By Eric Berger

The birthplace of American railroading will have a new look for the 2027 bicentennial celebration of the founding of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, thanks in part to a $ 5 million grant from CSX Transportation and a $ 3 million contribution from the State of Maryland. The contributions were announced by Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs at a joint ceremony on June 8, with B&O Roundhouse Museum Executive Director Kris Hoellen. 

The CSX donation will fund the construction of the CSX Bicentennial Garden amphitheater and multi-use plaza that will become the new entrance area for the museum. The state grant will help pay for the renovation and remodeling of the spacious South Car Works building, which is heralded as the nation’s oldest continuously operating railroad repair facility. Both projects are part of a $30 million program of capital improvements to renew the historic Mount Clare site prior to the start of its third century in service.

“CSX is proud to support the future of the B&O Railroad Museum and help expand its role in the community,” Hinrichs said. “Our heritage, our history started right here.”

The first mile of B&O track is still in place at the site, as is the Mt. Clare Station built in 1851 to replace the first station. The museum was created by B&O in 1953, continuing a company tradition of celebrating railroad history. The 1884 roundhouse and 40-acre Mt. Clare site became an independent museum when the property was donated to a non-profit foundation after the CSX merger more than three decades ago.