Railroads have undoubtedly shaped the course of American history -- but have you ever thought about their effect on the Civil War? The War Came By Train at the B&O Railroad Museum (901 West Pratt St., Baltimore, Md.) explores the first war in which railroads played a prominent role, starting with the Baltimore riot of 1861 and ending with Lincoln's funeral train.
You can take your own train ride (available only on the weekends in January) to and from the museum and past other points of Civil War history. Lucky riders may even be treated to Civil War reenactments or get a chance to "meet" Civil War soldiers and learn about their life on the rails.
At the museum, explore a comprehensive collection of authentic Civil War locomotives and rail cars -- plus the largest collection of Civil War railroad equipment in the world, the museum says.
Visitors can learn about the railroad's impact on the course of American history by examining personal artifacts of soldiers, plus B&O employees and other civilians who lived during that time.
The museum is open Mon.-Sat. from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and Sun. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission is $16 for adults and $10 for kids. Train ride prices vary (see PDF for details).
