The C&O Historical Society was established in 1969 with the intent of collecting and making available to the public any and all information pertaining to the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway. The Society was incorporated in West Virginia in 1975 and achieved IRS eleemosynary status under subparagraph 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code in 1977. All donations in money or in kind are fully tax deductable.

The C&OHS acquired a full time archives staff and facility when it located its headquarters in Clifton Forge, Virginia in 1986. Our office is open five days a week. Access to the archival facility is by appointment. Please see our Contact page for location and telephone information.

The Society also owns the former C&O Freight Station in Clifton Forge which serves as the C&O Railway Heritage Center.