B&O Railroad Museum Celebrates Olive Dennis’s Upcoming Induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame
Baltimore, MD — February 2, 2026 — The B&O Railroad Museum is proud to announce that Olive Dennis, a trailblazing civil engineer for the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, will be inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame® as part of the 2026 class on May 7. Olive Dennis’s groundbreaking work transformed passenger rail travel, making journeys safer, more comfortable, and more enjoyable for millions of travelers.
Dennis’s legacy is a cornerstone of the B&O Railroad Museum’s story. During her nearly 30 years with the railroad, she combined technical expertise and firsthand experience to innovate railroad passenger car design, enhancing everything from seating and lighting to ventilation. Her contributions not only elevated the passenger experience but also paved the way for women in engineering and STEM fields at a time when the industry was overwhelmingly male-dominated.
“The B&O Railroad Museum is honored to celebrate Olive Dennis’ remarkable achievements,” said Kris Hoellen, Executive Director. “Olive’s inventions are still used today – reclining seats, footrests, dimmable lights, stain resistant upholstery and so much more – she was a true pioneer who trailblazed for women and made rail transportation more comfortable for all.”
The other 2026 National Inventors Hall of Fame inductees and their accomplishments include:
- Louis Argenta and Michael Morykwas: Inventors of Vacuum Assisted Closure® (V.A.C.), a medical device that promotes healing of difficult wounds using controlled suction.
- Sara Blakely: Creator of Spanx® shapewear, revolutionizing the apparel industry and becoming the youngest self-made woman billionaire.
- Gebisa Ejeta: Developer of drought- and disease-resistant sorghum hybrids, improving food security worldwide.
- Teresa Meng: Pioneer of CMOS Wi-Fi technology, enabling faster, energy-efficient wireless communications.
- Henry Samueli: Co-founder of Broadcom Inc., advancing affordable broadband communications.
- Feng Zhang: Innovator of CRISPR gene-editing systems, transforming genetic research and therapies.
- Donald Alstadt (Posthumous): Inventor of Chemlok® rubber-to-metal adhesive system, widely used across multiple industries.
- Frank S. Greene Jr. (Posthumous): Developer of high-speed semiconductor memory technology and advocate for diversity in STEM.
- Maurus Logan (Posthumous): Inventor of Ty-Rap® cable ties, improving safety and efficiency in electrical installations.
- George Maison, Irving Porush, and Charles Thiel (Posthumous): Creators of the pressurized metered dose inhaler (MDI), saving millions of lives with portable asthma treatment.
- Reuben Trane (Posthumous): Innovator of the lightweight convector radiator, advancing heating and cooling technologies globally.
About the B&O Railroad Museum
The B&O Railroad Museum, located in Baltimore, Md., is the birthplace of American railroading, a National Historic Landmark, a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate, and a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom site. It is dedicated to the preservation and interpretation of American railroading and its impact on American life, socially, culturally and economically. The Museum is home to the oldest, most comprehensive collection of railroad artifacts in the Western Hemisphere, including an unparalleled roster of 19th and 20th century railroad equipment, over 30 million archival documents, the 1851 Mt. Clare Station, the 1884 Baldwin Roundhouse as well as the first mile of commercial railroad track ever laid in America. The Museum welcomes guests annually from all 50 states and 40 countries. For more information, please call 410- 752-2490 or visit www.borail.org.
About the National Inventors Hall of Fame
The National Inventors Hall of Fame is the premier nonprofit organization in America dedicated to recognizing inventors and invention, promoting creativity, and advancing the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship. Founded in 1973 in partnership with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the Hall of Fame is committed to not only honoring the individuals whose inventions have made the world a better place, but to ensuring American ingenuity continues to thrive in the hands of coming generations through its national, hands-on educational programming and collegiate competitions focused on the exploration of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. For more information, visit invent.org. To nominate an inventor for Induction, visit invent.org/nominate.
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Media Contact:
Stephanie Jayakanthan
B&O Railroad Museum
sjayakanthan@borail.org
520-233-3947 (cell)
