Pigtown in Baltimore, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
First Commercial Railroad Right-of-Way in America
The War Came by Train
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 29, 2019
1. First Commercial Railroad Right-of-Way in America Marker
You are standing on the original right-of-way of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, the nations first commercial railroad to handle both freight and passenger service. This right-of-way stands on land donated to the railroad by James Carroll the owner of the Mount Clare estate and its use for rail service was granted to the B&O by the State of Maryland.
This marks the point of origin for the B&O's historic line west to the Ohio River. This right-of-way had upwards of 19 tracks, carried countless civilians and soldiers as well as millions of tons of freight in and out of Baltimore. Practically every type of motove power from horse-drawn railcars and diesel engines has passed over this ground.
The right-of-way has been in continuous use since 1830 by the B&O Railroad and its successors including the Chessie System and CSX Transportation. Today it is owned, operated and maintained by the B&O Railroad Museum and continues to carry museum visitors over the most historic mile of railroad track in America.
[Captions:]
Mt. Clare Shops, 1870
B&O's Tender and Boxcar repair facility, 1920. The remains of this building are located along the north side of the Museum's tracks.
Mt. Clare Shops, 1920
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list:
this page online
Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 39° 17.101′ N, 76° 37.982′ W. Marker was in Baltimore, Maryland. It was in Pigtown. It could be reached from West Pratt Street east of South Schroeder Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 901 West Pratt Street, Baltimore MD 21223, United States of America.
We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
Regionally, this marker was in Central Maryland. It was also in the American Mid-Atlantic and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Luther G. Smith (a few steps from this marker); Connectivity: Street Art at the Intersection of Rail, Community, & Identity (within shouting distance of this marker); B&O Railroad Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); Main Line Electrification of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) 1895 (within shouting distance of this marker); CSX Corporation (within shouting distance of this marker); Pullman Troop Sleeper No. 7437
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 29, 2019
2. First Commercial Railroad Right-of-Way in America Marker
Other markers no longer nearby. B&O No. 908 (was here, next to this marker but has been permanently removed); Camp Carroll (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Working for the Railroad: African Americans (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Working for the Railroad: Women (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Baltimore & Ohio Railroad (was about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Credits. This page was last revised on March 23, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 29, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 375 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 29, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
