Pigtown in Baltimore, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Site of Old Relay Station and Hotel

Baltimore & Ohio Railroad

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 29, 2019

1. Site of Old Relay Station and Hotel Marker

The marker is part of an exhibit inside of the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.

Inscription. Here in 1830, passengers on B&O horse-drawn cars stopped to eat at the Relay House. Meanwhile, the relays of horses were changed for the remainder of the 13 mile journey between Baltimore and Ellicott’s Mills, hence the name Relay. In 1835, a second station superseded the earlier one. In 1872, a large combination passenger station and hotel was erected on this spot. It was razed in 1950. This stone is from that building.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1830.

Location. 39° 17.136′ N, 76° 37.928′ W. Marker is in Baltimore, Maryland. It is in Pigtown. Marker can be reached from West Pratt Street west of South Poppleton Street, on the right when traveling east. The plaque has been moved to the inside of the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore, Maryland. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 901 West Pratt Street, Baltimore MD 21223, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. First Stone of the Balt. & Ohio Rail Road (a few steps from this marker); Mount Clare Shops (within shouting distance of this marker); The Underground Railroad (within shouting distance of this marker); The National Road

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

(within shouting distance of this marker); Pullman Troop Sleeper No. 7437 (within shouting distance of this marker); Luther G. Smith (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Connectivity: Street Art at the Intersection of Rail, Community, & Identity (about 300 feet away); Main Line Electrification of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O) 1895 (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Baltimore.

Additional commentary.
1. Be careful about the location
Latitude and longitude are given in the article, but they are of the Baltimore and Ohio Railway Museum in Baltimore, where the plaque is currently located. However, the correct location of the Relay House Station, and original location of the plaque, was nine miles west of Baltimore, in Halethorpe, Maryland, at the intersection of today's Viaduct and Railroad Avenues. In 1996 the Baltimore County Commission created the Relay Historic District.

— Submitted June 8, 2021, by Daniel Eisenberg of Boca Raton, Florida.

Photographed By William Edmund Barrett, 1970

2. Site of Old Relay Station and Hotel Marker

Photos 2 and3 were taken for the US Government, and are from the Library of Congress HABS/HAER entry for the Thomas Viaduct. Photo is credited to the Historic American Engineering Record and William Edmund Barrett.

Marker with Thomas Viaduct Obelisk in the Background image. Click for full size.

Photographed By William Edmund Barrett, 1970

3. Marker with Thomas Viaduct Obelisk in the Background

Site of Relay Station and Hotel image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Tom Fuchs, February 25, 2006

4. Site of Relay Station and Hotel

The hotel was just beyond the monument. Click on the location map for this marker and switch to satellite view for an overhead view of the site.

Photographed By F. Robby, July 3, 2008

5. Site of Old Relay Station and Hotel Marker

The original plaque is missing, but the marker base is still located on the site of the old station and hotel, concealed from site in July by thick brush and bramble. The plaque was affixed to the inclined stone at the top of the base.

Viaduct Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By F. Robby, July 3, 2008

6. Viaduct Marker

Tree and brush around the marker prevent recreation of the older photo, but this view of the viaduct marker is from the station and hotel marker.

Photographed By F. Robby, July 3, 2008

7. Site of Old Relay Station and Hotel Marker

The station and hotel marker, about 100 yards to the right (north) of the viaduct marker, is hidden from view by the brush, just to the right of the two trees that stick out above the distant tree line.

Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), June 29, 2019

8. Site of Old Relay Station and Hotel Marker

Photographed By Pangborne, 1883

9. Relay House

Illustration from J. G. Pangborn, Picturesque B. and O., 1883.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 6, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 11, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 7,738 times since then and 63 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on June 29, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 2, 3. submitted on September 12, 2007, by Kevin W. of Stafford, Virginia. 4. submitted on February 28, 2006, by Tom Fuchs of Greenbelt, Maryland. 5, 6, 7. submitted on July 3, 2008, by F. Robby of Baltimore, Maryland. 8. submitted on June 29, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 9. submitted on May 10, 2014, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.