Ellicott City Bicentennial Diorama

Picture 2 of 17
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Ellicott City Maryland
Model of town as it may have appeared
in the Nineteenth Century

Model Diorama by Mr. Kirchman

In 1830 the town became the first terminus of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad. The first rail cars were horse-drawn and a sail-powered
car was even tried on the new iron road. Steam was to prevail as the
motive power of choice and the legendary race between the steam
engine Tom Thumb and a horse-drawn car was run at Relay, a point
on the tracks between Ellicott's Mills and Baltimore.

The old station, shown here with some later Nineteenth Century
modifications, was built of granite blocks. Locally quarried granite
was used to construct most of the buildings in the town.

Today the old station is designated as a National Historic Landmark.