EXPLORE THE COLLECTION
“The strains of a reed organ attract attention to wonderful carousals, where a whole menagerie of animals, no two alike, circle round the pavilion, employing the manner of locomotion peculiar to each kind.”
From Article: “An Attractive Resort / Many New Features to Be Found at Chesapeake Beach”, The Washington Times, June 10, 1900, p.3
The Chesapeake Beach Railway Museum houses a large collection of photographs, archival material and three-dimensional objects. The biggest object is the museum building itself, the original railway station built in 1898. The collection also includes the last remaining known passenger car of the Chesapeake Beach Railway, named the Dolores, which sits behind the museum.
There are four major categories in the collection that document the founding of the railway, the amusement park through the years, and the history of the town and surrounding area. The four categories are: Photographs/Postcards, Archival Material, Clothing/Swimsuits, and Three-dimensional Objects. Below are examples of items in each collection.
PHOTOGRAPHS & POSTCARDS
CLICK HERE TO EXPLORE THE COLLECTION
Our collection of photographs and postcards captures moments throughout the decades to tell a visual story and history.
ARCHIVES
Our vast collection of early business records, blueprints, and other archival material, document the story of Chesapeake Beach.
SWIMSUITS & CLOTHING
Changing fashions reflect changing times. Our swimsuit collection dates from the 1900s and continues into the 1970s, exhibiting the evolution along the way.
THREE-DIMENSIONAL OBJECTS
Our three dimensional collection includes a range of objects from the building depot itself to the smallest of amusement park souvenirs. Each object tells a story.
THE DOLORES
The Dolores parlor car is the last known remaining rolling stock from the Chesapeake Beach Railway. In 1979, we brought the Dolores back home to Chesapeake Beach to help tell our story.
