B&O Ellicott City Station Museum image

B&O Ellicott City Station Museum

Tourist attraction Museum Rail museum

One of the Best Places To Visits in Ilchester


Address

3711 Maryland Ave, Ellicott City, MD 21043

Website

www.howardcountymd.gov

Contact

(410) 313-1945

Rating on Google Maps

4.60 (382 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Sunday: 10 AM to 5 PM
  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday: Closed
  • Wednesday: 10 AM to 3 PM
  • Thursday: 10 AM to 3 PM
  • Friday: 10 AM to 5 PM
  • Saturday: 10 AM to 5 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: museum (44) train (37) history (24) model (18) station (17) Ellicott (17) City (15) visit (14) time (13) free (11)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Angélica Montoya �. 1 year ago on Google • 52 reviews
    FREE, HIDDEN GEM! Most people drive by this museum or miss key parts while visiting, so I'll give some pointers: 1. There's nice gift shop with souvenirs and gifts for people of any age (located at the entrance of the museum.) 2. The second floor has three big exhibition rooms showing the history of the station AND a door that opens to the outside exhibits. 3. There's an amazing 40ft long scale model of the Baltimore - Ohio railroad in the Freight House (the building you'll see after exiting the second floor exhibits.) The train track model was built in the seventies to represent in detail the first 13 miles of railroad in the US. 4. The Caboose is open to the public and its story can be heard by pressing a button. 5. Guided tours are usually offered on Saturdays (~2pm.) I'd recommend this museum to anybody who's interested in history or trains/machines. Young kids like looking at the train model and playing pretend in the caboose. You can have a fun, memorable experience in this museum.
    11 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Amanda D. 1 year ago on Google • 101 reviews
    Finally got a chance to stop by, and enjoyed learning the history of Ellicott City as a train stop back in the day! I like how some of the rooms are set up to look the way they did when it was a functioning station. Nice little gift shop too. Thanks for a lovely visit!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Elissa H. 1 year ago on Google • 43 reviews
    BLUF: I recommend, especially during Christmas! My family and I came here to see the Christmas Lego display and it was AMAZING! There was a scavenger hunt kids and adults could do which took you to all the buildings to find the specific items. My son and husband had a wonderful time looking for the items. For anyone looking for a homeschool field trip, this is a great place. It's free and filled with pictures and informative signs. The museum is on two streets, one is the main Rd and the other is a side street with parking spots on the side of the road. I'd recommend getting there early to catch a parking spot otherwise you'll need to do a 3-point turn to go back. Bottom Line: I recommend!
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Anna H. 1 year ago on Google
    This small museum is a gem of local history, which I find fascinating. I really enjoyed my visit here. It's free so there's no reason not to visit here if you have 20-30 minutes to spare while in OEC. The highlights for me were the telegraph key that you can click, the model trains display, the caboose, and the original bell.
    6 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Shawn S. 1 year ago on Google • 55 reviews
    My crew and I recently held a bubble hockey event, The Old Ellicott Cup, at B&O and have nothing but amazing things to say about the venue. First, the museum itself is top-class. There is not an inch of this place that you should breeze past - there's history around every single corner. The staff were so welcoming from the very first time I walked in the door in June, until the final time we walked out the door with our equipment last Saturday night/Sunday morning. They saw themselves as an extension of our event and did everything that they could to make sure things were going smoothly and to our liking. They even remarked at how well things were going for our crew as well. In all, the museum is awesome, but the people at B&O are what make this worthy of a 5* review. I can't wait to come back again and not have to work!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Abi M. 2 years ago on Google
    Like going on a time travel into the past to visit the oldest train station in America. Well maintained and staff are knowledgeable and informative. Highly recommend!
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Nadine O. 1 year ago on Google • 28 reviews
    Great train museum. Great history. They are the oldest train station still around in the U.S. They have a model railway display. There were people around to give information and history. It's free to enter. They have a great gift shop. It is so well done and so well staffed I would say it's worth a donation or ay least picking up something from the gift shop.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Core S. 3 years ago on Google
    Went to visit, amazing self-tour, their is a life-size caboose which you can go in, great informative signs, a big theater with a model of the first 13 miles of the railroad from the start in Baltimore to the Ellicott city station. There is also a museum main building with many thins to see including a model of rooms that existed back when the station was operational, I would 100% recommend to visit. (They have a gift shop too)
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Cathy K. 6 years ago on Google
    This is such a fun little historic museum. I've enjoyed multiple visits. They host many events, my favorite being the Lego display around Christmas. There's a real caboose you can walk inside and a cool model display of the town from Ellicott to the Baltimore station. It's a fun educational stop for the kids and the family. Definitely worth a look.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Allison S. 2 years ago on Google
    The holiday trains are beautiful! It was fun to look at them, but there isn't much for young kids to do unless you sign up for story time. We spent about 15 minutes here. It was fun to walk downtown afterwards and see the window train displays, and stop in EC pops for popcorn and toys!
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Rose C. 1 year ago on Google
    Very interesting place to visit for all ages! Beautiful train delay showing B&O railroad station between Ellicott City and Baltimore! Tipping my railroad hat to those at this museum! 🚂
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Nick J. 1 year ago on Google
    Great museum and history here. Enjoyed the displays, walking through the caboose, and the train display too.
    3 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Christopher I. 5 years ago on Google
    Definitely worth the visit. I do not know when they will be open again (because of the flooding). There is also a model railroad here with a pretty good model of what Elliott City used to look like.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jose R. 2 months ago on Google • 32 reviews New
    Very cool piece of history here. Cool for adults and my 4 year old really enjoyed the toy train engines and real life train which you can tour. Added benefit of having plentiful free parking too.

  • 5/5 3E E. 1 year ago on Google
    A fantastic documentation of the location and the the history of the building and it's purpose. Plenty of artifacts.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Rudy M. 2 years ago on Google
    Nice museum and amazing set up that shows everything and the rail system. Daughter loved the location and a nice little gift shop as well.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Kate H. 6 years ago on Google
    Spectacular museum with great exhibits for train lovers. Visiting during the holiday season is especially charming because of the holiday train gardens. Now that the museum has 100% free admission, I figure we'll be spending quite a bit more time exploring.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Chris B. 9 months ago on Google • 26 reviews
    It was a fun place to learn about the history of the B&O railway. There is a model train display, and 🎬 to watch in the building on the upper level. Its free, and they have a nice giftshop and restrooms in the museum.

  • 5/5 Larry J R. 4 years ago on Google
    A real piece of history

  • 4/5 Deborah M. 4 years ago on Google
    We enjoy visiting the museum, but there's not much to hold the attention of kids who don't love trains. I enjoy the history that is shared. The train gardens over the holidays were basic, but fun to see (especially for little ones). We look forward to the caboose being restored, as that has been my kids' favorite place in the museum.

  • 4/5 Douglas M. 4 years ago on Google
    Interesting site. Very historic with articles from the Civil War. An interesting look at living in the nineteenth century.

  • 5/5 AJM 4 years ago on Google
    Great food & friendly staff.

  • 4/5 Richard H. 4 years ago on Google
    Great museum to learn about early railroading

  • 4/5 Gabriela P. 4 years ago on Google
    Small but fun to see how the railroad and the workers at that time lived.

  • 5/5 Leia M. 4 years ago on Google
    The displays are well done and it was really cool to see.

  • 5/5 Diane S. 4 years ago on Google
    The first rail station in the U.S. The first train traveled from Baltimore to Ellicott (Mills) City. The station shows what life was like back then, the living quarters, the mail and telegraph office, the areas where train cars were worked on - it's all here! And don't forget the holiday train garden coming in December!

  • 5/5 Tara N. 4 years ago on Google
    Very interesting tourist stop.

  • 5/5 Rick Lovato 4. 4 years ago on Google
    I Loved It

  • 5/5 Ameya A. 4 years ago on Google
    Beautiful small place.

  • 5/5 Glenn L. 1 year ago on Google
    Pretty extensive museum for something that is free! I've driven by this place hundreds of times and decided to stop in today. Very entertaining way to spend about 1.5 - 2 hours in EC. It helps if you have a general interest in the history of the area, but it is not absolutely necessary to have good time.

  • 5/5 Frank Janezic Your Ford S. 4 years ago on Google
    Great learning experience for all!

  • 5/5 preservefootprints 1 year ago on Google
    B&O Ellicott City Station Museum We’re there on Old Ellicott City tree lighting and #midnightmadness shopping and found hidden gem of #lego when we checked this museum. We got lost track of time watching these wonderful details setup, all are so well prepared and designed. Thank you @ 📍3711 Maryland Ave, Ellicott City MD 21043 ⏰ M-T closed, W-T 10am-3pm, F-S 10am-5pm 💰FREE 🏪 museum gift shop has so many interesting toys and activities related to train. ♿️ inside the store a lil tight, but there’s an outdoor access on the side to go to train cabins on at the back of the museum. 🚾 indoor inside the museum, it’s accessible 🅿️ parking spots along the museum building and streets parking B&O Ellicott City Station Museum We’re there on Old Ellicott City tree lighting and #midnightmadness shopping and found hidden gem of #lego when we checked this museum. We got lost track of time watching these wonderful details setup, all are so well prepared and designed. Thank you @ 📍3711 Maryland Ave, Ellicott City MD 21043 ⏰ M-T closed, W-T 10am-3pm, F-S 10am-5pm 💰FREE 🏪 museum gift shop has so many interesting toys and activities related to train. ♿️ inside the store a lil tight, but there’s an outdoor access on the side to go to train cabins on at the back of the museum. 🚾 indoor inside the museum, it’s accessible 🅿️ parking spots along the museum building and streets parking #botrainmuseum #boellicottcitystationmuseum #holidaytraingarden #ellicottcitytrainstation #ellicottcitylights #ellicottcitymd #visitoldellicottcity #visitoec #visithocomd #hocomom #momsofinstagram #marylandactivities #outdooractivities #exploremd #exploredmv #enjoyexploring #maryland #marylandplaygrounds #visitmaryland #visitmd #igmd #mdphotography #maryland #marylandphotography #theprettycities #wonderful_places #livelittlethings #inspiremyinstagram #preservefootprints #shotoniphone13promax

  • 5/5 Michael P. 5 months ago on Google
    It's a small museum but packed with fun and interesting displays. It's a great learning opportunity for old and young alike. The model train display is awesome. Loved the caboose. It's worth seeing

  • 4/5 Ma T. 1 month ago on Google • 10 reviews New
    The B&O Ellicott City Station Museum offers a wonderful opportunity to immerse oneself in American history, appealing to both young visitors and adults with a passion for the past. I also highly recommend a visit to the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore to gain a comprehensive understanding of the pivotal role railroads played in shaping the nation. In today's world, where information is easily exchanged electronically, we often overlook the effort and care people once put into handling information. However, a visit to this museum provides a fresh perspective, reminding us of the meticulousness and dedication with which information was managed in the past. Furthermore, exploring this museum offers the added delight of discovering numerous cafes, restaurants, and locally-owned shops in the historic neighborhood. It's a delightful experience to wander through these charming streets, especially during the spring and summer when the surroundings are at their most picturesque.

  • 5/5 Charles S. 4 years ago on Google
    If like trains and American history, the B&O Station Museum in Ellicott City is a MUST see. Different programs throughout the year, PLUS the big Christmas model train display over the holidays. And afterwards you can spend the rest of the day exploring the shops and restaurants in town. A great way to spend a day!

  • 5/5 Jonathan E. 3 years ago on Google
    The tour guide is the best and it was free entry

  • 5/5 Jennifer G. 4 years ago on Google
    I had no idea this place existed. We met friends for lunch in Ellicott City and just happened on this small museum. It's free, but I'd pay $10 for it. I think it's the only intact 1800s era railway station left in the US. You can see the station master's quarters and the ladies' waiting lounge (separate from the men's). There's a telegraph that you can try out, a bell to ring on the platform and a large model train set. Fun for all!

  • 5/5 The Happy Trees H. 3 years ago on Google
    Fun little museum, learn something new every time I visit!

  • 5/5 Ruth C. 6 years ago on Google
    The LEGO train display was fantastic. It’s a small museum, but the free admission got us in the door. Then we got to explore downtown Ellicott City too! My kids loved the chance to explore the train car as well.

  • 4/5 Sean M. 5 years ago on Google
    Small but very good museum. Great exhibits and a beautiful location. It is open again after the floods!

  • 3/5 Dennis T. 5 years ago on Google
    My son who is a little nutty about trains loved this place. It was nice to see the history of the city and the railroad.

  • 5/5 Randy G. 4 years ago on Google
    Super neat place! Tons of history! You can make it a day trip and explore Ellicott City

  • 5/5 Jason B. 3 years ago on Google
    Enjoyed our visit. Lots of artifacts and exhibits. The model town was realistic and complex! Great first stop to the town.

  • 5/5 Chris E. 3 years ago on Google
    I brought my two young kids with me and they were more than entertained and engaged. Extremely friendly staff! Andy, who was in charge of the model train building, was very welcoming and knowledgeable in the history of the rail line. It’s a smaller museum in comparison to its big sister in Baltimore, but it contains just as much history and definitely holds its own.

  • 5/5 Andrew C. 3 years ago on Google
    Free admission and doesn't take long to go through.

  • 5/5 Joseph G. 3 years ago on Google
    This is where MOOP hangs out lol

  • 5/5 Scott W. 3 years ago on Google
    Very cool old train station! Free and worth the tour!!

  • 3/5 Karen M. 4 years ago on Google
    Great food but the staff does not take care of the customer properly

  • 4/5 Felicia L. 4 years ago on Google
    Thestaff is friendly and you cam take your time touring the station.

  • 4/5 Frank A. 4 years ago on Google
    the museum itself was pretty nice. It was better than I expected. The train garden there was really nice and very detailed. The biggest thing I didn't like was their lack of trains. It's definitely worth a visit but the B&O Museum in Baltimore is a whole lot better.

  • 4/5 Rose D. 4 years ago on Google
    Museum was very entertaining

  • 4/5 Ken D. 4 years ago on Google
    Great model train layout

  • 5/5 Michael G. 4 years ago on Google
    This is a great little museum! The first train station in the country and a ton of history about the founding of the B&O railroad. They also have an impressive model train layout in the Freight house.

  • 5/5 Joanna B. 4 years ago on Google
    What a cute little stop. We just happened to check it out on the last day of the train holiday displays. Some great history to learn about inside. Quant little location.

  • 5/5 Tiit L. 4 years ago on Google
    (Translated by Google) History :) (Original) Ajalugu :)

  • 4/5 venkata k. 4 years ago on Google
    Kids will love this place

  • 5/5 Michael M. 4 years ago on Google
    Great little museum. Volunteers are friendly and knowledgeable. Have learned a lot about OEC and train station.

  • 5/5 Ramnath M. 4 years ago on Google
    A wonderful museum. Thoroughly enjoyed the train sets.

  • 5/5 Evan 4 years ago on Google
    Neat displays in the oldest surviving station in the country! Totally free, so no reason not to stop by if you're in EC and interested in history at all

  • 5/5 Catherine D. 4 years ago on Google
    Interesting information and adorable museum space.

  • 5/5 Mary T. 4 years ago on Google
    Wonderful piece if history.

  • 5/5 Syed M. 4 years ago on Google
    It's not a super fancy museums, but for a person who is a buff for 1800s charm this is a fun little place to go through.

  • 5/5 Crystal W. 4 years ago on Google
    Absolutely adorable.

  • 3/5 desean w. 4 years ago on Google
    Good place to visit

  • 5/5 Beth C. 4 years ago on Google
    Took a group of 15 development delayed adults here y I day and had a GREAT time. Staff were excellent!

  • 5/5 Kishore B. 5 years ago on Google
    That's a good experience I have here to know about how the railways worked in earlier generation. The setup of toy trains and miniature is awesome. The old train coach and ticket teller counter reminds you the old movies. You can wrap everything in 1 hr. It's just located at the bank of the floating patalalo river.


Call (410) 313-1945 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible parking lot

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