About this city
Also known as: Where the West Began, The Queen City
Cumberland is an exceptionally historic mountain city located in western Maryland, serving as the proud county seat of Allegany County, nestled within a dramatic mountain gorge carved by the Potomac River. Formally incorporated in 1815, the city earned widespread national historical significance as the definitive 'Gateway to the West,' functioning as the starting point of the monumental National Road and the ultimate western terminus of the historic Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. Cumberland features a majestic structural heritage characterized by steep hillside church spires, palatial Victorian commercial brick avenues, and an energetic historic pedestrian downtown. It thrives today as a premier regional hub for heritage mountain tourism and wilderness exploration.
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Practical Tourism Metadata
Suggested stay: 1–3 days
Board a historic steam train for a spectacular panoramic ride through the mountain passes on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad. Walk or cycle the ultimate western starting point of the 184.5-mile Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. Stroll the historic, brick-paved Downtown Cumberland Pedestrian Mall to browse antique shops. Hike to look down at the river valley from the towering cliffs of the Cumberland Narrows.
