Baltimore & Ohio Ellicott City Station Museum

05/29/2026

Local artist Wiley Purkey will be hard at work this weekend applying stencils and painting new decals on Caboose C-2149 following its recent repainting.

Stop by the Ellicott City Station Museum to watch him in action and see the restoration progress up close! (We are open 10am-5pm on Saturdays and Sundays.)

05/24/2026

🚂On May 24, 1830, the first 13 miles of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad opened for public passenger travel, marking the beginning of regular railroad service in the United States.🚂
The journey between Baltimore and Ellicott’s Mills was made aboard horse-drawn railcars. Passengers paid 75 cents for the 26-mile round trip, and the new mode of transportation quickly proved more comfortable and efficient than traveling by stagecoach.
Baltimore residents eagerly embraced the novelty of rail travel, creating such high demand that the B&O struggled to build enough passenger cars to accommodate riders until late June 1830. During its first year of operation, the railroad earned $14,711, with passenger revenue greatly exceeding freight income.

05/23/2026

Our Caboose C-2149 is looking better than ever after a thorough cleaning and fresh coat of paint. A huge thank you to the team at Sunshine Painting Inc. for the outstanding work restoring our caboose.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be adding the B&O logo and caboose number to complete the restoration. With its 100th birthday coming up in 2027, Caboose C-2149 will look as good as new and ready to celebrate a century of history.

05/22/2026

A reporter from WBFF FOX 45 visited the historic Ellicott City Station Museum for a segment to commemorate America's 250th anniversary.

Trains connected America and helped turn the nation into a global superpower, thanks to the trains ability to move goods. But what about moving people?

Watch the full segment in the attached link.

Trains connected America and helped turn the nation into a global superpower, thanks to the trains ability to move goods. But what about moving people?Alex vis

05/14/2026

🚂Join us on Thursday, May 21 at 7:00 PM for a special history presentation: The American Railroad Revolution.

✅Discover how railroads reshaped the course of American history at the B&O Ellicott City Station. This presentation explores how the railroad ignited a transportation revolution that played a vital role in building the United States as we know it today.

👉This presentation is Free, but registration is required:
https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/howardcounty/activity/search/detail/160730?onlineSiteId=0&utm_id=97758_v0_s00_e0_tv2_a1demo0jfjd9rf&from_original_cui=true&fbclid=IwY2xjawRtg75leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF0OWRoYndpaWFsOEhzSnhGc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHng56MshCERX31dW_xOA1I6na1bMP99R8EUoRocPr2hHKn25jH_Rmq8aiwVb_aem_OO15FQ3fQVZIOPnqsxXbAw

05/13/2026

Looking for something fun to do this weekend? Join us Saturday, May 16 for a special HoCo250 Open House Day and explore 13 historic locations across Old Ellicott City.

Spend the day discovering local landmarks, uncovering hidden stories, and celebrating the rich history that shaped our community.
This includes:
B&O Ellicott City Station Museum
Capitoline Center
Ellicott City Colored School Museum
Firehouse Museum
Inn at Mt. Ida
Log House

Each stop offers a unique glimpse into the past—so grab your friends, plan your route, and make a day of it!

Free and open to all. History has never felt so close to home. For hours of operation: www.howardcountymd.gov/facilities

05/13/2026

🚂 Please note: The Ellicott City Station Museum’s caboose will be temporarily closed beginning Wednesday, May 13 as it undergoes maintenance and repainting. The rest of the museum will remain open.

We appreciate your patience and look forward to welcoming visitors back to the caboose once the work is completed.

05/11/2026

On May 10, 1861, Union forces captured the infamous Winans Steam Gun at Ellicott's Mills. Named for Ross Winans, a prominent B&O inventor and industrialist who stored the weapon, the gun was a prototype steam-powered, centrifugal machine gun.

It had been designed by Confederate sympathizer Charles Dickson.
Confederate supporters tried to transport the experimental weapon along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, aiming to deliver it to Confederate-held territory. However, the Union Army intercepted the effort near Ellicott’s Mills. After seizing the gun, Union troops moved it to their encampment at Relay, Maryland.

Pictured: Replica of the Winans Steam Gun, built in 1961 for the 100th anniversary of the Civil War, in Elkridge.

05/07/2026

🚂Join us on Thursday, May 21 at 7:00 PM for a special history presentation: The American Railroad Revolution.

✅Discover how railroads reshaped the course of American history at the B&O Ellicott City Station. This presentation explores how the railroad ignited a transportation revolution that played a vital role in building the United States as we know it today.

👉This presentation is Free, but registration is required: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/howardcounty/activity/search/detail/160730?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true

05/02/2026

The Ellicott City Station Museum, which first opened as a museum in August 1976, is celebrating its 50th Anniversary. To commemorate the occasion, we’re excited to introduce a new T-shirt that features our special anniversary logo. Stop by the museum gift shop to pick one up, available exclusively in white for just $15! Visit us this weekend from 10am-5pm on Saturday and Sunday.

05/01/2026

Ellicott City's historic sites are open to visit this weekend. The Ellicott City Firehouse Museum, the Ellicott City Colored School Museum, and the Ellicott City Log Home will be open from 1-4pm Saturday and Sunday.

Please note that the Patapsco Female Institute Historic Park remains closed until further notice due to ongoing restoration work.

Visitation to our historic sites is free. Be sure to also stop by the B&O Ellicott City Station Museum, which is open from 10am-5pm this weekend . For more info: www.howardcountymd.gov/facilities (and scroll to Historic Sites).