Huntington in Cabell County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)
B&O Railroad Depot / Heritage Village
Photographed By J. J. Prats, July 23, 2021
1. B&O Railroad Depot (side one)
B&O Railroad Depot. Passenger station completed 1887, freighthouses 1890 with additions 1898, 1911 & 1916. B&O, oldest U.S. line, acquired in 1901. Superior location in business district gave B&O edge over C&O in city.
Heritage Village. Opened in 1977, historic structures are adapted to modern retail uses based on theme of railroad heritage. Includes B&O Depot, and 1875 Bank and Gutzon Borglum statue of Collis Huntington.
Erected 1980 by West Virginia Department of Culture and History.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars. In addition, it is included in the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O), and the West Virginia Archives and History series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1977.
Location. 38° 25.402′ N, 82° 26.449′ W. Marker is in Huntington, West Virginia, in Cabell County. Marker is on 11th Street south of Veterans Memorial Boulevard (U.S. 60), on the left when traveling south. Touch for map
Photographed By Don Morfe, April 14, 2014
2. Heritage Village (side two)
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. “Diamond Teeth” Mary McClain (within shouting distance of this marker); Elk River Coal & Lumber Company #10 Steam Locomotive (within shouting distance of this marker); John Hunt Oley (within shouting distance of this marker); Cabell County Cavalcade (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Virginia State Road (approx. 0.4 miles away); Huntington (approx. 0.4 miles away); War of 1812 Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Huntington Mine Rescue Car (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Huntington.
Additional commentary.
1. About the “superior location” of this depot
This “superior location“ would certainly apply to non-time-critical less-than-a-boxcar freight and package service, which would be picked up by the recipient at the freight depot next to this station. The Chesapeake and Ohio station was further away from downtown than the Baltimore and Ohio station.
But for passenger service, it would depend on where the passenger wanted to go. Departing from either station would get you to any destination in North America eventually, by changing trains en route, but the trip would be significantly shorter and/or more comfortable to
Photographed By Don Morfe, April 14, 2014
3. Heritage Village Marker
This station was not on B&O’s main line. B&O passenger trains that served this station ran south for a few more miles to Kenova, and north through Parkersburg to Wheeling, and many passenger trains to Wheeling continued on to Pittsburgh PA. At Wheeling and at Pittsburgh, same-line connections could be made to other points in the U.S.
The C&O station in Huntington was on C&O’s main line from Cincinnati OH to Newport News VA and many C&O trains split in Charlottesville VA so that some of the cars would continue to Washington DC and New York City while the rest of the train continued through Richmond to Newport News.
From this B&O station in 1925, for example, the 10:35 p.m. overnight train would get you to Wheeling at 6:45 a.m., and Pittsburgh at 9:20 a.m. the next day without changing trains. You would have to change trains on the C&O and it would take much longer to get to Wheeling or Pittsburgh. Other trains north left at 7:35 a.m. and 11:40 a.m. to arrive in Wheeling at 4:25 p.m. and 7:20 p.m. respectively. All trains included either a cafe car or a full dining car and the overnight train had at least four sleeping cars.
The C&O had another advantage: trains to the state capital, Charleston.
Photographed By Don Morfe, April 14, 2014
4. Heritage Village Marker
— Submitted July 30, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
Photographed By Don Morfe, April 14, 2014
5. Inside the B&O Depot
Photographed By Don Morfe, April 14, 2014
6. Inside the B&O Depot
Photographed By Don Morfe, April 14, 2014
7. B&O Locomotive #10
Photographed By Don Morfe, April 14, 2014
8. B&O Car-Collis P. Huntington
Photographed By Don Morfe, April 14, 2014
9. Heritage Village-Painted Van
Credits. This page was last revised on July 30, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 15, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 438 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on July 28, 2021, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on May 15, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
