 1750 horsepower, GP9s were popular with lots of different railroads.

The No. 6607, originally the B&O No. 3414, was given a steam generator for heating, special gearing for higher speeds, and water tanks that were located under the frame of the locomotive. Since the water tanks were now under the frame, this also meant that the locomotive’s air tanks were relocated to the roof. These changes were meant to make the No. 3414 more ideal for passenger service. The No. 3414 was renumbered to the B&O No. 6607 in 1958 when it was regeared specifically for freight service. The No. 6607 was later acquired by B&O Railroad Museum in 1994. It’s worth noting that it arrived at the Museum in Chessie colors but was later repainted to the B&O’s traditional blue, grey, black, and gold color scheme.

There are only a few more days until May 31 to show your support for the B&O Railroad Museum with a gift.Every dollar yo...
05/27/2026

There are only a few more days until May 31 to show your support for the B&O Railroad Museum with a gift.

Every dollar you give goes into making the Museum even stronger and allows the B&O to give back to the community.

Your gift means even more as the 200th anniversary of railroading is right around the corner.

The Museum is so grateful for your continued generosity and support. Thank you for all the ways you give back.

Donate at the link below:

https://theborailroadmuseuminc.donation.veevartapp.com/donation/view/home/your-gift-keeps-us-on-track-for-2027

You can help families step into a world where history comes alive—where families make unforgettable memories.From Ice Cr...
05/26/2026

You can help families step into a world where history comes alive—where families make unforgettable memories.

From Ice Cream Sundays on the Train in the Summer to the First Responders Showcase each September, these moments are made possible by your generosity.

You open the doors to hands-on learning and exploration through our S.T.E.A.M. week workshops, B&O Toddler Times, and Restoration Shop Tours.

Your support ensures that families can come together, explore, learn, and dream—surrounded by the wonder of railroading.

Don’t wait. You can make the next memory possible today! Donate at the link below:

https://theborailroadmuseuminc.donation.veevartapp.com/donation/view/home/your-gift-keeps-us-on-track-for-2027

Originally created to honor soldiers who lost their lives in the American Civil War, Memorial Day has grown to honor all...
05/25/2026

Originally created to honor soldiers who lost their lives in the American Civil War, Memorial Day has grown to honor all American soldiers who have died in combat. Today we hold in our hearts and memories military members who have fallen defending our country.
The American Civil War was the first military conflict involving the railroad. Locomotives such as the B&O No. 57 “Memnon”, helped transport troops and essential supplies for the Union Army. Learn more about the role of trains in the American Civil War today during our “The War Came by Train” public tour at 10:30 AM and 1 PM. Check out the link below for more information about Memorial Day programming at the B&O Railroad Museum:

https://www.borail.org/memorial-weekend-at-the-bo/

“What hath God wrought?” This was the first telegraph message sent by Samuel Morse on May 24, 1844. Morse had worked al...
05/24/2026

“What hath God wrought?”

This was the first telegraph message sent by Samuel Morse on May 24, 1844. Morse had worked alongside two other men, Leonard Gale and B&O employee Alfred Vail, to create the telegraph. The invention utilized “Morse code,” a language comprised of dots and dashes which could be combined together to create messages. In 1843, Congress approved Morse to send his first telegraph message, and the following year he sent the message from Washington, D.C. to Mt. Clare Station in Baltimore, Maryland – the current home of the B&O Railroad Museum. Later this would impact railroading all together, as many railroads would begin to use the Morse Code to communicate. The connection between the telegraph and railroads goes even further, as many telegraph lines were placed along railroad’s right-of-way. This placement provided both a clear path and level ground for the physical telegraph lines. Want to learn more about this incredible invention? Join us tomorrow for Memorial Day, where we will have several activities dedicated to talking about this revolutionary invention. Learn more at the link below:

https://www.borail.org/memorial-day-at-the-bo/

Address

901 W Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD
21223

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 11am - 4pm

Telephone

+14107522490

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