As the nation prepares to commemorate the 200th anniversary of American railroading in 2027, the B&O Railroad Museum, birthplace of American railroading, announced it will become the National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation, reflecting its expanded national mission to preserve and interpret America’s railroad heritage while exploring the innovations shaping the future of rail transportation.
Rooted in the birthplace of American railroading, the museum’s new name reflects a broader vision that honors the extraordinary legacy of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad while embracing rail’s continuing role in shaping America’s future.
Located on the 40-acre campus where the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad — the nation’s first common carrier railroad — was founded, the museum occupies one of the most significant railroad sites in the United States. The campus is recognized as a National Historic Landmark, a Smithsonian Affiliate and a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom site, preserving nationally significant collections and the historic B&O buildings and grounds where American railroading began.
While the institution’s name is changing, its commitment to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad remains unwavering. The story of the nation’s first common carrier railroad will continue to be central to the museum’s exhibitions, collections, educational programs and historic campus.
The announcement comes as the museum continues its transformative $38 million campus expansion, one of the most significant investments in its history. The project includes new visitor experiences, expanded gathering spaces and an outdoor amphitheater. As part of the expansion, the museum will also provide public access to its nationally significant railroad archives for the first time in its history.
Comprising more than 30 million documents, the archives represent one of the nation’s most important collections chronicling the history, development and impact of American railroading. The expansion will culminate in the opening of the Innovation Hall in 2027.
Opening in 2027 as part of the nation’s commemoration of the 200th anniversary of American railroading, the Innovation Hall will introduce a first-of-its-kind museum experience showcasing the present and future of railroading technologies. Through immersive exhibits and interactive experiences, visitors will explore engineering, automation, sustainability, freight systems, passenger mobility and emerging innovations shaping the next generation of rail transportation.
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