Bowie Railroad Museum, Maryland
Depot museumFreeOpen Saturday and Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm
The Bowie Railroad Museum preserves the station where the town of Bowie began, a Baltimore and Potomac stop from 1872 that stayed busy until 1989, restored by the City of Bowie along with its tower and caboose.
- Station opened in 1872
- Free admission, donations welcome
- 1923 caboose on site
- Interlocking tower with train views
- Weekends 11 am to 4 pm
- Accessible station building
Bowie Railroad Museum at a glance
- Hours
- Saturday and Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm
- Admission
- Free; donations welcomed. Weekday guided group tours $6 per person
- Plan for
- About 30 minutes to 1 hour
- Best for
- Young train fans and local history lovers
- Best ages
- Toddlers to age 10
- Accessibility
- The station is accessible for people with disabilities.
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Bowie Railroad Museum? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Bowie.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $13.99 on Amazon.
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Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
The station that gave Bowie its start
After the Civil War, plans took shape for a railroad running from Baltimore down into Southern Maryland. In 1872 the Baltimore and Potomac Railroad, later folded into the Pennsylvania Railroad System, opened a station here, and developer Ben M. Plumb saw his chance. Around the stop he laid out Huntington City, with shops, hotels and comfortable Victorian houses along tree-lined streets. In 1880 the town was renamed Bowie in honor of Governor Oden Bowie, who had been instrumental in bringing the railroad.
The station stayed a busy stop for more than a century, closing only in 1989 when a new station opened at Bowie State University. Rather than lose the buildings that started the town, the City of Bowie restored them in the early 1990s and opened them as a museum. It is now one of the city's historic properties, alongside the Belair Mansion, the Belair Stable Museum and the Old Town Bowie Welcome Center, cared for by a small museum staff led by a historic properties manager and a curator.
The Bowie Tower adds another layer for serious rail fans: it is home to the National Railroad Historical Society's Martin O'Rourke Railroad Research Library.
Station, tower and caboose in Old Town Bowie
The museum sits on Chestnut Avenue in Old Town Bowie and is laid out as a small early 20th century railroad village. Visits are self-guided on weekends: walk through the restored station, where exhibits trace the railroad's role in the city's growth, then head to the interlocking tower, which gives views of trains passing on the line. A 1923 caboose rounds out the grounds and is the piece most kids head for first.
Groups of ten or more can book a staff-guided tour on weekdays for a deeper look at the buildings and the story of Huntington City. The station building is accessible for visitors with disabilities.
Don’t miss
- The restored stationOpened by the Baltimore and Potomac in 1872 and in service until 1989, it is the building the whole town grew around.
- The interlocking towerThe tower offers views of trains on the line and houses the NRHS Martin O'Rourke Railroad Research Library.
- The 1923 cabooseA century-old caboose that gives kids a close look at where a train crew once rode.
- Old Town BowieThe streets around the museum are what remains of Huntington City, the railroad town Ben M. Plumb developed around the station.
A caboose, a tower and passing trains
This is a short, easy outing for young train fans. The 1923 caboose is the star for little kids, and the interlocking tower lets families watch trains go by on the line. Because the museum is free and self-guided on weekends, you can stay as long as interest lasts and head out when it fades, which makes it a good first museum for toddlers and preschoolers. The city also posts monthly event flyers that sometimes include family programs.
Plan your visit: tips for Bowie Railroad Museum
- Visit on a weekend: since June 1, 2026 the City of Bowie Museums are open only Saturdays and Sundays.
- Groups of 10 or more can book a guided weekday tour for $6 per person.
- Check the city's monthly event flyers on its museum page for programs.
- Combine your visit with a walk around Old Town Bowie.
Run by the City of Bowie Museums
The City of Bowie owns and operates the museum as part of its historic properties, with a historic properties manager and a museum curator on staff, and the National Railroad Historical Society keeps its research library in the tower. Admission is free, so donations make a real difference. Groups can support the museum by booking a guided tour, and the city also rents its museum spaces for events.
Rail outings within a short drive of Bowie
The National Capital Trolley Museum in Colesville is about 15 miles away and adds a ride to the day. The Ellicott City Station Museum is about 18 miles north, and the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore is about 21 miles. See all the Maryland train museums for more ideas.
- Union Stationhistoric railway terminal, DC · about 14 mi
- National Capital Trolley MuseumColesville, MD · about 15 mi
- Ellicott City Station MuseumEllicott City, MD · about 18 mi
- Alexandria Union Station historic exhibitsAlexandria, VA · about 21 mi
- National Museum of Railroad History & Innovation / B&O Railroad MuseumBaltimore, MD · about 21 mi
- Virginia Railway Express historic collectionsnorthern Virginia, VA · about 21 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
From the tower in Bowie you can watch trains slide past, and that makes me think of the other side of the glass. In our book Rally sits at an arched train window, looking out at the ocean, and says hello to a white bird. My mom loved that kind of small, happy moment. Her story of how the book came to be is on our story page.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
- Train museums in Maryland: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Maryland
- Halloween train rides in Maryland
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Bowie Railroad Museum?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Bowie Railroad Museum: 20 questions families ask
Where is the Bowie Railroad Museum?
The Bowie Railroad Museum is at 8614 Chestnut Avenue, Bowie, Maryland 20715, in Old Town Bowie. It is built around the city's restored railroad station and tower. The museum's phone is (301) 832-7126 if you need directions on the day of your visit.
Is the Bowie Railroad Museum in Old Town Bowie?
Yes. The museum is in Old Town Bowie, the original railroad town that grew around the Baltimore and Potomac station after 1872. The City of Bowie also runs the Old Town Bowie Welcome Center among its historic properties, so the museum fits naturally into a walk around the old town.
What are the Bowie Railroad Museum hours?
As of October 2026, the Bowie Railroad Museum is open for self-guided visits on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm. Starting June 1, 2026, the City of Bowie Museums switched to weekend-only hours. Weekday visits are available only as booked group tours.
How much does the Bowie Railroad Museum cost?
Admission to the Bowie Railroad Museum is free, and donations are welcomed. The only charge, as of October 2026, is for staff-guided private tours for groups of 10 or more on weekdays, which cost $6 per person. Self-guided weekend visits cost nothing.
What is there to see at the Bowie Railroad Museum?
The museum includes the restored railroad station, the interlocking tower and a 1923 caboose, presented as a small early 20th century railroad village. Exhibits cover how the railroad shaped the city's growth, and the tower gives views of trains passing on the line.
Can you see trains from the Bowie Railroad Museum?
Yes. The museum's interlocking tower offers views of trains on the line, which is a big draw for young train fans. Train traffic is not scheduled around the museum, so be patient and enjoy the station and caboose between passing trains.
Does the Bowie Railroad Museum have a caboose?
Yes. A 1923 caboose is part of the museum grounds, alongside the restored station and interlocking tower. It is usually the favorite stop for kids who want to see where a train crew once rode. Ask staff on the day of your visit about seeing it up close.
When was the Bowie railroad station built?
The Baltimore and Potomac Railroad, later part of the Pennsylvania Railroad System, opened the Bowie Station in 1872. The station stayed a busy stop until 1989, when it closed to make way for a new station at Bowie State University. The City of Bowie restored the buildings in the early 1990s.
How did Bowie, Maryland get its name?
The town began as Huntington City, developed by Ben M. Plumb around the 1872 railroad station, with shops, hotels and Victorian houses. In 1880 it was renamed Bowie to honor Governor Oden Bowie, who was instrumental in bringing the railroad to the area. The museum tells that story.
What is the Martin O'Rourke Railroad Research Library?
It is the National Railroad Historical Society's research library, housed in the Bowie Tower at the museum. It is a resource for railroad researchers rather than a children's exhibit. Library hours are not listed on the city's museum page, so contact the museum at (301) 832-7126 to ask about access.
Is the Bowie Railroad Museum good for toddlers?
Yes, for a short outing. The museum is small, free and self-guided on weekends, so you can leave when little ones are done. The 1923 caboose and the chance to watch passing trains from the tower are the main draws for toddlers and preschoolers.
Is the Bowie Railroad Museum accessible?
Yes. The City of Bowie says the station is accessible for people with disabilities. The tower and caboose are historic structures, so if you have specific access questions about those, call the museum at (301) 832-7126 before your visit.
Does the Bowie Railroad Museum offer group tours?
Yes. The City of Bowie Museums offers private staff-guided tours for groups of 10 or more, Monday through Friday, at $6 per person as of October 2026. To schedule, email historic properties manager Susan Proctor at sproctor@cityofbowie.org or call (301) 809-3097.
Can you rent the Bowie Railroad Museum for an event?
The City of Bowie handles museum rentals through its museums office. The city lists a museum rental line at (301) 809-3089 and the email museumrental@cityofbowie.org. Ask there about availability, fees and whether the railroad museum suits your event, such as a small birthday gathering.
Where can I see Bowie Railroad Museum photos?
The City of Bowie's official museum page shows the restored station, and the city posts monthly event flyers with photos of museum programs. The museum does not have its own social media account listed, so the city's website is the best place to look before you go.
What do Bowie Railroad Museum reviews say?
Visitors describe it as a small museum in a restored train station with exhibits on how the railroad shaped Bowie's growth, and family sites rate it well for kids. The caboose and the views of trains from the tower come up often as highlights for young visitors.
Does the Bowie Railroad Museum hold events?
Yes. The City of Bowie posts monthly event calendars for its museums, including the railroad museum, along with a Paint and Sip series. Check the Bowie Railroad Museum page on cityofbowie.org for the current month's flyer, or call (301) 832-7126 to ask what is coming up.
Who runs the Bowie Railroad Museum?
The City of Bowie owns and operates it as one of its historic properties, along with the Belair Mansion, Belair Stable Museum and Old Town Bowie Welcome Center. A historic properties manager and a museum curator oversee the sites, and the National Railroad Historical Society runs the research library in the tower.
Is there parking at the Bowie Railroad Museum?
The City of Bowie does not list parking details for the railroad museum online. Call the museum at (301) 832-7126 before your visit to ask where to park on Chestnut Avenue in Old Town Bowie.
What train museums are near the Bowie Railroad Museum?
Union Station in Washington, D.C. is about 14 miles away, and the National Capital Trolley Museum in Colesville is about 15 miles. The Ellicott City Station Museum is about 18 miles away, and the B&O Railroad Museum in Baltimore is about 21 miles, so Bowie works well as part of a rail day.
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