Thomas Viaduct, Baltimore & Ohio Railroad
Historic basket handle masonry arch railroad bridge in Maryland. Built 1835. Added to the National Register in 1966, and a National Historic Landmark.
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What it is
The Thomas Viaduct is a viaduct that spans the Patapsco River and Patapsco Valley between Relay, Maryland and Elkridge, Maryland, USA. It was commissioned by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad (B&O); built between July 4, 1833, and July 4, 1835; and named for Philip E. Thomas, the company's first president. Some claim it to be the world's oldest multiple arched stone railroad bridge. However, the Sankey Viaduct on the Liverpool and Manchester Railway was opened in 1830 and finally completed in 1833.
Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
The record
| Property type | Structure |
| Address | Over the Patapsco River between Relay and Elkridge, Relay, MD |
| County | Baltimore County |
| Listed | Oct 15, 1966 |
| Listed for | Engineering, Transportation |
| Level of significance | National |
| Reference number | 66000388 |
| Built | 1835 · more from the 1830s |
| Type of place | bridge, railway bridge |
| Designations | National Historic Landmark, Historic Civil Engineering Landmark |
| Contributing resources | 1 structure |
The nomination form, the document that argues why this place matters, is in the National Archives: Read the nomination ↗
Visiting
| Address | Over the Patapsco River between Relay and Elkridge, Relay, MD |
| Coordinates | 39.2220° N, 76.7132° W · Directions ↗ |
| Nearest national park unit | Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail · 7 miles · on Park Atlas |
| Federal campgrounds nearby | Greenbelt Campground 19 miles · Greenbelt Park Picnic Areas 19 miles · Greenbelt Park Ranger Station 19 miles |
Explore
Drawings & photographs
Measured drawings and photographs from the Library of Congress. Public domain. All 1 record ↗
Map
Nearby in Baltimore County
Local history books for City of Baltimore
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Guidebooks to historic places in Maryland
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
When was Thomas Viaduct, Baltimore & Ohio Railroad listed on the National Register?
Oct 15, 1966. It is also a National Historic Landmark, the higher of the two designations.
Source: National Park Service
When was Thomas Viaduct, Baltimore & Ohio Railroad built?
1835.
Source: Wikidata
Where is Thomas Viaduct, Baltimore & Ohio Railroad?
Over the Patapsco River between Relay and Elkridge, Relay, Baltimore County, Maryland. The nearest national park unit is Star-Spangled Banner National Historic Trail, 7 miles away.
Are there historic photographs or drawings of Thomas Viaduct, Baltimore & Ohio Railroad?
Yes. The Historic American Buildings Survey at the Library of Congress has drawings or photographs of it.
Source: Library of Congress
Where is the nomination form for Thomas Viaduct, Baltimore & Ohio Railroad?
The National Archives holds the nomination form, the document that made the case for listing.
Source: National Archives
Are there campgrounds near Thomas Viaduct, Baltimore & Ohio Railroad?
Three federal campgrounds are within reach. The closest is Greenbelt Campground, 19 miles away. Greenbelt Park Picnic Areas is 19 miles away, and Greenbelt Park Ranger Station is 19 miles away.
Source: Campsite Atlas
Is there cell service at Thomas Viaduct, Baltimore & Ohio Railroad?
FCC coverage maps show Verizon 5G, AT&T 5G, and T-Mobile 5G at the listed point. Coverage indoors and behind old masonry is another matter.
Source: FCC Broadband Map
Sources
Location, type and contributing counts come from the National Park Service's National Register spatial data. Listing dates come from the National Register office's spreadsheet where it carries the listing. Construction date, architect, style, photograph and encyclopedia link come from Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons, matched on reference number 66000388. Nothing here is transcribed by hand. The nomination form and photographs ↗ at NPGallery are the original nomination as filed with the National Park Service, and the form is often the best description of the place. The description under "What it is" is the opening of the Wikipedia article, CC BY-SA. Drawings and photographs are Historic American Buildings Survey records at the Library of Congress, public domain.