Volunteer

Become a B&O Volunteer! 

Be a part of Baltimore railroad history by volunteering at the B&O Railroad Museum! By joining our team, you become part of a select group of individuals dedicated to preserving and presenting American railroading history for our visitors. 

This is an exciting time to join our volunteer team. The B&O Railroad Museum has volunteer positions for all interests, abilities and skill levels. Volunteers are the backbone of our Museum operations. We rely on volunteers to greet visitors, give daily tours of our campus, conduct passenger train rides, maintain railroad track, assist in educational programming, maintain model layouts, process archival material, care for the Museum’s collection, and much more.

The Museum makes every effort to work with our volunteer’s schedules and provides flexible hours for most positions. Many openings require the volunteer to work during regular museum hours, although certain catered events and receptions are held during evening hours. Training and materials are provided. 

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Apply Now! 

We provide two easy ways to apply for a volunteer position:

Forms can be mailed to B&O Railroad Museum, 901 West Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21223.

Your completed application will be forwarded to the museum’s volunteer coordinator for review. Should your skills meet our current needs and volunteer position openings, you will be contacted for an interview. At that time we will be able to learn more about your interests and begin working to place you in a position that will be both fulfilling to you and beneficial to the museum. 

Thank you again for your interest, and we look forward to hearing from you! 

It is the policy of the B&O Railroad Museum (B&O) to comply fully with the letter and spirit of all laws regarding equal employment opportunity (EEO). Specifically, there shall be no discrimination against any employee or applicant on grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, national origin, marital status, military status, disability, or any other characteristic that is legally protected.

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Volunteer Positions:

Administrative Volunteer

As an administrative volunteer you will be called upon to assist with office work in various departments when needed including but not limited to data entry, filing, mail preparation, and gift shop organization.

Archives Volunteer

As an archives volunteer, you will work closely with our curatorial department in various tasks such researching and cataloguing historic artifacts and documents, conducting research for scholars and the public, and assisting in the management and organization of our collection of historical documents, photographs, and objects. Previous relevant experience, relevant studies, extensive railroading experience, or extensive railroading history knowledge required for consideration.

Private Events Volunteer

A private events volunteer may be asked to attend either day or evening events. Their main job duties will be to welcome guests to the museum, track attendance numbers using a hand counter, direct guests to the restroom and answer any other questions they may have while attending an event.

Volunteer Docent

As a volunteer docent, you will be a visible presence on the museum floor for visitors to the museum. Tasks include answering questions posed by visitors, sharing information about events and programs, presenting tours, and assisting with public train rides as needed. Prior knowledge or interest in railroad history and an ability to retain new information preferred.

Facilities Volunteer

As a facilities volunteer, you will be called on for various grounds projects like clean-up, painting, woodwork, and construction as needed.

G-Scale Layout Volunteer

As a G-scale layout volunteer you will work with our outdoor G-Scale model layout maintaining the tracks, train cars, and landscape as well as troubleshoot layout errors as needed. Prior G-Scale experience required.

H-O Scale Layout Volunteer

As a H-O scale layout volunteer you will work with our H-O scale model layouts maintaining track and locomotive function and troubleshooting as needed. Prior H-O Scale layout experience required.

Interpretive Docent

As an interpretive docent you will work with our education team to present tours and workshops to a wide range of ages from toddler age through adulthood. Interpretive Docents are scheduled based on the museum’s calendar of events and private group bookings.

Marketing Volunteer

As a marketing volunteer you will work with our marketing team in the promotion of museum events and programs. Tasks will include capturing video and photographs during events and programs for future promotion, data entry, social media & electronic calendar maintenance. Photography experience and possession of your own camera required for those interested in capturing images. Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, WordPress and social media interfaces like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok preferred for interested in the data entry tasks.

Rail Operations

As a rail operation volunteer you can expect to work hands-on with various tasks like maintaining the track used by the Mile One Express, assist with maintenance on locomotives, train to be a conductor or engineer and perform demonstrations for the public. Ability to perform physical labor required.

Restoration Assistant

As a restoration assistant you will assist our team with restoring pieces from our collection of historical train cars and locomotives including mechanical, cosmetic, and interior restorations. Ability to perform physical labor required.

Prefer to apply by mail? Download and mail in form.

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Current Volunteers

Please see here for access to Volunteer portal.