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

National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation

Name: National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation
Address: 901 W Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD, 21223, US
Telephone: +14107522490
Price range: $$
Rating: 4.6

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The National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation (formerly the B&O Railroad Museum) — where American railroading began.
(1267)

Step into our new Innovation Hall, opening January 2027, and discover the past, the present, and the possible.

10/11/2026

Another iconic American performance that was brought via rail – the circus!

Traveling circuses have been entertaining audiences in America since the 1700s. One of the most famous names in circus history, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, has a story that is closely connected to the railroad.

Founded in Delavan, WI in 1867, the circus initially traveled by boat. But just two years later, following the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, the show took to the rails. In 1870, P.T. Barnum joined the circus, and the show took on a new name: “P.T. Barnum’s Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan, and Hippodrome.”

One of the circus’ founders, William Coup, designed specialized railroad flatcars to load and unload equipment. By 1872, the show had fully embraced its identity as a circus that traveled by rail.

Over the years, the circus continued to grow and change. James A. Bailey joined Barnum, while early founders Coup and Dan Castello left to start another circus. After Bailey’s death, the Ringling Brothers purchased the circus, forming the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus that many know today. By the time of this merger in 1919, the circus owned 92 railroad cars.

The circus continued traveling across the country by rail for nearly another century ending its run via rails in 2017.

For generations, the railroad helped bring the circus to audiences across America.

Big tops. Big crowds, all brought by rail.

The Past, The Present. The Possible.

10/10/2026

Not sure what your pup should wear to Tails on the Rails? 🐾

Sometimes, the hardest part of getting ready is choosing the perfect costume.

Take a look at some of our favorite four-legged looks from years past for a little inspiration. From spooky to silly, our furry guests have brought plenty of personality to the rails.

Now it’s your pup’s turn.

Grab your tickets and join us for the biggest puppy playdate of the year. Celebrate Howloween, make some memories, and show off your pup’s best costume.

A train ride. A little Halloween fun. And plenty of wagging tails.

Get your tickets at the link below:

https://nationalrailroad.org/events/tails-on-the-rails/

10/09/2026

Trick-or-treat! 🍬

On October 29, bring your little one to our Halloween Toddler Time for a morning of treats, stories, and creativity.

Start with some safe trick-or-treating around our B&O Roundhouse before settling in for a reading of The Spooky Express Maryland by Eric James.

Then, it’s time to get creative with a special Halloween craft.

Trick-or-treating. A spooky story. And a Halloween memory to take home with you.

Join us for a morning of family fun.

Learn more at the link below:

https://nationalrailroad.org/events/halloween-toddler-time-2/

10/08/2026

If you’ve ever taken a train ride at the Museum, you’ve probably seen this car while waiting on Platform 2.

But there’s more to this car than meets the eye.

The BOMX No. 143 was originally built for the Pennsylvania Railroad as PRR No. 8241, one of 50 sleeper cars. Each car was named after an inn, and No. 8241 was originally known as the “Alliance Inn.”

In 1958, the car was renamed after Jacob J. Vandergrift, a pioneer in the oil industry during the 1800s. A few years later, it was rebuilt for the 1964-5 New York World’s Fair, where it featured 64 seats, a 12-seat passenger lounge, and the iconic Pennsylvania Railroad logo on both sides. Then, in June of 1968, it traveled to Washington, D.C. with Robert F. Kennedy’s funeral train - it was the 13th of 24 cars in the procession.

The car changed hands several times over the following years, eventually becoming part of the Maryland Area Rail Commuter (MARC) system before finding its way to the Museum in 2005. In 2013, it was renamed the Blue Drucker after our board member, Ron Drucker’s, dog Blue. Today, it sits on Platform 2, where visitors pass by it every day to board our Mile One Express.

A car that once carried passengers. A car that witnessed history. And now, a piece of that history waiting to be discovered.

The Past, The Present. The Possible.

10/07/2026

Experience learning in a whole new way through Discovery Quest. This program is designed to encourage families to explore Baltimore’s Museums and Cultural Spaces. Get a Discovery Quest passport at the National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation or any of the Museums and Institutions listed below:

-Port Discovery Children’s Museum

-American Visionary Art Museum

-Baltimore Museum of Art

-Baltimore Museum of Industry

-Jewish Museum of Maryland

-Maryland Center for History and Culture

-Maryland Science Center

-Maryland Zoo

-National Aquarium

-Reginald F. Lewis Museum

-Star-Spangled Banner Flag House & Museum

-The National Great Blacks in Wax Museum

-The Walters Art Museum

Collect stamps at each organization and all 4 Discovery Quest charms and win a special prize from Port Discovery! Discover the treasure of learning now until December 31.

10/06/2026

Our friends at Mystique Barrel Brewing and L***r House are joining us for a Tails on the Rails! On October 25, guests 21 and older can enjoy pours from Mystique while exploring vendors on site during our “Yappy Hour”. They will be serving signature drinks such as Prostique! Oktoberfest, Easy speak Pre- Prohibition L***r, Citrus Splash Hard Seltzer, as well as an IPA.

After grabbing a drink, hop aboard the train with your four-legged best friend for a ride to Carroll Park.

When you return, enter your pup in our doggy “Howloween” costume contest and see which furry friend steals the show.

Good drinks. Great vendors. A train ride. And a day spent with your best friend!

It’s a day made for making memories—together.

Get your tickets at the link below:

https://nationalrailroad.org/events/tails-on-the-rails/

10/05/2026

Moving containers is becoming safer and more efficient.

When trains arrive at an intermodal facility, railroad workers need a way to quickly load and unload containers. One of the tools being used to make that process safer and more environmentally friendly is an electric crane.

BNSF has been leading the way in using electric cranes as an alternative to traditional cranes. Unlike traditional cranes, electric cranes produce zero emissions, helping reduce their environmental impact.

They also change the way railroad workers operate the equipment. Instead of climbing several flights of stairs to reach the crane’s cab, workers can operate the crane remotely from the ground.

That means fewer emissions. Less climbing. And a safer way for workers to get the job done.

It’s easy to look at a crane and see only the machine. But behind every lift is a team of people—and technology—working together to move goods safely and efficiently.

An electric crane. A worker at the controls. And a small change that can make a big difference.

The Past, The Present. The Possible.

Image Credit: Railway Age

10/04/2026

One of the most popular horror movies of 2025 was the movie Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler. Eagle eyed viewers may have noticed that in the background of one of the scenes, a Pullman Car can be seen. The Pullman Company played a major role in the Great Migration, as Black people traveled by train to the North in search of better opportunities. Coogler himself stated that part of his own inspiration for the movie came from his family’s connection to the Great Migration, specifically his uncle’s experiences migrating from Mississippi.

“To understand the Great Migration is to also understand for a long time our people’s home was the South. To migrate means to leave something behind.” -Ryan Coogler

The Pullman company was the largest employer of African-Americans from the 1860s to 1920s, hiring many people as porters. They were known as the Pullman Porters and they would eventually help create the first African American labor union in the United States, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. You can learn more about the impact of the Pullman Porters in our Pullman Porter exhibit and in our newly restored B&O No. 3316 which is currently in the B&O Roundhouse.

Image Credit: BlackTree TV

10/03/2026

This month, celebrate Halloween with your favorite furry friends! Tails on the Rails returns to our Museum October 25, after all dogs deserve to celebrate Halloween too! Celebrate Halloween with your pup with a doggy costume contest, a train ride to Carroll Park (remember to take pictures and record your dog’s first train ride), and a Yappy Hour (21+) for our guests! Plus, we will have vendors for both dogs and humans alike! Sound like a dog-gone good time? Get your tickets at the link below:

https://nationalrailroad.org/events/tails-on-the-rails/

10/02/2026

This October, there are plenty of ways to celebrate the season at the National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation.

On October 25, bring your best four-legged friend to Tails on the Rails. Ride the rails with your pup to Carroll Park, then return to the Museum for a doggy Halloween costume contest and more seasonal fun.

On October 29, our youngest visitors can join us for a special Halloween-themed Toddler Time. Little ones can safely trick-or-treat throughout the Museum, show off their costumes in our costume parade, enjoy a reading of The Spooky Express Maryland by Eric James, and create a spooky wreath of their own.

Then, as Halloween draws near, step into the past with our Haunted History tour. Explore the spooky side of the B&O Railroad and discover the strange stories and unexplained occurrences connected to this historic site—the Birthplace of American Railroading.

From family traditions to tales of the unexplained, there’s a little something for everyone this Halloween.

Come celebrate the season with us.

The Past. The Present. The Possible.

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

Website

http://nationalrailroad.org/

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