Gaithersburg Community Museum, Maryland

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Gaithersburg, Maryland · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Museum with a major rail exhibitFreeWednesday to Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm; Tuesdays by appointment

The Gaithersburg Community Museum tells the story of the city from inside its 1884 Baltimore and Ohio rail complex in Olde Towne, where historic rail cars sit beside an active line and admission is always free.

  • 1884 B&O station and freight house
  • Always free admission
  • 1918 steam engine on display
  • Kids' play area in a caboose
  • Splash feature at Katz Plaza next door
  • StoryTime Station for ages 2 to 6

Gaithersburg Community Museum at a glance

Hours
Wednesday to Sunday 11 am to 4 pm; Tuesday by appointment; closed Monday
Admission
Always free
Seasonal events
StoryTime Station, Museum on Tap Monthly Lecture Series, Skywatching, Drop-In Weekend: Trick-or-Trick at the Museum
Plan for
About 1 to 2 hours, longer with the splash plaza
Best for
Toddlers, preschoolers and local history fans
Best ages
Ages 2 to 10
Parking
A parking garage with a pedestrian bridge sits across South Summit Avenue from the station

Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Gaithersburg Community 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 Gaithersburg.

Page 1 of 8

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

Like it so far? See the full book

25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.

Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)

Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.

A railroad town's history, told from its station

Gaithersburg's station was built in 1884 for the Metropolitan Branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. The architect, Ephraim Francis Baldwin, designed a one-story brick passenger station with a gable roof, close in plan to the station he drew for Laurel the same year, and a brick freight shed about 90 feet to the east. The station was extended in 1905. In 1978 the pair was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Gaithersburg B & O Railroad Station and Freight Shed.

The station never stopped serving trains. Amtrak trains including the Potomac Special, the Blue Ridge and the Shenandoah called here from 1971 to 1986, when it became a MARC stop on the Brunswick Line. Today the station is still an active commuter stop, which is why the museum can promise that real trains pass by.

The City of Gaithersburg turned the restored complex into the Gaithersburg Community Museum, using the freight house, a history park and a set of historic rail cars to share the city's cultural history through objects and images. The museum's mission is to help visitors discover Gaithersburg's past and present and imagine its future, and its staff keep the calendar full with weekly drop-in activities, a monthly lecture series, skywatching nights and storytimes for young children.

Freight house, history park and rolling stock

The museum grounds take in the 1884 Freight House, the History Park and the Rolling Stock, with the 1884 Train Station right next door. Exhibits in the Freight House share the people, places and stories of Gaithersburg, and the indoor and outdoor spaces are built for hands-on learning at every age. Current exhibits change, so check the museum's exhibit page for what is on view.

Outside, you can step inside two historic rail cars: a 1982 caboose, which holds a creative play area for kids, and a 1953 Rail Diesel Car. A 1918 steam engine, Buffalo Creek and Gauley Railroad Consolidation No. 14, sits on display in front of the freight shed. Next to the station, Sidney A. Katz Plaza has an interactive water play feature, and MARC trains roll through on the active line while you explore.

Don’t miss

  1. Buffalo Creek and Gauley No. 14The 1918 steam locomotive is the museum's biggest artifact, close enough to see every rivet.
  2. The caboose play areaThe 1982 caboose has been turned into a creative play space, making it the first stop for most young visitors.
  3. The 1953 Rail Diesel CarA self-propelled passenger car you can step inside, a type once common on commuter lines like this one.
  4. The 1884 Freight HouseEphraim Francis Baldwin's brick freight shed now holds the museum's exhibits on Gaithersburg's history.
  5. Live trains on the active lineThe station is still a MARC Brunswick Line stop, so the museum comes with real trains passing by.

Play in a caboose, splash at the plaza

This is one of the easiest train outings in the area for little kids. The caboose has a creative play area, the Rail Diesel Car can be explored from the inside, the 1918 steam engine is right there in front of the freight shed, and real trains go by on the active line. StoryTime Station is a monthly storytime for ages 2 to 6, and weekly drop-in activities change all the time.

On warm days, bring a change of clothes: Sidney A. Katz Plaza, next to the station, has an interactive water play feature. The station building has dining and restrooms, which helps when a visit with toddlers runs long.

Plan your visit: tips for Gaithersburg Community Museum

  • The posted schedule runs September 28, 2026 to May 29, 2027; check for summer hours after that.
  • Tuesday visits are by appointment; email museum@gaithersburgmd.gov to schedule.
  • Pack a towel for the water play feature at Sidney A. Katz Plaza in warm weather.
  • Check the museum calendar for drop-in activities before you go.

The museum's calendar fills up around the holidays and seasons, from the Drop-In Weekend: Trick-or-Trick at the Museum in late October to monthly StoryTime Station sessions and Skywatching nights. If your family wants an actual train ride for the season, see our list of Halloween train rides in Maryland.

A city museum for its neighbors

The City of Gaithersburg runs the museum through its Parks, Recreation and Culture programs and keeps admission free for everyone. Its staff lead programs like the Gaithersburg History Project and the Museum on Tap lecture series. The best ways to support it are to come to programs, bring friends, and share your own Gaithersburg stories and objects with the museum.

More rail stops near Gaithersburg

The National Capital Trolley Museum in Colesville is only about 9 miles away and adds streetcar rides to the day. The B&O Ellicott City Station Museum, America's oldest railroad station, is about 23 miles off, and the Bowie Railroad Museum is about 24 miles. Browse train museums across Maryland for more.

Every train museum in Maryland

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi dreaming about his toy turtle, green bone and yellow ball
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

With a splash plaza right next to the station, I can see families here packing a towel next to the snacks. Rally packs too, in our book. Into his little bag go his turtle toy, his green bone and his yellow ball before he and Mom and Dad catch the train. My kids are learning to read with that page, one toy at a time. There is a version to color on our coloring pages.

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
Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

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

Work or volunteer at Gaithersburg Community 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.

Gaithersburg Community Museum: 20 questions families ask

What is the Gaithersburg Community Museum?

The Gaithersburg Community Museum is a free city history museum in the historic 1884 B&O rail complex in Olde Towne Gaithersburg. It shares the city's cultural history through exhibits in the Freight House, a History Park and historic rail cars, with hands-on learning for all ages and real trains passing on the active line.

What are the Gaithersburg Community Museum hours?

As of October 2026, for the season running September 28, 2026 to May 29, 2027, the museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm. Tuesday visits are by appointment, and the museum is closed on Mondays. Check the city's museum page for summer hours after May.

How much does the Gaithersburg Community Museum cost?

Admission to the Gaithersburg Community Museum is always free. Many of its regular programs, like drop-in activities and StoryTime Station, are part of a free visit, though some special programs may need sign-up. Check the museum calendar on the City of Gaithersburg website for details on each event.

Where is the Gaithersburg Community Museum?

The museum is at 31 South Summit Avenue, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877, in the historic B&O rail complex in Olde Towne. The 1884 Train Station, still an active MARC Brunswick Line stop, is right next door, and Sidney A. Katz Plaza sits beside the station.

Is the Gaithersburg Community Museum run by the City of Gaithersburg?

Yes. The museum is a City of Gaithersburg facility, listed among the city's public buildings and programs. The city keeps admission free and runs the museum's events, from lectures to storytimes. Email museum@gaithersburgmd.gov with questions or to set up a Tuesday appointment.

Is there a splash pad at the Gaithersburg Community Museum?

Yes, next door. Sidney A. Katz Plaza, adjacent to the 1884 Train Station, has an interactive water play feature that pairs well with a museum visit on a warm day. Pack a towel and a change of clothes for younger kids. Check with the city for the water feature's seasonal operating dates.

What trains can you see at the Gaithersburg Community Museum?

You can step inside a 1982 caboose and a 1953 Rail Diesel Car, and see a 1918 steam engine, Buffalo Creek and Gauley Railroad Consolidation No. 14, up close. Because the station is still a working MARC stop, real commuter trains also pass by on the active line.

Is the Gaithersburg Community Museum good for toddlers?

Yes. The caboose has a creative kids' play area, there are hands-on exhibits for all ages, and StoryTime Station is a monthly storytime for ages 2 to 6. Live trains passing on the active line and the water play feature at Katz Plaza next door make it a full outing for little ones.

What is StoryTime Station at the Gaithersburg Community Museum?

StoryTime Station is the museum's monthly storytime for children ages 2 to 6, often with a theme tied to the museum, such as an October session called M is for Museum. Dates are posted on the museum calendar on the City of Gaithersburg website. It is a gentle first museum program for preschoolers.

Does the Gaithersburg Community Museum do skywatching with an observatory?

The museum runs a Skywatching program as part of its regular calendar, alongside its lecture series and drop-in activities. The city's museum page does not describe a link to any specific observatory, so check the museum calendar or email museum@gaithersburgmd.gov to find out where and when the next skywatching night meets.

What is Museum on Tap at the Gaithersburg Community Museum?

Museum on Tap is the museum's monthly lecture series, an evening program for adults interested in local history and related topics. Topics and dates are posted on the museum calendar on the City of Gaithersburg website. Email museum@gaithersburgmd.gov for details on upcoming speakers.

Does the Gaithersburg Community Museum have Halloween events?

Yes. As of October 2026, the museum lists Drop-In Weekend: Trick-or-Trick at the Museum on October 24 and 25, from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm each day. It is part of the city's Halloween and Fall Harvest lineup. Check the museum calendar each year for the current dates.

When was the Gaithersburg train station built?

The Gaithersburg station and freight shed were built in 1884 for the Metropolitan Branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, designed by architect Ephraim Francis Baldwin. The station was extended in 1905 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. The freight shed now houses the museum.

Is the Gaithersburg station still used by trains?

Yes. The 1884 station is an active MARC Brunswick Line commuter stop, which it became in 1986 after serving Amtrak trains from 1971. That is why the museum promises real trains passing by on the active rail line. The station building also has dining and restrooms.

Where do you park for the Gaithersburg Community Museum?

A parking garage stands across South Summit Avenue from the station, connected by a pedestrian bridge. The city's museum page does not spell out museum parking rules, so email museum@gaithersburgmd.gov before your visit to confirm the best place to park on a busy day.

Where can I see Gaithersburg Community Museum photos?

The City of Gaithersburg's museum page shows the rail cars and grounds, and the museum is featured in a Heritage Montgomery sites video linked from that page. Travel sites also share visitor photos of the caboose, steam engine and freight house.

What do Gaithersburg Community Museum reviews say?

Visitors and travel listings describe it as a hands-on mix of local history and trains, with exhibits in the Freight House and rail cars and learning centers that spark kids' imaginations. Free admission, the caboose play area and the chance to watch real trains are the most common highlights.

Can I visit the Gaithersburg Community Museum on a Tuesday?

Yes, by appointment. As of October 2026, the museum is closed to drop-in visitors on Tuesdays but will open by arrangement. Email museum@gaithersburgmd.gov to schedule a Tuesday visit, which can suit school groups, scouts or families who want a quieter time.

What is the Historic Buildings Walking Tour in Gaithersburg?

The museum offers a Historic Buildings Walking Tour as one of its resources for exploring Olde Towne beyond the rail complex. Details are on the City of Gaithersburg's museum page under the walking tour link. Start at the museum and then follow the route through the historic district.

What train museums are near the Gaithersburg Community Museum?

The National Capital Trolley Museum in Colesville is about 9 miles away, and Union Station in Washington, D.C. is about 20 miles. The B&O Ellicott City Station Museum is about 23 miles away and the Bowie Railroad Museum about 24 miles, so Gaithersburg fits easily into a regional rail day.

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Kelsey Cecil
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