B&O Railroad Station

History: The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which extended from Baltimore to Ellicott's Mills, was one of the first in the country, constructed in 1830 of wooden rails that carried horse-drawn cars. This station was built the year after, and soon steel rails replaced the wooden ones. The line became strategically important to the Union war effort in 1861, and the local Patapsco Guard was among the Federal troops that guarded the road. Supplies en route to the armies passed the station day and night. After the battles of Antietam and Gettysburg, prisoners were held here pending parole or transfer to prison camps.

More to Explore: You don't have to be a train enthusiast to appreciate the oldest surviving railroad station in the US, and the original terminus of the first 13 miles of commercial railroad in the country. The B&O Railroad Museum, located at Ellicott City Station, has historically significant railroad buildings and structures that have been preserved as part of their collection. Housed in the freight house is a 40-foot model train layout showing the original thirteen miles of commercial rail track in the U.S., stretching from Baltimore to Ellicott Mills. The operating layout features an introductory video and light show. Outside, a caboose car is a favorite place for children to visit.
Downtown Ellicott City is full of charming shops, eclectic eateries and historic sites. Its lovely stone buildings that line winding streets and a stream valley are reminiscent of the Old World and perfect for an afternoon excursion.

Photo Credits:

1. “Railroad Station at Ellicott City, Maryland.” Courtesy of Library of Congress.
2. “Ellicott’s Mills Station from Baltimore County side of Patapsco River, circa 1858.” Courtesy of Ellicott City B&O Railroad Station Museum.
3. “1876 B&O.”
4. “B&O Railroad Station Museum.” Photo Courtesy of EllicottCity.net.