Ellicott City station facts for kids
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Baltimore and Ohio Ellicott City Station Museum
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Front of the station house in 2020
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 Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Location | Ellicott City, Maryland |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1830 |
| NRHP reference No. | 68000025 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 24, 1968 |
| Designated NHL | November 24, 1968 |
The Baltimore and Ohio Ellicott City Station Museum in Ellicott City, Maryland, is a super old and important place! It's the oldest passenger railway station still standing in the United States, and one of the oldest in the whole world.
This station was built way back in 1830. It was the end point for the first part of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad line, which ran from Baltimore to a town then called Ellicott's Mills. It also had a special area to fix steam locomotives after their 13-mile (21 km) trip. Today, this amazing station is a National Historic Landmark and works as a museum.
Contents
What the Station Looks Like
The station was built in 1830 using local stone from quarries owned by the Ellicott family. This family had started the town and its flour mill in 1772.
Building Design
The station is a two-story stone building. It's built right next to a large stone bridge called the Oliver Viaduct. The roof has a pointed shape (gable) and a small wooden tower (a cupola) on top for air. The upper floor of the station is at the same height as the train tracks on the viaduct.
The Oliver Viaduct
The Oliver Viaduct was the second big stone bridge built by the railroad. It was 123 feet (37 meters) long and had three arches, each 20 feet (6 meters) wide. A big storm called Hurricane Agnes damaged the viaduct in 1972, but it has since been rebuilt.
Engine Repair Area
The station building was designed so that train engines could be pulled onto the upper level. This allowed workers to fix them from below. In 1863, a large spinning platform called a turntable was added. It was 50 feet (15 meters) wide and helped turn locomotives around. The turntable was later covered up, but its original stone foundations are still there.
In 1885, the railroad also built a separate building next to the station for freight (goods). This building was designed by E. Francis Baldwin.
A Look Back at History
The very first train trip from Baltimore to Ellicott's Mills happened on May 22, 1830. Back then, horses pulled the rail cars! Regular passenger service started just two days later, on May 24.
The Famous Tom Thumb Race
Later in 1830, the B&O Railroad showed off its first steam locomotive, the Tom Thumb, at Ellicott's Mills. It was in a famous race against a horse! The railroad started using locomotives for passenger trains in 1832.
Why the Railroad Was Built
The Ellicott City station was the first stop on the original B&O railroad line. This railroad was built to help Baltimore become a major center for trade with inland areas. It also helped the city compete with its rival, Washington, D.C., which was building the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal at the time.
From Ellicott's Mills, the train tracks kept growing. They reached Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, in 1834. By 1842, they reached Cumberland, Maryland, and by 1852, they made it all the way to Wheeling, West Virginia, on the Ohio River.
Passenger train service from Baltimore to Ellicott City stopped in 1949. However, freight trains continued to use the line until 1972.
The Museum Today
Today, the Ellicott City Station is part of the Baltimore & Ohio Ellicott City Station Museum. From 2006 to 2017, the B&O Railroad Museum helped Howard County run it. Since September 2017, Howard County's Department of Recreation & Parks has managed the museum. It's free to visit, but some special events and tours might have a fee.
What You Can See at the Museum
The B&O Ellicott City Station Museum includes:
- The original freight station from 1831, which later became the passenger station. Inside, you can see waiting rooms, a ticket and telegraph office, and rooms where the freight agent lived and worked.
- The turntable, built in 1863, which was used to turn engines around.
- The newer freight station, built in 1885, designed by Ephraim Francis Baldwin.
- A caboose (the last car on a freight train) from 1927.
Inside the 1885 freight house, there's a cool HO-gauge model train layout. It shows the first 13 miles of the train track from Baltimore to Ellicott Mills. Train videos are also shown on the wall behind it. Other exhibits show items and stories about the B&O Railroad's role in the American Civil War. In December, the car house also has a special holiday train display.
The museum also offers fun activities like:
- Living history events with people dressed in old costumes.
- Reenactments of historical moments.
- Guided tours for groups.
- Visiting exhibits.
- Educational programs and special events for school groups, families, and adults.
See also
- List of Howard County properties in the Maryland Historical Trust
- Old Main Line Subdivision
- Trolley Line Number 9 Trail
- List of National Historic Landmarks in Maryland
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Howard County, Maryland
