The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad has long been regarded as the first "modern" railroad in America and an important work of civil engineering, but its true significance has been clouded by 150 years of myth, assertion, and unreliable history. A careful review of the evidence reaffirms the engineering significance of the B&O and its stature as one of America's most complex and innovative antebellum projects. The B&O Railroad demonstrates the profound effect civil engineering has had on our landscape, culture, and development. Assessing the mythology surrounding the company offers a model for how works of civil engineering acquire mythic or iconic status.
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