The Chesapeake Beach railway station is a historic railway station located at Chesapeake Beach, Calvert County, Maryland, United States. It is composed of two one-story, hip-roofed sections; one part was once an open passenger boarding area that was later enclosed for storage. The station was erected in 1898, for the Chesapeake Beach Railway.[2] It is now operated as a railway museum.
Chesapeake Beach railway station | |
 Chesapeake Beach railway station, December 2008 | |
   | |
| Location | 8005 Bayside Rd., Chesapeake Beach, Maryland |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°41′24″N 76°32′3″W / 38.69000°N 76.53417°W |
| Built | 1898 |
| Architect | Mr. Winston |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001798[1] |
| Added to NRHP | September 11, 1980 |
The Chesapeake Beach Railway Station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.[1]
History
The station was originally opened as a stop along the railway when Otto Mears sought to create a resort town at the Chesapeake Bay between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Mears and his business associates established hotels, beaches, casinos and a boardwalk. On June 9, 1900, the first train arrived at the station. However, 35 years later, the Great Depression and the growing popularity of cars led to a decline in business. The last train left the station on April 15, 1935.[3]
Museum
The station was dedicated as a museum to the Calvert County Board of Commissioners by Gerald and Fred Donovan in 1979.[4] The Calvert County Historical Society is responsible for maintaining the building and its exhibits. The museum features artifacts, exhibits and programs commemorating the Chesapeake Beach Railway and local history.[5]
See also
References
External links
- Chesapeake Beach Railway Station, Calvert County, including photo from 2000, at Maryland Historical Trust
- Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum
- United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service: National Register of Historic Places -- Nomination Form