B&O Railroad Museum, Baltimore

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Most people take the railroads for granted. But in 1829, they made their first appearance in the United States. It happened right here, in Baltimore. It was a sensation, and it changed history.

The first railroad in America was laid down right here. One can still ride the route of that first railroad. Trains depart daily from April through December. There's not a whole lot to see, but it's still a historic experience.

The old Roundhouse, where locomotives and rolling stock were once maintained, now houses some of the oldest ones in existence. The museum also has some nice model trains, and a collection of railroad memorabilia. This includes the First Stone, laid down on July 4, 1828, by Charles Carrollton--the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Trains fascinate us, so we've visited many museums to see these powerful machines of transport.

The Baltimore B&O Railroad Museum houses collections from the beginning of the Age of the Railroad to every phase of the industry as it developed. In fact, it is touted as having the finest collection of 19th century steam engines in the country. Anyone who loves trains will enjoy this museum!

Hours are Mon.-Fri. from 10 am-4 pm; Sat. 10 am-5 pm; Sun. 11 am-4 pm. The museum is closed on most holidays. Admission is $14 for adults; $12 for seniors; $8 for children 2-12; free for children under 2. **Train rides are included in the admission price on Tues.-Sun. from April-December. (May be cancelled in inclement weather)

The B&O Railroad Museum is one of the premire railroad museums in the country. It has an extensive collection of engine and railroad cars. It is a must for any railroad lover.

Fellow VT Member GrandmaR informed me that the roof to the B&O Museum collapsed during the harsh winter of 2003. It is uncertain when or if the museum will open again.

Today, the B&O Railroad Museum is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of American railroading through the history and legacy of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, the Western Maryland Railway, and the regional railroads of the mid-Atlantic.

In 1999, the B&O Railroad Museum joined the Smithsonian Institution's Affiliates Program becoming the first railroad museum and the first museum in Maryland to hold that distinction.