B&O Railroad Museum

06/06/2026

I scream, you scream, we all scream for Ice Cream Sundays! Enjoy a delicious ice cream on our Mile One Express tomorrow, June 7, at the B&O Railroad Museum. Make some extra sweet memories this summer.

06/05/2026

This month’s Restoration Roundup focuses on our most recent completed restoration project, the B&O No. 3316 “Washington” Observation Tavern Car. Listen as the Project Manager for our Restoration Shop, Jamie Partridge, explains how he goes about casting a lens for the vestibule of the 3316.

06/04/2026

Merci from MD! 🇫🇷🦀

The PLM No. J5712, also known as the Maryland Merci (Gratitude) Car, is a symbol of the friendship between the United States and France during WWI and WWII. In 1947, American radio newsman and journalist, Drew Pearson, started the “American Friendship Train”. The American Friendship Train was an initiative created to raise money and gather supplies to aid those impacted by war in France and Italy.

The initiative was a success as 54 US railroads helped gather the 700 freight cars needed to hold the supplies donated to the American Friendship Train. In 1949, France sent their own “Merci Train” to the United States as a thank you. This effort was organized by Andre Picard, a French veteran and a railroad worker. The Merci Train had 49 cars (48 for each existing state and one for Washington D.C. and the Territory of Hawaii) and carried gifts like clothes, thank you letters, and medals. The President of France even donated several vases to the cause.

The Maryland Merci (Gratitude) car was built in 1915 for the Paris, Lyon, and Mediterranean Railway (PLM). This car was a “40 and 8” boxcar, used during WWI to transport French soldiers and supplies. They were called “40 and 8s” because they were supposedly designed to carry up to 40 men or 8 horses. Each shield on the car was supposed to represent a province of France. The car arrived in Baltimore, MD with 37 cases of gifts for Maryland, including a letter from Benjamin Franklin to naval officer John Paul Jones. These items have since then gone to other museums, schools, and historical societies, but were first displayed at Enoch Pratt Library. The Maryland Merci Car is the only car from the Merci Train that is unrestored and resembles its original condition.

06/04/2026

06/03/2026

Only a few more days until our Sensory Sunday at the B&O! Sensory Sundays are dedicated to our visitors with sensory sensitivities. Plus, visitors can enjoy a special tour, craft, train ride, and on-site vendors. June 7’s train ride is going to be extra special, because there will also be FREE ice cream on the train for guests to enjoy! To learn more, check out the link below:

https://www.borail.org/events/sensory-sundays/

06/02/2026

Consider your 4th of July plans made! 🇺🇸 Celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the United States at the Birthplace of American Railroading. 🚂 Join us for a special B&O Unlocked tour all about the American Freedom Train No. 1 Engine (and take a photo inside to commemorate the day).

And don’t leave those cowboy boots at home because the Baltimore H***y Tonk is coming back to the Museum to host a two-stepping class with live music from the Talbot Mayo Band. 🎶 And while you are tearing it up on the dance floor, your little ones can play some fun lawn games and participate in our arts and crafts activities.

And what would a 4th of July celebration be without some BBQ and beer? Enjoy delicious BBQ from the B&O Cafe and specialty drinks and beer from our friends at Mystique Barrel Brewing and Lager House. Let’s make this Independence Day one to remember! 😉 Get your tickets at the link below:

https://www.borail.org/events/250th-all-american-bash/

06/02/2026

You did it! With your generous response, you unlocked the $25,000 match gift raising a grand total of $69,929 for the Museum!

Your support means so much as every dollar you give goes towards making the Museum even better. This means new educational programming, fun community events, more funding for restoration projects like the B&O No. 5300 “President Washington”, and even more!

Your generosity means even more as the Museum gets closer and closer to the 200th anniversary of American railroading in 2027. The B&O Railroad was America’s first common carrier railroad, so it only makes sense the B&O leads the charge on celebrating this historic milestone. With your support, we will be able to take this celebration even further with 200th themed events and celebrations.

Stay updated on all of the fun at the official 200th Anniversary of Railroading website: AmericanRail200.org, plus learn about important railroading milestones throughout history and see some of our partners who are helping spread the word about the 200th!
And while our Spring matching challenge is finished, it is not too late to give to the Museum! You can still support the Museum with a donation today!

Donate at the link below:

https://theborailroadmuseuminc.donation.veevartapp.com/donation/view/home/your-gift-keeps-us-on-track-for-2027

06/01/2026

With the Tony Awards coming on Sunday and today being the start of Pride, we thought we would give a quick shoutout to “Cats: The Jellicle Ball” in NYC! A twist on the classic musical “Cats” by Andrew Lloyd Webber, “Cats: The Jellicle Ball” features aspects of q***r ballroom culture.

But what does Cats: The Jellicle Ball have to do with the railroad? The character Skimbleshanks’s costume is heavily inspired by conductors, since Skimbleshanks is a railway cat in the original production. Currently portrayed by the talented Emma Sofia, her outfit includes iconic conductor uniform pieces like the conductor’s hat and the conductor’s vest. But where did the original conductor’s uniform come from?

After the Civil War, railroad companies felt that their employees needed a way to distinguish themselves in a recognizable and uniform way. Drawing inspiration from formal men’s fashion and soldiers' uniforms, the conductor’s uniform featured pieces such as the conductor's vest, conductor’s cap (usually this varied in look based on the railroad), and conductor’s suit/jacket. While this uniform was initially associated with all railroad workers, overtime the uniform became a easy way to represent conductors in popular media. Qween Jean, the Tony nominated costume designer for “Cats the Jellicle Ball”, told Yahoo that she was inspired specifically by “the hardworking women and femmes on the MTA” and wanted to highlight their work and the ways they customize their own uniforms to stand out. This is one of the major examples of how railroads appear in culture as we know it today.

Check out their performance of “Skimbleshanks: The Railway Cat” in collaboration with the MTA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjN-dLtPwlc

Photo Credit 📸: The "Cats: The Jellicle Ball" website

05/31/2026

Ice Cream Sundays are so back! 😎🍦Enjoy a delicious treat on the first mile of commercial rail in the United States. Mark your calendars because our first Ice Cream Sunday of the year is on June 7 at 12:30 PM. Stay cool this summer at the B&O Railroad Museum. Check out our full Ice Cream Sunday schedule at the link below:

https://www.borail.org/events/ice-cream-sundays/

05/31/2026

Today is the LAST DAY to double your impact!

Your gift made by midnight tonight will help unlock our $25,000 matching challenge!

Your support enables the Museum to share important stories, maintain our world-class collection and bring you exciting programming!

Don’t miss your chance to make a lasting impact as we approach our 200th anniversary year!

Donate today at the link below:

https://theborailroadmuseuminc.donation.veevartapp.com/donation/view/home/your-gift-keeps-us-on-track-for-2027