The museum sits on the exact site of the first commercial railroad depot in the United States.
The Roundhouse's central turntable is still operational and used to rotate historic locomotives for display.
The collection includes the 'Tom Thumb,' the first American-built steam locomotive used on a common-carrier railroad.
It holds the largest collection of 19th-century locomotives globally.
The museum's grounds were designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961.
A portion of the museum property was once an enslaved labor site, which is currently documented and memorialized.
The Mount Clare Station, located on-site, predates the establishment of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad company itself as a functional transport hub.
The B&O Railroad Museum is widely considered the birthplace of American railroading, situated on the site where the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad began operations in 1830. The museum houses one of the most comprehensive collections of 19th-century locomotives and rolling stock in the world. Its centerpiece is the 1884 Roundhouse, designed by E. Francis Baldwin, which features a massive 22-sided architectural structure for locomotive maintenance. The campus covers 40 acres and includes the original Mount Clare Station, the oldest railroad station in America. Visitors can engage with interactive exhibits and ride a historic Mile One Express train along the original track line. The collection encompasses over 250 pieces of equipment, including rare steam engines and iconic diesel locomotives. It serves as an active educational center focusing on the technological evolution of the American transport industry.
The center of the 1884 Roundhouse looking up toward the skylight and rotating turntable.
Check the museum's calendar in advance to see if the Mile One Express train is running on the day of your visit.
Wear comfortable, closed-toe walking shoes, as the 40-acre campus requires significant walking on gravel and concrete paths.
Take advantage of the docent-led tours, as many staff members are retired railroad workers with deep technical knowledge.
Do not skip the outdoor display area in favor of just the Roundhouse; much of the heavy machinery is located in the yard.
Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
No climbing on the historic equipment unless specifically permitted in designated interactive areas.
