Discover Cumberland: Trails, Museums and Railroad History

Cumberland brings together the history of waterways, railroads and human movement with distinctive museums and a diverse events program. Anyone looking to plan a trip combining culture, historical experiences and outdoor activities will find several different points of interest here. When choosing your vacation rental, you can therefore consider whether your trip should focus primarily on museums and live performances, the history of transportation routes, or a stay centered around the well-known trails.

Along the C&O Canal and Historic Trails

The Cumberland Terminus Visitor Center is located at Mile 184.5 along the C&O Canal Towpath in Allegany County, Maryland. The Cumberland Visitor Center is housed in the Western Maryland Railway station and offers interactive exhibits on the history of the C&O Canal and Cumberland. This brings the themes of the canal, railroad and local history together in one place, without requiring you to limit your trip to just one historical perspective.

Cumberland is also a distinctive starting point for planning active days: The Great Allegheny Passage and the C&O Towpath meet in downtown Cumberland. The Great Allegheny Passage runs 150 miles from Pittsburgh to Cumberland. If you would like to explore a longer trail history or incorporate individual sections into your trip, you can take this route connection into account when planning your days. Your specific vacation rental should match your preferred focus, whether that means a trip with plenty of culture or a stay in which trails and transportation history form the central theme.

Museums with Stories to Tell

The “Crossroads of America” exhibit at the Allegany Museum traces the history of human movement through Cumberland and Allegany County. The transportation exhibit expands on this theme with scale models of canal boats and trains, as well as a fully restored Conestoga wagon from 1825. Another section presents examples of various businesses and provides an overview of the county’s glassware industry. A museum visit allows you to connect different forms of regional economic and transportation history.

The C. William Gilchrist Gallery & Museum is housed in a restored 1845 Federal Creek Revival–style mansion. The property includes rotating art exhibitions, an art library and landscaped gardens. The Embassy Theatre was originally built as a movie theater in 1931 during the Great Depression and is now a historic center for live performing arts in downtown Cumberland. Culture enthusiasts can therefore choose among different focuses, including museums, architecture and live performances.

Traditions, Trains and a Program for Different Interests

The signature Heritage Days festival combines history, art, crafts, festival food and activities for children. The 2026 Heritage Days program also includes replicas of Washington’s command tents from the American Revolutionary War on the Canal Place Festival Lawn. If you are traveling with children, this program offers a specific historical experience that goes beyond exhibits; at the same time, adults will find points of interest in crafts, history and regional festival traditions.

A ride on a historic train departs from Cumberland at the historic Western Maryland Railway station in the 58-acre Canal Place Heritage Park. Cumberland Station of the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is therefore worthwhile to organize your desired experiences in advance and choose a vacation rental in Cumberland according to your personal daily rhythm.

More Places to Include in Your Trip Planning

In addition to Cumberland’s attractions, you can also include Frostburg, Barton and La Vale in your further research. This keeps Cumberland as the starting point for your selection while allowing you to discover additional places in the wider travel area.

For the broader travel overview: Allegany.