# 5758 - 2023 First-Class Forever Stamp - Historic Railroad Stations: Point of Rocks Station, Maryland

U.S. #5758
2023 Point of Rocks Station, Maryland
Historic Railroad Stations

• Honors Point of Rocks railroad station in Maryland
• Part of the Historic Railroad Stations set which celebrates the railroad stations that revolutionized the transportation of goods and people across America

Stamp Category:  Commemorative
Set:  Historic Railroad Stations
Value:  63¢ First Class Mail Rate (Forever)
First Day of Issue:  March 9, 2023
First Day City:  Cincinnati, Ohio
Quantity Issued:  30,000,000
Printed by:  Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method:  Offset, Flexographic
Format:  Panes of 20
Self-Adhesive

Why the stamp was issued:  Issued to honor Point of Rocks train station as well as the history, nostalgia, and romance of train travel.

About the stamp design:  Along with the other four in the set, this stamp pictures digital illustrations and typography by Down the Street Designs.  The Point of Rocks design pictures the railroad station with its iconic steeple against a bright blue sky.  There is a classic-style street lamp in the foreground.

First Day City:  The Historic Railroad Stations stamps has their First Day of Issue Ceremony in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the Cincinnati Union Terminal.  Its awe-inspiring art deco style, massive size, and the fact that it was pictured on one of the stamps in the set made it a perfect location for the First Day of Issue Ceremony.

About the Historic Railroad Stations set:  There are five different railroad stations depicted in the set:  Tamaqua Station in Pennsylvania; Point of Rocks Station in Maryland; Main Street Station in Virginia; Santa Fe Station in California; and Union Terminal in Ohio.  All stations (except Tamaqua) were in use for passenger service at the time the stamps were issued, and all five are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

History the stamp represents:  Point of Rocks Station is a train station in Point of Rocks, Maryland.  It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.  The station building itself is retired from public use, but the nearby platforms are still utilized by passengers taking the Maryland Rail Commuter Service (now the MARC Brunswick Line).

The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad built Point of Rocks Station in 1873.  It was designed by E. Francis Baldwin in the Gothic Revival style.  The main station building is two-and-a-half stories tall and includes a four-story tower with a one-and-a-half story wing at the base.  The tower has a pyramid-shaped roof with a cupola at the top.

Over the years, Point of Rocks became one of the best-known stops on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.  Many photographers enjoyed shooting in the area due to the scenic qualities offered by the view of the Potomac River.  Likewise, Point of Rocks Station became one of the most well-known stations on the railroad line.

While many people wish to maintain Point of Rocks Station, its current owner (CSX Transportation) is not known for historical preservation.  Despite this, the Point of Rocks Community Historical Society has gotten involved and hopes to ensure the protection and renovation of the station for future generations to enjoy.