B&O Railroad Museum
Baltimore, United States
B&O Railroad Museum
The B&O Railroad Museum is a museum exhibiting historic railroad equipment in Baltimore, Maryland. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) company originally opened the museum on July 4, 1953 with the name of the Baltimore & Ohio Transportation Museum. It has been called one of the most significant collections of railroad treasures in the world and has the largest collection of 19th-century locomotives in the U.S. The museum is located in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad's old Mount Clare Station and adjacent roundhouse, and retains 40 acres of the B&O's sprawling Mount Clare Shops site, which is where, in 1829, the B&O began America's first railroad and is the oldest railroad manufacturing complex in the United States.
Mount Clare is considered to be a birthplace of American railroading, as the site of the first regular railroad passenger service in the U.S., beginning on May 22, 1830. It was also to this site that the first telegraph message, "What hath God wrought?" was sent on May 24, 1844, from Washington, D.C., using Samuel F. B. Morse's electric telegraph.
Accommodations near B&O Railroad Museum
Rachael's Dowry Bed and Breakfast
see price.
Nearby Tours & Activities
Opening times
| Monday | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Thursday | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Friday | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Saturday | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Sunday | 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
Guests' reviews
One of my favorite childhood places and an all around excellent museum. Love the feeling of nostalgia I get when walking through these doors. Beautiful museum, kind energy & wooden whistles that sound like a train when you blow on them as a souvenir! Great time for more attentive kids but fun for all. 🚂
The place has a lot going for it, but a few things missing. Definitely bring your own food; their frier is pretty much the only method of cooking at their pathetic cafe. They use old commuter cars to demo the first mile of rail around, which is cool, but easy to miss. The train collections have a few very large pieces that show how much power is in steam trains, and a few unique elements of history. For the toddlers, the play area is fairly large with lots of toys, at least for when there aren't a lot of toddlers (kids that small are just learning to share). We visited on a day they were demonstrating the turntable in the roundhouse. That was something to see: a single person rotating a whole train car by manpower!
This is a lot more fun and interesting than one may expect when making plans. We've gone a couple of times with the sun if engaging the kids. However, I think the adults in the group enjoy it even more. Insightful historical information, cool trains you can climb in and a playground outside all await. Free parking!
Brought the kiddos here since it was free in February with our zoo membership. It was really cool. Lots of interactive areas and places to explore. There are multiple trains you can go inside. The outside looks nice too, but it was cold and rainy so we didn't go out there. My kids also loved the indoor merry go round. I enjoyed my self alot here and would consider taking out of town guests here.
More expensive than I thought it would be. The inside cars are fascinating, and come with much information so you can understand what they did and how they worked. Segregated cars were noted and you could see the difference in upholstery and even lighting. Interactive exhibits in other cars. The model trains were set up great. Outside you got to walk in some of the old cars and there were additional exhibits, and finally in the big building many locomotives spanning over a hundred plus years.
Very clean and well cared for train museum. Our group felt safe and comfortable on the property. Wonderful display of engines and cars, lots of history. Kids were very engaged. Wish the price was reduced a bit during the off-season, we did not get a train ride (mid March). Would definitely go back, a fun experience and learned a lot.
Well worth the money. The round house has a lot of locomotives to check out. The model train display is also very cool. It is of the city of Baltimore. We took a free tour and were able to learn a lot of fun details.
My 3 year old LOVES this place. Lots of large trains kids can see, walk around in, and touch. There are also play areas inside and outside for kids. It's fantastic.
I love this place. My grandson is currently into trains and he enjoys himself each time we go. I bought a membership for two people (which happens to be a tax deductible donation!), and includes two months to the zoo for free! They have events every month to keep it interesting, and last Friday we rode Thomas the train. It's an enjoyable place to go with a little person. The parking is both ample and free. There is an outdoor playground, and they offer food for sale. You can even hold a birthday party or event there.
We were there for the whole day on Saturday, so 10-4, and still wished that we had more time there. It was a great time, with super informative volunteers in the North Car Repair Shop and the Conductor in First Class on the train ride. Every member of the staff we encountered was friendly. The park was clean, the displays well organized, and a wonderful variety of train cars and memorabilia, and equipment on display. The signs were well thought out and very informative. A beautiful display and buildings. Great job!
An amazing collection of old and very well-preserved steam trains dating as far back as 1830s. Ridiculously awesome famous trains in the Card Shop: the Hudson 490, and an Allegheny you can actually climb in. Kids' area with train tables. Beautiful setting in an old roundhouse. Train ride of appropriate length for easily bored children.
A must for train enthusiasts. Less interesting since limited hands-on for those who are not spell bound by train engines. Incredible number of well perserved engines. Lots to look at and basic information about each one. Unfortunately only a few are open to explore. Not a lot of activities for smaller children. A must for train enthusiasts. The train ride is pretty short and doesn't go anywhere interesting.
We went for the Tommy the Train trip. That was disappointing. I am a big time Smithsonian supporter, but a 20 minute train ride after a 40 minute standing in line waiting scene doesn't work for me... Especially with a 2 year old and 1 year old in tow. The balance of the museum is excellent. Do the museum... Skip Tommy.... The kids who are into the Tommy characters series will get nothing from the "ride".... They can see Tommy and some of his "friends" parked at the station and get just as much joy without all the cramming in line and waiting... The train trip is a2. The museum is a 5+
Beautiful museum. We have gone several times for their polar express and ride with Thomas. My kids love it and there is so much to do. They have many old trains for the kids to explore as well as a kids section. They always have different events going on. If you love trains this place is a must see!
Incredible! Huge collection of rail stock. Plenty of other lines as well as B&O, with wonderful pieces from the history of railways. Beautiful HO layout with multiple finely detailed working scenes with railyard, town, farms, all represented in a rail car! Outside was a c.+50' square layout with 4 or 5 engines and cars moving past water features, tunnels, hills and detailed buildings. They have several Mikado engines, the heaviest, longest ever. The guides love and know their stock, reeling off facts and statistics. Also, totally ready for birthday parties, any age! Yes. It's good!
I like it better in the spring. During the January-February time frame it felt neglected/overused (specifically the kids play area) and this is when we came the most in search for indoor activities. Also, there is a lot more to the museum than the main area with the turn table and my three years old loves these other places, too. The train ride is fun for the kids but the cars feel very dated (to adults at least). My son is in the 'all-about-trains' stage, so we will keep our membership at least one more year. It is well worth the money.
Beautiful museum, and super kid-friendly! We attended a birthday party today and were really impressed with everything. There’s a kids playground outside, small carousel ride, and large indoor section that’s just for little kids. They really thought out the kids area- there are train tables, Legos, a coloring area, a well-stocked bookshelf, mini train house, and more. My children played happily there, and we would have stayed longer except it was just so darn hot. We will return when it’s cold outside. The birthday party included a train ride that the kids loved. Great experience. The bathrooms in the main building had a chair and changing table outside of the handicap stall, and a step stool by the sink. So kid friendly!!
Worth the trip , especially if you love trains and/or history. Lots of unique information about the importance of trains throughout the growth of our country and even WWI and WWII. Don't be shy about talking to the volunteers there, they carry their own wealth of knowledge. We went as a party of 3 adults and spent the better part (or more) of 3hours.
