Last updated: May 5, 2025
Place
Aberdeen B&O Train Station
Image Credit: Dave-Henderson
Quick Facts
Location:
404 West Bel Air Avenue, Aberdeen, MD 21001
Significance:
The Aberdeen B&O Train Station, eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, preserves Chesapeake rail, industry, and military history through immersive interpretation and restored architecture.
Designation:
Chesapeake Gateways Network Site
MANAGED BY:
Amenities
4 listed
Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Parking - Auto, Pets Allowed, Wheelchair Accessible
The Aberdeen B&O Train Station preserves a vital chapter of Chesapeake Bay transportation history. As a Chesapeake Gateways Place, the restored 1885 station invites visitors to explore the intersection of railroads, commerce, and community life in the Chesapeake region.
Designed by famed architect Frank Furness, the station served as a gateway for goods and passengers traveling between Baltimore, Philadelphia, and beyond. It supported Aberdeen’s booming canning industry and later played a pivotal role in the movement of troops and supplies during the establishment of Aberdeen Proving Ground and throughout the World Wars. Today, visitors can stand beside active CSX freight rails, marvel at the restored historic structure, and envision the era when railroads connected rural communities to national markets.
Interpretive materials onsite and online introduce visitors to themes including early American railroading, the B&O’s impact on regional development, and the cultural shifts brought by industrial and military growth. Plans are underway for expanded interpretation with wayside exhibits, video tours, and regular open house events.
The Aberdeen B&O Train Station is eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places and embodies the resilience of Chesapeake communities through transportation innovation. Learn more by visiting the Friends of the Aberdeen B&O Station’s website.