All about the community of model railroading and rail enthusiasm
August 18, 2026
As the nation prepares to commemorate the 200th anniversary of American railroading in 2027, the B&O Railroad Museum has become the National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation.
The name change, announced in mid-July, reflects the museum’s expanded mission to preserve and interpret America’s railroad heritage while exploring present-day innovations.
Rooted in the place where American railroading began, the museum’s new name also suggests a broader vision that honors the extraordinary legacy of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad while trumpeting rail’s continuing role in shaping America’s future.
“Nearly 200 years ago, a bold vision launched from this very place transformed our nation,” Kris Hoellen, executive director of the National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation, said in a statement. “As we prepare to commemorate the bicentennial of American railroading, we are embracing a name that reflects both our responsibility to preserve one of America’s greatest transportation stories and our commitment to exploring where rail transportation is headed next.”
Located on the 40-acre campus where the Baltimore & Ohio, the museum occupies one of the most significant railroad sites in the U.S., where the nation’s first common carrier railroad was founded. 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.
Hoellen said the museum will continue to emphasize the Baltimore & Ohio, as it is central to the exhibitions, collections, educational programs and historic campus.
“The B&O is not being left behind – it is the foundation upon which the museum’s expanded role as a nationally significant institution is built. With today’s announcement, we celebrate the past, the present and the possible.”
The museum will continue its $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 National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation will also provide public access to its archives for the first time. Comprising more than 30 million documents, the archives chronicle the history, development and impact of American railroading. The expansion will culminate in the opening of Innovation Hall in 2027.
Innovation Hall, which will showcase the present and future of railroading technologies, opens in 2027 to mark two centuries of U.S. railroading. Through immersive exhibits and interactive experiences, visitors will explore the engineering, automation, sustainability, freight systems, passenger mobility and emerging innovations shaping the next generation of rail transportation.
“Our story began here,” Hoellen said. “As the birthplace of American railroading, we have a responsibility to preserve that extraordinary legacy, explore how rail continues to shape our lives today, and inspire what is possible for the future.”
