Ellicott City Station was part of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad's Ellicott City complex, the heart of the industrial and agricultural community once known as Ellicott’s Mills. The railroad built several structures on or near the site, including Oliver Viaduct and horse stables in 1830, a turntable in 1863, and a freight house in 1885. The main building was the original terminus of the first 13 miles of commercial rail operated in the United States and is the oldest surviving railroad station in America. It served as a freight and produce depot until passenger facilities were added in 1856-1857. Passenger service to Ellicott City ended in 1949 and freight service ended in 1972, although modern freight trains still pass through Ellicott City. Today the complex operates as a museum interpreting the history of the depot and the lives of people who lived, worked and traveled through its historic walls.
