Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Martinsburg Shops

The circular structure contains sixteen maintenance bays arranged around a central turntable for servicing locomotives, with a distinctive bell-shaped roof covering the entire space.

The initial 1849 roundhouse was destroyed during the Civil War by Confederate troops, leading to its reconstruction between 1866 and 1872 with cast-iron structural elements.

The complex played a central role in the Great Railroad Strike of 1877, when railroad workers in Martinsburg initiated the first nationwide labor action in United States history.

The Berkeley County Commission manages the roundhouse complex as an event venue, offering public tours to showcase the industrial heritage of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.

The structure stands as North America's last remaining cast-iron frame roundhouse, incorporating standardized prefabricated elements designed by architect Albert Fink.

Location: Martinsburg

Architects: Albert Fink

GPS coordinates: 39.46080,-77.95940

Latest update: March 6, 2025 12:20