| Chesapeake Beach railway station | |
| Location: | 8005 Bayside Rd., Chesapeake Beach, Maryland |
| Coordinates: | 38.69°N -76.5342°W |
| Built: | 1898 |
| Architect: | Mr. Winston |
| Added: | September 11, 1980 |
| Refnum: | 80001798 |
The Chesapeake Beach railway station is a historic railway station located at Chesapeake Beach, Calvert County, Maryland, United States. It is composed of two one-story, hip-roofed sections; one part was once an open passenger boarding area that was later enclosed for storage. The station was erected in 1898, for the Chesapeake Beach Railway.[1] It is now operated as a railway museum.
The Chesapeake Beach Railway Station was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
The station was originally opened as a stop along the railway when Otto Mears sought to create a resort town at the Chesapeake Bay between Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Mears and his business associates established hotels, beaches, casinos and a boardwalk. On June 9, 1900, the first train arrived at the station. However, 35 years later, the Great Depression and the growing popularity of cars led to a decline in business. The last train left the station on April 15, 1935.[2]
The station was dedicated as a museum to the Calvert County Board of Commissioners by Gerald and Fred Donovan in 1979.[3] The Calvert County Historical Society is responsible for maintaining the building and its exhibits. The museum features artifacts, exhibits and programs commemorating the Chesapeake Beach Railway and local history.[4]