For railroad fans living in Maryland like me, Ellicott City is best known for the oldest train station still existing in the United States. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad completed its first thirteen miles from Baltimore to Ellicott City (formerly Ellicott’s Mills) by 1831. The station is no longer in revenue service but it is operated today as a museum, which covers the essential history of America's first major railroad offering both passenger and freight services at that location. We attempted to visit the museum on my 23rd birthday in 2019 but it wasn't open at that time. However, we had our second chance two years later and made it to this special attraction on August 13, 2021.

​

The old station features several rooms in two floors: the freight agent’s living quarters, the Provost Marshal's Office, the telegraph/ticket office, a waiting room, and a car house. Another building next to the passenger station is the freight house, where an HO scale train layout is located and replicates the B&O Railroad's first thirteen miles. Lastly, the museum includes a well-preserved red caboose, numbered C-2149. While this historically educational attraction was a fun place to visit, I've always wanted to talk with a railroad fan whose purpose for going there is for the love of trains. I did find at least one gentleman who formerly worked for the rail industry, which was a good reason behind his visit. The vintage Ellicott City station is an excellent point of interest that's not far away from my home, and it's even thirteen miles closer to us than the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Museum, which has been affiliated with this ancient building for quite a long time.
 

Click here for more information about the Ellicott City Station Museum.