North Central Railroad, Baltimore Freight House, Guilford & Centre Streets, Baltimore, Independent City, MD

Significance: The Baltimore Freight Shed, built by the Northern Central Railroad, is a rare example of composite timber and iron roof construction of the mid 19th century. The roof structure is comprised of a series of tricomposite trusses with timber top chords, wrought iron tension rods and cast iron compression members. This use of both timber and iron in the same roofing system formed a transition period between short span timber trusses and longer span iron and steel trusses that would be in widespread use by the end of the century.
Survey number: HAER MD-38