In 1968, the Ellicott City B&O Railroad Station was named to the National Register of Historic Places, as the First Terminus of the first railroad in America. Built in 1831, it was the reason Ellicott City became a prominent place in the nineteenth century. In 1972, Tropical Storm Agnes severely damaged the town and threatened the existence of the station. Historic Ellicott City, Inc. formed in 1974, to save the building, and for over thirty years was its custodian, shepherding the facility through two major restorations, acquiring and restoring a caboose, a gang trailer, a speeder car and a handcar. The facility became well known for its living history exhibits featuring volunteer reenactors, including “The Civil War: A Maryland Story,” “Roads to Rails,” “World War II, the Home Front,” and the annual Holiday Model Train Exhibit. In January 2006, Historic Ellicott City, Inc. will turn over operation of the facility to the Howard County Government Department of Recreation and Parks.