First section of Baltimore and Ohio Railroad opens

On May 27, 1830, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad inaugurated scheduled passenger operations using horse-drawn cars on its pioneering track from Baltimore to Ellicott's Mills, Maryland. This marked the first common-carrier railroad in the United States, overcoming significant engineering challenges such as the Carrollton Viaduct and setting the stage for America's rail network expansion. Key figures included Philip Thomas and George Brown, whose vision connected the port of Baltimore to western markets. The event spurred rapid adoption of steam locomotives like the Tom Thumb and influenced national transportation policy during the early industrial era.