Baltimore & Ohio Ellicott City Station Museum

Baltimore & Ohio Ellicott City Station Museum The B&O Ellicott City Station Museum is the oldest surviving railroad station in the United States. ADMISSION TO THE MUSEUM IS NOW FREE!!!!

The B&O Railroad Museum: Ellicott City Station is the oldest surviving railroad station in America, and was the original terminus of the first 13 miles of commercial railroad in the country!

50 years ago today: On August 28, 1976, the B&O Ellicott City Station opened to the public as a museum for the first tim...
08/28/2026

50 years ago today: On August 28, 1976, the B&O Ellicott City Station opened to the public as a museum for the first time.
In 1968, the Ellicott City Station was added to the National Register of Historic Places, marking its historic significance as the oldest railroad terminus in the nation. Following the severe flood damage caused by Hurricane Agnes in June 1972, the B&O Ellicott City Station underwent significant restoration. In August 1976, as part of the celebrations marking the national bicentenary, the station would open as a museum managed by Historic Ellicott City Inc. Fifty years later, the station is still open today as a free public museum managed by the Historic and Cultural Resources section of Howard County Recreation and Parks.
Image: The ceremony marking the opening of the Ellicott City Station Museum, August 1976.

We conclude our series of Dysart McMullen's recollections of traveling on the B&O Railroad as a boy in the 1880s with hi...
08/14/2026

We conclude our series of Dysart McMullen's recollections of traveling on the B&O Railroad as a boy in the 1880s with his account of his train arriving at Baltimore's Camden Station:

“There were further stops at Saint Denis, Halethorpe, West Baltimore, and then before he realized the trip was ending, the train was under the cavernous shed of Camden Station. This was quite a fascinating excursion for one so young!

"There was a bustle and confusion in front of the station. Horse cars with tinkling bells, (The “horse car” was an open streetcar drawn by horses.) hacks, trucks, crowding pedestrians. More people and movement than he would see in a month in our Village of Ellicott Mills. Holding tightly to a maternal hand, our adventurer was guided across the street and east along Camden Street, his footsteps dragging through the Hanover Street Market, where the loaded stalls made him wonder at the hunger which must be rampant in a big city.”

Source: Historic Ellicott City Heritage Newsletter, March 1981
Image: Camden Station, Baltimore, circa 1872

We are continuing our series of Dysart McMullen's (1882–1973) recollections of traveling on the B&O Railroad as a young ...
08/12/2026

We are continuing our series of Dysart McMullen's (1882–1973) recollections of traveling on the B&O Railroad as a young boy. In the following, he shares his memory of his train arriving at Relay Station, the halfway point between Ellicott City and Baltimore:

“At the Relay Station, there was a large hotel there. This was the junction that marked the transfer point for those traveling to Washington. The B & O tracks that ran past Ellicott City were those of the Main Line and carried all the heavy freight from the West. It carried only a few passenger trains. The Branch Line between Baltimore and Washington, almost exclusive for passenger traffic, joined the Main Line at Relay.

"During the Civil War this was an important juncture and was guarded by a detachment of Union troops. After the War, the B&O erected a rather elaborate combination station and hotel on the viaduct where the two lines of tracks converged. The juncture was made more noticeable by the Thomas Viaduct across the Patapsco, a huge stone structure built on a curve and famous among railroad bridges because of its type of construction.

"But a small boy could not be expected to take notice of a Civil War vantage spot or a bridge that was a sample of notable engineering. He was more interested in watching how skillfully the train he was in was switched from the Main Line and onto the rails of the Washington bound branch line.”

Source: Historic Ellicott City Heritage Newsletter, March 1981
Image: The Viaduct Hotel at Relay circa 1880

Dysart McMullen (1882–1973) grew up in Ellicott City. In 1972, at the age of 90, he shared his memories of traveling on ...
08/11/2026

Dysart McMullen (1882–1973) grew up in Ellicott City. In 1972, at the age of 90, he shared his memories of traveling on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad's Old Main Line between Ellicott City and Baltimore. Here's more of what he had to say:
“The first station past Ellicott City was called Greys Station; however, the train did not stop there. This was by a stone quarry and a "hobo jungle." The hobos occasionally visited homes in the area, ours included.
"Resumption of movement began with a jerk that threw you against the back of your seat. And then began what was to continue as long as the train was in motion. You glued your face to the window to watch the telegraph poles flash by clacky-clack-clacky. The Patapsco River, dammed for the mill at Ilchester. A small sailboat moored on the far side. The grinding halt at Ilchester Station.”
“More passengers crowding in. More greetings and chatter. The next stop was Avalon. The River now on the right hand side of the tracks. You crossed it without noticing. Passed Arbutus and at last a halt at the Relay Station. There was a large hotel there, managed by Mr. Gorman whose brother was a U.S. senator, Arthur Pue Gorman.”

Source: Historic Ellicott City Heritage Newsletter, March 1981
Image: The Bollman Truss Bridge spanning the Patapsco River at Ilchester.

A Town Divided - Ellicott City During the Civil War! Join us at 7pm on Saturday, Sept. 5 at the B&O Ellicott City Statio...
08/07/2026

A Town Divided - Ellicott City During the Civil War! Join us at 7pm on Saturday, Sept. 5 at the B&O Ellicott City Station Museum for a stirring evening of local history as we explore how Ellicott's Mills stood at the crossroads of railroad, war, and divided loyalties. This FREE event is presented by Maryland History Tours.
Register required: https://tinyurl.com/EC-CivilWarFreeRegistration

Attention visitors! The ramp to the B&O Ellicott City Station Museum's Freight House is in the process of being replaced...
08/05/2026

Attention visitors! The ramp to the B&O Ellicott City Station Museum's Freight House is in the process of being replaced. Until further notice, the ramp to the Freight House and the Train Garden cannot be accessed. The staircase to the Freight House is still OPEN and the train garden is still OPEN. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

Address

3711 Maryland Avenue
Ellicott City, MD
21043

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 3pm
Thursday 10am - 3pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

(410) 313-1945

Website

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