Martinsburg Roundhouse, West Virginia

Written By Kelsey Cecil

Martinsburg, West Virginia · Updated October 19, 2026 · 12 min read

Historic rail siteTours April 1 to October 31, Wednesday to Sunday

The Martinsburg Roundhouse, part of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Martinsburg Shops, is West Virginia's 16th National Historic Landmark and home of the West Roundhouse, the only cast-iron framed roundhouse still standing.

  • West Virginia's 16th National Historic Landmark
  • Only surviving cast-iron framed roundhouse
  • Sixteen-sided West Roundhouse, built 1866
  • Site of 1877 railroad strike
  • Tours April to October
  • Self-guided audio tour

Martinsburg Roundhouse at a glance

Hours
Tours April 1 to October 31: Wednesday to Saturday 10 am to 4 pm, Sunday 12 pm to 5 pm; last tour starts 1 hour before close
Admission
Not posted online; check with the Roundhouse when booking
Seasonal events
Roundhouse Rail Fest (West Virginia Day), Martinsburg Heritage Fair & Festival, Roundhouse Night Market, Home Show, Friends of the Roundhouse Appreciation Reception
Plan for
About 1 to 1.5 hours
Best for
History lovers, rail fans and school groups
Best ages
Ages 5 and up

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

Look inside the book

Taking the kids to Martinsburg Roundhouse? 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 Martinsburg.

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.

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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.

Iron, strikes and a roundhouse that refused to fall

Martinsburg was a Baltimore and Ohio Railroad town, and its shops sat in the middle of the Civil War, serving as a key site in the war's early months. In 1866 the B&O began rebuilding its roundhouse and machine shops here to service locomotives. The result was the West Roundhouse, a polygonal, sixteen-sided building that encloses a locomotive turntable and uses an early cast-iron framing system credited to engineer Albert Fink, with architecture also tied to John Rudolph Niernsee.

Eleven years later the shops were at the center of the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, often called the first national labor strike. No other site where that strike unfolded survives as intact as Martinsburg. Those two chapters of American history, together with the building's engineering, made the B&O Railroad Martinsburg Shops a National Historic Landmark, West Virginia's 16th. The district has three contributing buildings, and the West Roundhouse is counted as the oldest fully covered roundhouse in the United States. The American Society of Civil Engineers lists it as a historic civil engineering landmark as well.

The railroad used the shops until the mid-1980s. Travelers may also see the complex called the Martinsburg Roundhouse Center or simply the B&O Railroad Roundhouse. In 2000, ownership passed from a state commission to the Berkeley County Roundhouse Authority, a public corporation created by an act of the West Virginia Legislature. The authority restored and redeveloped the site, and today it describes its mission as preserving and revitalizing the landmark in support of community life, culture, history education and small business. Work continues, including a long-awaited replacement of the windows in the hyphen section, and the Friends of the Roundhouse support the effort.

Under the cast-iron frame

From April 1 to October 31, visitors can tour the roundhouse complex, guided by staff or by the self-guided audio tour that the Roundhouse links from its visit page. Inside the West Roundhouse, look up at the cast-iron frame and the sixteen-sided shape that sets it apart, then down at the turntable at the center, the device that once swung locomotives into their stalls. Rail and track grooves remain in the floor, a reminder that this was a working shop.

A caboose sits on the property, and the wider shops complex is also used for community events such as night markets, a home show and festivals, so the building often has a lively crowd. The last tours of the day begin an hour before closing, so arrive with time to spare.

Don’t miss

  1. The West RoundhouseBuilt starting in 1866, this sixteen-sided building is the only cast-iron framed roundhouse that survives, and the oldest fully covered roundhouse in the country.
  2. The turntableThe historic turntable at the center of the roundhouse is what made the building work, turning locomotives toward their stalls.
  3. The cast-iron framingAlbert Fink's early cast-iron framing system is the reason engineers recognize the building as a landmark in its own right.
  4. The 1877 strike storyMartinsburg is the most intact surviving site of the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, and tours spend time on what happened here.
  5. The cabooseA caboose on the grounds gives younger visitors a classic piece of rolling stock to look at, though climbing on it is not allowed.

Big spaces, a turntable and a STEM program

Children get a sense of scale here that a picture cannot give: a huge round building with a turntable in the middle, built to hold steam locomotives. School groups who visit both the Roundhouse and the For The Kids, by George Children's Museum have been receiving grow-your-own-food kits through a new STEM initiative for Berkeley County students, so the site is used to young visitors.

The Roundhouse sets clear rules for families. Every child must be with an adult at all times, and parents and chaperones are responsible for safety. Rails and track grooves in the floor are trip hazards, so closed-toe shoes are a good idea, and no one should run or climb on the property, furnishings or caboose. Kids old enough to walk carefully and listen to a guide will get the most from it.

Plan your visit: tips for Martinsburg Roundhouse

  • Wear closed-toe shoes: rail and track grooves in the floor are trip hazards.
  • Use the online tour reservation form, which takes groups of up to 20 per booking.
  • Groups of 20 or more should reserve at least 30 days ahead.
  • Last tours begin one hour before closing.
  • Smoking is not allowed anywhere on Roundhouse property.

The Roundhouse hosts community events through the year. Roundhouse Rail Fest celebrates West Virginia Day in June, the Martinsburg Heritage Fair & Festival comes in spring, and evening Night Markets fill the shops in the fall. Check the Roundhouse's events page for current dates, and see our West Virginia Christmas train rides list if you want a holiday train trip in the state.

A public authority and its friends

The Berkeley County Roundhouse Authority, a public corporation created by the West Virginia Legislature, owns and manages the site, with help from the Friends of the Roundhouse, whose supporters the authority thanks each year at an appreciation reception. You can help by taking a tour, coming to Rail Fest or a night market, renting the space for an event, or asking about the Friends group.

Rail history across the Potomac

Martinsburg sits close to several Maryland rail stops. The Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum is about 17 miles away, a natural pairing for roundhouse fans, and the Brunswick Heritage Museum is about 21 miles off. For a train ride, the Walkersville Southern Railroad is about 32 miles away. You can also see our full list of West Virginia train museums.

Every train museum in West Virginia

Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive

Watercolor of Rally the corgi looking out an arched train window at the ocean and a white bird
From Rally Takes the Train, watercolor by Leslie Dunn.

The Roundhouse just finished replacing its windows, and I love imagining light pouring into that big iron building again. Windows are Rally's favorite part of a train ride. In our book he sits by an arched window, looks out at the ocean and says hello to a white bird. Kids notice windows the way he does, so ask yours what they would have seen from inside a roundhouse in 1866.

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 Martinsburg Roundhouse?

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.

Martinsburg Roundhouse: 20 questions visitors ask

What is the Martinsburg Roundhouse?

The Martinsburg Roundhouse is part of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Martinsburg Shops in Martinsburg, West Virginia, a National Historic Landmark. Its West Roundhouse, built beginning in 1866, is the only surviving cast-iron framed roundhouse. The Berkeley County Roundhouse Authority manages the site for tours, education and community events.

Where is the Martinsburg Roundhouse?

The Roundhouse is at 100 East Liberty Street, Martinsburg, West Virginia 25404. It is the site of the former Baltimore and Ohio Railroad shops in town. The Roundhouse does not post parking details online, so check its website or Facebook page before you go if you are bringing a group or bus.

What are the Martinsburg Roundhouse tour hours?

As of October 2026, seasonal tours run April 1 to October 31. Hours are Wednesday to Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm and Sunday from 12 pm to 5 pm, and the last tours begin one hour before closing. The Roundhouse is closed for tours on Mondays and Tuesdays.

How much does a Martinsburg Roundhouse tour cost?

The Roundhouse does not post tour prices online. Use the tour reservation form on its website, or email roundhouse1866@gmail.com, to ask about current pricing for individuals, families and school groups before your visit. Special events such as Rail Fest may be priced separately or free.

Do I need a reservation to tour the Martinsburg Roundhouse?

The Roundhouse offers an online tour reservation form for parties of up to 20 guests, where you choose a Wednesday to Sunday date and time. Large groups of 20 or more are strongly encouraged to reserve at least 30 days ahead. Booking a time is the safest way to make sure a tour is ready for you.

Is there an audio tour of the Martinsburg Roundhouse?

Yes. The Roundhouse links a self-guided audio tour from its visit page, so you can listen to the site's history at your own pace on your phone as you walk through. It is a handy option for families who want to move at their children's speed.

Why is the Martinsburg Roundhouse a National Historic Landmark?

The site earned landmark status for three reasons: its role early in the Civil War, its place at the center of the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, and its architecture, including Albert Fink's cast-iron framing. It is West Virginia's 16th National Historic Landmark.

What happened at the Martinsburg Roundhouse in 1877?

The B&O shops at Martinsburg were a center of the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, often described as the first national labor strike. The National Park Service notes that no other site where strike activity occurred remains as intact as the Martinsburg shops, which is why tours spend time on this chapter.

When was the Martinsburg Roundhouse built?

The B&O began rebuilding its Martinsburg roundhouse and machine shops in 1866, after the Civil War. The West Roundhouse, a sixteen-sided building with a turntable at its center, dates from that rebuilding, and the railroad kept using the shops until the mid-1980s.

What makes the Martinsburg West Roundhouse special?

It is the only cast-iron framed roundhouse still standing anywhere, and it is described as the oldest fully covered roundhouse in the United States. The American Society of Civil Engineers recognizes it as a historic engineering landmark and a fine example of mid-19th-century industrial building design.

Who owns the Martinsburg Roundhouse?

The Berkeley County Roundhouse Authority, a public corporation created by an act of the West Virginia Legislature, has owned the site since 2000, when a state commission transferred it. The authority restored and redeveloped the shops and now runs them for tours, education, public events and private rentals.

Is the Martinsburg Roundhouse good for kids?

Yes, for kids who can stay close and walk carefully. The giant round building and turntable make a big impression. All children must be with an adult, rails and track grooves are trip hazards, and no one may run or climb on the property or the caboose. School groups also take part in a STEM program here.

Can you climb on the caboose at the Martinsburg Roundhouse?

No. The Roundhouse's visitor guidelines ask guests not to run or climb on any part of the property, furnishings or the caboose. Kids are welcome to look at it up close with an adult, and it makes a good photo backdrop for young train fans.

What should I wear to the Martinsburg Roundhouse?

Closed-toe shoes are recommended. The Roundhouse warns that rails and track grooves in the floor are real trip hazards, so sturdy footwear makes the visit safer for adults and children alike. Leave sandals at home and keep an eye on little feet near the tracks.

Does the Martinsburg Roundhouse host events?

Yes, the Roundhouse is busy with community events. Recent listings include Roundhouse Rail Fest on West Virginia Day in June, the Martinsburg Heritage Fair & Festival in May, evening Roundhouse Night Markets in the fall, a spring Home Show and the Friends of the Roundhouse Appreciation Reception. Check the events page for dates.

Can I rent the Martinsburg Roundhouse for an event?

Yes. The Roundhouse is used for private rentals as well as public events, and its calendar shows private events booked in the space. For rental questions, email roundhousewvevents@gmail.com, or use the contact details on the Roundhouse website to ask about dates and spaces.

Is the Martinsburg Roundhouse open in winter?

Regular public tours run only from April 1 to October 31. Outside that season the building still hosts some events, such as night markets and private rentals, so check the events calendar on the Roundhouse website or Facebook page for anything happening during your visit.

How long does a visit to the Martinsburg Roundhouse take?

Plan on about an hour to an hour and a half to walk the West Roundhouse, see the turntable and hear the Civil War and 1877 strike stories, whether you follow a guide or the audio tour. Allow more time on festival days, when there is more going on around the shops.

How do I contact the Martinsburg Roundhouse?

Email roundhouse1866@gmail.com for general questions, or roundhousewvevents@gmail.com about events. The Roundhouse also posts updates on its Facebook page at facebook.com/MartinsburgRoundhouse and on Instagram and YouTube. No public phone number is listed on its website, so email is the most reliable way to reach staff.

What train museums are near the Martinsburg Roundhouse?

Several are within an easy drive. The Hagerstown Roundhouse Museum is about 17 miles away, the Brunswick Heritage Museum about 21 miles and the Walkersville Southern Railroad about 32 miles, all in Maryland. In West Virginia, the Potomac Eagle Scenic Railroad in Romney is about 43 miles away.

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