Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum, Maryland

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Hagerstown, Maryland · Updated October 19, 2026 · 10 min read

Railroad museumListed as open Fridays to Sundays, 1 pm to 5 pm; confirm before visiting

The Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum tells the story of the railroads that made Hagerstown the "Hub City" and of the 25-stall roundhouse complex that kept their locomotives and cars running.

  • Remembers a 25-stall roundhouse
  • Five railroads of the Hub City
  • Model railroad layouts
  • Historic cabooses and locomotives

Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum at a glance

Hours
Listed as Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 1 pm to 5 pm, year-round; confirm by phone
Admission
Not posted online; call 301-739-4665
Best for
Model train fans and local rail history buffs

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Hagerstown Roundhouse 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 Hagerstown.

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.

Remembering the shops that kept the Hub City moving

Hagerstown grew up as a railroad crossroads, served by five railroads that earned it the nickname "Hub City." The Hagerstown Roundhouse Complex, built in 1939, held a 25-stall roundhouse and shops that were the main place in Western Maryland for maintaining and repairing locomotives and cars. For more than 50 years, the railroads were the largest employers in Washington County.

The Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum, Inc. was organized as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to save and acquire the 45-acre Western Maryland Railway roundhouse complex and turn it into a working railroad attraction. The roundhouse itself was demolished on March 13, 1999, but the museum carries on its mission of restoration, preservation and education, keeping the memory of the shops and the people who worked in them in front of the public.

Artifacts, cabooses and model trains

The museum shows artifacts and photographs from the Hagerstown roundhouse and the city's railroads, along with historic cabooses and locomotives and model railroad layouts. Its stated goals include preserving and restoring historic railway equipment, from steam and diesel locomotives to passenger equipment. The museum does not post a full equipment list online, so call ahead if you hope to see a particular piece.

Don’t miss

  1. The model railroad layoutsThe layouts are a favorite with young visitors and help show how the Hub City's rail lines fit together.
  2. Roundhouse photos and artifactsPictures and objects from the 25-stall roundhouse keep alive a building that no longer stands.

Model trains and cabooses for young fans

Model railroads and real cabooses give younger visitors something to watch and look at. The museum does not post details online about what kids can climb into or touch, so ask when you arrive or call 301-739-4665 before you go.

Plan your visit: tips for Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum

  • Call 301-739-4665 before visiting to confirm hours and admission.
  • The museum's website was not loading properly in fall 2026, so the phone is the most reliable way to check.
  • Pair a visit with the B&O Roundhouse in Martinsburg, West Virginia, about 17 miles away.

A nonprofit built to save the roundhouse

The Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Visiting, donating or offering to volunteer are the most direct ways to help it keep Hagerstown's railroad history in public view; call the museum to ask what it needs most.

Other roundhouses and rail stops near Hagerstown

Across the Potomac, the B&O Railroad Roundhouse in Martinsburg is about 17 miles away and still stands. The Walkersville Southern Railroad, about 23 miles, offers train rides, and the Brunswick Heritage Museum is about 24 miles south. See more Maryland train museums.

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.

A roundhouse was where engines rested and got ready for the next trip, and that always makes me think of packing. In our book, Rally gets ready too: his turtle toy, his green bone and his yellow ball all go in the suitcase before he and Mom and Dad head for the train. My kids pack their own bags that way now, one favorite thing at a time.

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 Hagerstown Roundhouse 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.

Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum: 20 questions before you go

What is the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum?

The Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum is a nonprofit railroad museum in Hagerstown, Maryland. It shows artifacts, photographs, historic cabooses and locomotives, and model railroads connected to the Hagerstown roundhouse and the five railroads that made the city the Hub City. Its mission is restoration, preservation and education about local railroading.

What are the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum hours?

As of October 2026, the county visitor bureau lists the museum as open year-round on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 1 pm to 5 pm. Because the museum's own website was not loading properly, call 301-739-4665 before you go to confirm the current schedule, especially around holidays.

Where is the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum?

The museum is on South Burhans Boulevard in Hagerstown, Maryland 21740, listed at number 296 (some listings give number 300). The museum does not post parking details online, so call 301-739-4665 if you need directions or want to know where to park when you arrive.

How much is admission to the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum?

The museum does not post admission prices online. Call 301-739-4665 to ask about current admission before your visit. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the museum depends on visitors and donors, so any admission or donation helps support its preservation work.

Are there photos of the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum online?

The museum's own website was not displaying properly in fall 2026, so it is not a reliable place for photos right now. Visitor photos appear on the museum's Tripadvisor listing and on regional tourism sites such as Visit Hagerstown and Visit Maryland. Visitors are the best source of current pictures of the exhibits and layouts.

What do reviews say about the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum?

Visitor reviews are collected on the museum's Tripadvisor listing, which is the easiest place to read what other families and rail fans thought. Regional tourism listings describe the museum's artifacts, photographs, historic cabooses and locomotives, and model railroads, which give a good sense of what you will see.

Is the Hagerstown roundhouse still standing?

No. The Hagerstown Roundhouse Complex was built in 1939, with a 25-stall roundhouse and shops, and the roundhouse facility was demolished on March 13, 1999. The museum keeps its story alive through artifacts, photographs and models, and was originally organized to save and develop the 45-acre complex.

Why is Hagerstown called the Hub City?

Hagerstown earned the Hub City name because five railroads came together there, and the museum's exhibits are built around those lines. The city's roundhouse and shops were the major maintenance and repair facility for locomotives and cars in Western Maryland, and the railroads were Washington County's largest employers for more than 50 years.

Does the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum have model trains?

Yes. Model railroad layouts are part of the museum's exhibits, alongside artifacts, photographs and historic equipment. The museum does not post detailed information about the layouts' scale or operating days online, so call 301-739-4665 if you want to make sure the trains will be running during your visit.

Can you see real cabooses at the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum?

Yes. Regional tourism listings describe historic cabooses and locomotives as part of the museum's collection. The museum does not post an online roster or say whether visitors can go inside the equipment, so ask the staff when you arrive or call ahead if your kids are hoping to climb aboard.

Can you ride a train at the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum?

The museum does not advertise train rides. If your family wants a ride the same weekend, the Walkersville Southern Railroad is about 23 miles away and runs excursions. Call the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum at 301-739-4665 to ask about any special event rides it may hold.

Is the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum good for kids?

Kids who like trains usually enjoy the model railroad layouts and the real cabooses. The museum does not list ages, play areas or hands-on exhibits online. For young children, a short afternoon visit is a safe plan, and you can call 301-739-4665 to ask what is best for your child's age.

How long should I spend at the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum?

The museum does not suggest a visit length. With open hours from 1 pm to 5 pm on listed days, an hour or two is a reasonable plan for most families, with more time for rail fans who want to study the photographs and artifacts closely.

Who runs the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum?

The Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. It was organized to save and acquire the 45-acre Western Maryland Railway roundhouse complex and develop it into a working railroad attraction, and today it focuses on preservation, restoration and education about Hagerstown's railroads.

How can I volunteer or donate to the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum?

The museum does not post volunteer or donation details in a form that loads reliably right now. Call 301-739-4665 to ask how you can help. As a nonprofit, it relies on community support to preserve its artifacts and equipment, so donations, membership and volunteer hours all make a difference.

Does the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum host group visits?

The museum does not list group visit details online. Scout troops, school classes and clubs should call 301-739-4665 to ask about scheduling a visit, group admission and whether a volunteer can walk the group through the exhibits.

Is the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum wheelchair accessible?

The museum does not post accessibility details online. If you use a wheelchair or stroller, call 301-739-4665 before you go to ask about entrances, restrooms and access to the exhibits and outdoor equipment. A quick call also lets you ask about seating and any steps at the layouts.

Does the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum have holiday events?

The museum does not list seasonal events in a place that loads reliably right now. Call 301-739-4665 to ask about any holiday open houses or special model train days. Its listed weekend hours may change around Thanksgiving and Christmas, so a call is worth it before any holiday trip.

Is the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum website down?

In fall 2026 the museum's website at roundhouse.org was showing an error page instead of its usual content. The phone number, 301-739-4665, remains the best way to reach the museum and confirm hours. Its listings on Visit Hagerstown and Visit Maryland also carry basic information.

What train museums are near the Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum?

The B&O Railroad Roundhouse historic site in Martinsburg, West Virginia is about 17 miles away. The Walkersville Southern Railroad is about 23 miles, the Brunswick Heritage Museum about 24 miles, and the Western Maryland Railway Historical Society Museum in Union Bridge about 30 miles from Hagerstown.

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