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 train station! It's the oldest passenger railway station still standing in the United States, and one of the oldest anywhere. It was built way back in 1830. This station was the end of the line for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad coming from Baltimore. It was also a place to fix steam locomotives after their 13-mile (21 km) journey. Today, this amazing station is a National Historic Landmark and a fun museum.
Contents
What the Station Looks Like
The station was built in 1830. It sits at the end of a bridge called the Oliver Viaduct. The building is made from local stone, called Ellicott City Granodiorite. This stone came from quarries owned by the Ellicott family. They were the ones who started the town and its flour mill in 1772.
The station has two stories and is built right next to the viaduct. It has a pointed roof, called a gabled roof. On top of the roof is a small, decorative tower with windows, called a cupola. This cupola helped with air flow. The top floor of the station is level with the train tracks on the viaduct.
The Oliver Viaduct Bridge
The Oliver Viaduct was a big stone bridge. It was the second major stone bridge the railroad ever built. It stretched 123 feet (37 meters) long and had three arches, each 20 feet (6 meters) wide. In 1972, a big storm called Hurricane Agnes damaged the viaduct. But don't worry, it has been rebuilt since then!
How Trains Were Repaired
The station building was designed in a clever way. Train engines could be pulled onto the upper level. This allowed workers to fix them from below. In 1863, a large turntable was added. This 50-foot (15-meter) wide turntable helped turn locomotives around. The turntable was later covered up when the train line was extended. However, its strong granite foundations are still there today.
In 1885, the railroad also built a freight house next to the station. This building was designed by a person named E. Francis Baldwin.
A Look Back: Station 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.
Later in 1830, the B&O Railroad showed off its first steam engine, called the Tom Thumb. It even had a famous race against a horse at Ellicott's Mills! By 1832, the railroad started using these steam engines for passenger trains.
This station was the starting point of the original B&O railroad. The railroad was built to help Baltimore become a major center for trade. It also helped the city compete with its rival, Washington, D.C.. Washington 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 made it to Cumberland, Maryland. Finally, in 1852, the tracks reached Wheeling, West Virginia, on the Ohio River.
The B&O stopped offering passenger train service to Ellicott City in 1949. However, freight trains continued to use the line until 1972.
The Museum Today
Today, the Ellicott City Station is a fun place to visit! It's part of the Baltimore & Ohio Ellicott City Station Museum. From 2006 to 2017, the museum was run by the B&O Railroad Museum and Howard County. Since September 2017, Howard County's Department of Recreation & Parks has managed it. It's free to get in, but some special events and tours might have a small fee.
What You Can See at the Museum
The B&O Ellicott City Station Museum has lots to explore:
- The original 1831 freight station. This building used to be a car house. It was later changed into a passenger station. Now, it looks like it did back then, with waiting rooms, a ticket office, and offices for the freight agent.
- A large turntable built in 1863. This was used to turn engines around so they could go back to Baltimore.
- The newer freight station, built in 1885. This building was designed by Ephraim Francis Baldwin.
- A caboose from 1927. A caboose is the last car on a freight train.
Inside the 1885 freight house, you'll find an HO-gauge model train layout. This model shows the first 13 miles of train track from Baltimore to Ellicott Mills. Train videos are also shown on the wall. Other displays show cool items that explain the B&O Railroad's role in the American Civil War. During December, the car house also has a special holiday train display.
The museum also offers many activities. These include living history performances, reenactments, and guided tours for groups. They also have 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
