A Guide to Must-See Museums in Western Maryland

The Grantsville region is a hotbed for all things historic. If you enjoy learning from the past, Western Maryland offers a variety of museums to scratch your itch. Read on to get our must-see guide of museums in Western Maryland below.


GRANTSVILLE COMMUNITY MUSEUM

Number one on our list is a famous museum in downtown Grantsville. The Grantsville Community Museum opens on June 5th and boasts more than a few popular exhibits like the Spinning Wheel, the Pony Express, and a Display of B52 Memorabilia. The museum exists to "preserve history" and is open to all who take an interest in historical artifacts.  


GARRETT COUNTY TRANSPORTATION MUSEUM

"Return to the past" with the Garrett County Transportation Museum, with two full floors of exhibits featuring carriages, sleighs, buggies, fire department artifacts, and automobiles. Other displays include an original Garrett County sailboat produced by Gordon Douglass Boat Company in the 1950s and Garrett County's first snowmobile dating from the 1960s. 


Garrett County Historical Museum

Opening on May 1st, the Garrett County Historical Museum is eager to display an old-fashioned way of life in Garrett County. The tour is self-guided (with assistance as needed) and transports tourists back in time to a bustling society with trains stampeding through town and a Deep Creek Lake that was "merely a stream." 


ALLEGANY MUSEUM

The Allegany Museum is a diamond in the rough. Its pièce de résistance is the Thrasher Carriage collection, "a rare and extensive collection of horse-drawn vehicles dating to the late 1800s and early 1900s." The unprecedented collection includes "everything from milkman carts to luxurious sleighs used by the Vanderbilt family, funeral hearses, and President Teddy Roosevelt's inauguration coach."


CUMBERLAND RAILROAD MUSEUM

The Cumberland Railroad Museum expresses its commitments in its name -- Cumberland's rich railroad heritage. The museum displays artifacts from several historic railroads, including Baltimore & Ohio, Western Maryland, Georges Creek & Cumberland, Cumberland & Pennsylvania, and Pennsylvania. 


OAKLAND B&O RAILROAD STATION AND MUSEUM

The Oakland B&O Railroad Station, located in Oakland, Maryland, is a stunning example of a Queen Anne-style railway station. In 1872, Garrett County (the county in which Oakland and Grantsville are located) was named in honor of John Garrett, the President of the B&O Railroad. The Oakland B&O Railroad Station was later built in 1884, and in 1974, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The station has since undergone a complete, historically-accurate renovation.

The Oakland B&O Museum, which opened in 2013 in Oakland's former railroad station, is free to tour. The museum holds the key to times past, featuring railroad history, children's activities, and lecture series. Visitors can also view a restored 1920s Baldwin steam locomotive, tender, boxcar, and caboose outside the station. 


HISTORICAL SITES GALORE

We encourage you to check out these other exciting museums nearby: 

And if you would like to learn more about the many historical sites near the Grantsville area, read our related blog, 5 Historical Sites Near Grantsville, Maryland, That You Should See


TAKING A ROAD TRIP TO WESTERN MARYLAND? VISIT THE CASSELMAN INN AND RESTAURANT

Ready to explore, learn, and eat a great meal on your next trip?

Look no further than The Casselman Inn and Restaurant. Not only will you have plenty to look forward to in town, but you can enjoy Grantsville's rich historical legacy firsthand from the Casselman. Booking a room with us means pristine comfort, a lovely dinner and breakfast, and the finest baked goods in all of Maryland. 

Call us at 301-895-5055 or contact us online. We look forward to the opportunity to serve you.