The B&O Railroad Museum Celebrates 200th Anniversary of American Railroading with Campus Transformation Plan Groundbreaking

The B&O Railroad Museum, the birthplace of American railroading, will mark a milestone in its history on Wednesday, May 14, with a groundbreaking ceremony for its Campus Transformation Plan, in preparation for the 200^th anniversary of American railroading in 2027. The Museum will restore its South Car Works building, the oldest, continuously operating railroad repair facility in the country (1869-1990). The South Car Works will become the Museum’s new entrance, thereby reconfiguring the Museum’s campus flow to face Southwest Baltimore for the purpose of sparking community economic development. This landmark project will usher in a new era for the Museum.

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Rendering of the new CSX Bicentennial Garden

The celebratory event will begin with a keynote address by CSX (NASDAQ: CSX) President and Chief Executive Officer, Joe Hinrichs, at 1:30 p.m., titled Bridging History and Progress: Economic Outlook of CSX, Baltimore, and Freight Rail. Following the keynote, the official groundbreaking ceremony will take place at 3 p.m., featuring remarks from the Capital Campaign co-chairs, Mr. Hinrichs and Benjamin H. Griswold, IV of Brown Advisory, as well as State Senator Antonio Hayes, Baltimore City Mayor Brandon Scott, and Museum Executive Director Kris Hoellen. A choir and a brass quintet from the Baltimore School for the Arts will open the ceremony with a performance of Hail to the B&O, which was composed by Walter Goodwin to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of railroading in 1927. A ceremonial shovel dig, toast, and reception will follow the ceremony.

CSX will also bring its 1827 heritage locomotive to the groundbreaking ceremony. This special commemorative locomotive, numbered in recognition of the year the Baltimore & Ohio (B&O) Railroad was founded, combines colors from the modern CSX and the B&O Railroad. It carries the modern CSX logo on the front and the B&O’s iconic capitol dome logo on the rear.

“Railroads changed the course of American history, and it all started here in Baltimore,” said Joe Hinrichs, President and CEO of CSX. “Today, we’re not just honoring that legacy, we’re investing in what comes next. This transformation will spark curiosity, honor the rich history of the railroad, and strengthen the connection between freight rail and the communities we serve.”

“This is such a momentous day to see the grounds of the railroad my relatives and many others helped to charter almost 200 years ago be transformed in preparation for the next 200 years,” said Mr. Griswold. “I’m particularly excited about the transformation for Southwest Baltimore, a city I love.”

“Today is the start of something bigger than a renovation, it’s a reinvestment in Southwest Baltimore. Bank of America is thrilled to support the B&O Railroad Museum’s transformation, which preserves our history while also creating opportunities for learning, tourism, cultural engagement, and community connection,” said Bank of America Greater Maryland President Janet Currie. “At Bank of America, we’re committed to investing in projects that strengthen neighborhoods and enrich our society.”

“Preparing to celebrate the 200^th anniversary of American railroading and its contributions to the country while simultaneously preserving a railroading landmark, the South Car Works building, and positively contributing to our community with a $38 million investment is a trifecta of a project,” said Ms. Hoellen. “We are deeply grateful to Joe, Ben, our Board of Directors, our donors, and everyone who has and will play a role in making this campus transformation a reality.”

Key elements of the Campus Transformation Plan include restoring the South Car Works Building to the become the Museum’s new entrance and to include the following elements:

• Innovation Hall: This dynamic space will be dedicated to showcasing the present and future of railroading technology using interactive exhibits.
• Amphitheater for Community Use: The plan will re-orient the Museum campus to face Southwest Baltimore. This will include the creation of a new amphitheater and garden, known as the CSX Bicentennial Garden, providing a vibrant free community space and acting as a catalyst for the revitalization of the surrounding neighborhood.
• Archival Space: The Museum's nationally significant archival collection, currently housing over 30 million documents, will be relocated and placed on public view for the first time. This will create greater access for researchers to study the Museum’s invaluable historical collections and students to learn about railroading careers and history.
• Smart Educational Classrooms: The project will introduce two smart classroom spaces, to help the Museum accommodate its growing educational program. The classrooms are intentionally placed adjacent to the archives to allow students to learn how to use original source material.

The B&O Railroad Museum is grateful for the leadership support of the following for the Museum’s 200^th Anniversary Campus Transformation Plan to date: CSX Foundation Inc., South Baltimore Gateway Partnership, The Marvin H. Weiner Foundation, Harbor Bank, Bank of America Charitable Foundation, Bunting Family Foundation, Sherman Family Foundation, France-Merrick Foundation, Posner Foundation of Pittsburgh, Truist Charitable Fund, Allegis Foundation, members of the Museum’s Board of Directors, Staff, Volunteers and Friends, and the State of Maryland and City of Baltimore. The B&O Railroad was our nation’s first public-private partnership infrastructure project built with both public and private funds. The Museum appreciates that its next two hundred years campus transformation plan is supported by both public and private funding.

About the B&O Railroad Museum

The B&O Railroad Museum, located in Baltimore, Md., is the birthplace of American railroading. The Museum is a full affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Site as designated by the National Park Service. It is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of American railroading and its impact on American society, culture, and economy. The Museum is home to the oldest, most comprehensive collection of railroad artifacts in the Western Hemisphere, including an unparalleled roster of 19th and 20th century railroad equipment, the 1851 Mt. Clare Station, the 1884 Baldwin Roundhouse, and the first mile of commercial railroad track in America.

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“Railroads changed the course of American history, and it all started here in Baltimore,” said Joe Hinrichs, President and CEO of CSX. “Today, we’re not just honoring that legacy, we’re investing in what comes next."