Railway Museum Reopens

By Noah Hale

On June 28, members and staff of the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum welcomed guests to a special rededication ceremony. It was a big day for the little museum; after more than a year and a half of meticulous renovations, the museum was ready to welcome visitors again.

Before its make-over, the museum was sometimes referred to as an “attic” (or as “grandma’s attic” if you were a little more fond) because of the previous arrangement of the different artifacts.

“The way we had our exhibit set up before, we had so much stuff … there was no rhyme or reason to it, so we decided to go ahead and put some semblance of order here” said staff member Correine Moore.

Now, the museum is modern and tidy. Some of the additions, such as the new QR codes printed beside the captioned plaques, put the various items in context within the 21st century. Visitors can use their smartphone’s camera to scan them and learn more about the corresponding railway-related heirlooms that have been passed down through generations. These include postcards, old-fashioned bathing suits, antique beach toys, and a wooden carousel horse, just to name a few. Most of these have recordings to go along with them, and many of these recordings were made by people who are still members of the museum today. There were more than a few voice actors who were related to active participants of the railway when it was in operation from 1898 to 1935—grandmothers and grandfathers, mothers and fathers, workers and passengers. It’s a testament to the importance of the museum today. “[A] train station is more than schedules and more than just a building; it’s a destination unto itself, and it’s a holder of memories,” said Joanie Kilmon, who serves on the Friends of the Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum Board of Directors.

The renovations were made possible by a grant from the Maryland Historical Trust. “This museum plays an important role in the history of Chesapeake Beach and Calvert County,” said county Commissioner Earl Vance. “We are filled with immense pride to be able to help keep our county’s history alive.”

The railway was meant to make this part of the Chesapeake “an American Monte Carlo” according to one of the museum’s plaques. It didn’t turn out that way. The beach town responded negatively to the plan and so the investors decided to make Chesapeake Beach a family friendly vacation spot. As curator Jeff Murray said, “[T]hey built a community that thrived on tourism. It’s a wonderful story, and it’s one that I think will resonate with audiences near and far, now and into the future.”

It’s a hidden gem of a museum. There’s something for everyone, and if you didn’t like trains before, you’ll most likely leave with a better appreciation for them after hearing so many passionate people talk and reminisce about this old train station.

The Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum is open from 1-4 p.m. from April to October. Learn more at https://chesapeakebeachrailwaymuseum.com/.