B&O Railroad Station: Step into history at the Baltimore and Ohio Ellicott City Station Museum, the oldest railroad station in the U.S.! Serving as the terminus of the first 13 miles of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, founded in 1827, this site witnessed the commencement of passenger services in May of 1830 and showcased the first American-built steam locomotive, the Tom Thumb, in August of 1830. The station, dating back to 1831, transitioned from a freight depot to a passenger hub in 1857. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1968, it closed briefly in 1972 to undergo restoration by Historic Ellicott City, Inc. Today, managed by the Howard County Department of Recreation and Parks, it stands as a living testament to the golden age of American railroads.
Restored Ellicott City Colored School: Explore the Ellicott City Colored School, established in 1880 under a Maryland State law for African American education. Operating until 1953, it predates the Brown vs. Board of Education decision. In contrast to the Patapsco Female Institute, this one-room structure lacked basic amenities until a 1950 well installation. After closure, students shifted to Fells Lane Elementary School with the end of segregation in 1965. Left unused until its rediscovery in 1989, researcher Beulah “Meach” Buckner campaigned for restoration, leading to the Department of Recreation and Parks’ ownership in 1995. Now a museum, it authentically recreates an early 1900s rural classroom, featuring exhibits on local African American history and segregated schools in Howard County.
Thomas Isaac Log Cabin: Discover the Thomas Isaac Log Cabin, a historic gem symbolizing Ellicott City’s colonial roots. Built around 1780 on Merryman Street, this log home, likely constructed by Levi Gillis in 1851, became a vital meeting place for the city’s African American community in the 1870s. Purchased by Thomas Isaac in 1860, the cabin witnessed a storied past, remaining in the Isaac family until 1933. After decades of history, the cabin found itself boarded up in the 1970s, but a revival came in the 1980s when it was dismantled and rebuilt at the Main Street and Ellicott Mills Drive intersection. Step inside this small yet historically significant structure, and be transported to the late 18th century, capturing the essence of Ellicott City’s colonial heritage.
Patapsco Women’s Institute: Experience the charm of the Victorian Era atop Ellicott City’s highest point at the Patapsco Female Institute. From 1837 to 1891, this institute shaped young women with a revolutionary curriculum, earning a national reputation. The grand Greek-revival ruins, restored in 1993, tell tales of a hotel, Summer Theater, and a brief nursing home era. Delve into history with a tour or educational program in this breezy, hilltop park. Don’t miss the Mary Jerdone Coleman Garden, blooming since June 2022, inspired by a 1840’s student journal. Visit on the weekends in June and July and let the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company transport you to the Victorian era with enchanting performances of Shakespeare in the Park.
Information courtesy of Old Ellicott City and HoCo government
Images from U.S Congressional Archives and Flickr