Chesapeake Beach railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Chesapeake Beach railway station
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Chesapeake Beach railway station, December 2008
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 Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Location | 8005 Bayside Rd., Chesapeake Beach, Maryland |
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| Built | 1898 |
| Architect | Mr. Winston |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001798 |
| Added to NRHP | September 11, 1980 |
The Chesapeake Beach railway station is a special old building in Chesapeake Beach, Maryland. It is located in Calvert County, Maryland, in the United States. This historic railway station was built a long time ago, in 1898.
The station has two main parts, both with a sloped roof style called a hip roof. One part was once an open area where passengers waited for trains. Later, this area was closed off and used for storage. Today, the station is a fun place to visit because it is a railway museum! It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, recognizing its importance.
Contents
The Station's Exciting History
Building a Dream Resort
The Chesapeake Beach railway station first opened as a stop on the Chesapeake Beach Railway. A man named Otto Mears had a big idea. He wanted to create a fantastic resort town right on the Chesapeake Bay. This new town would be a fun getaway between the big cities of Baltimore and Washington, D.C..
To make his dream come true, Mears and his friends built many exciting things. They created hotels, beautiful beaches, casinos, and a long boardwalk. These attractions were all designed to bring visitors to Chesapeake Beach.
The First Train Arrives
The railway was a huge part of this plan. It brought people directly to the new resort. On June 9, 1900, a very special day arrived. The very first train pulled into the Chesapeake Beach railway station! This was a big moment for the new town and its visitors.
End of an Era: Trains Stop Running
For many years, the station was a busy place. People came and went, enjoying the resort. However, things started to change about 35 years later. The Great Depression, a tough economic time, made it harder for people to travel. Also, more and more families started to own cars.
Cars made it easier for people to drive wherever they wanted. This meant fewer people needed to take the train. Because of these changes, the railway business slowed down a lot. The last train ever left the station on April 15, 1935.
Discover the Railway Museum
A New Life for the Station
Even though the trains stopped running, the station's story wasn't over. In 1979, Gerald and Fred Donovan gave the station building to the Calvert County Board of Commissioners. They wanted it to become a museum. This was a wonderful way to save the historic building.
What You Can See at the Museum
Today, the Calvert County Historical Society takes care of the museum. They make sure the building is maintained and that the exhibits are interesting. When you visit, you can explore many cool things!
The museum has old items, called artifacts, from the railway. You can see exhibits that tell the story of the Chesapeake Beach Railway. It also shares information about the local history of Chesapeake Beach. It's a great place to learn about how people traveled and lived long ago!
More to Explore
- Chesapeake Beach Railway
- Chesapeake Beach, Maryland
