Nearby places worth visiting while in Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland sits where the Potomac River meets Wills Creek, and First Presbyterian Church is located on Washington Street in the city’s historic district. Once our 913th Stated Meeting has adjourned, these six stops offer history, art, and room to think, starting with the Underground Railroad tunnels beneath Emmanuel Episcopal Church. Several are within the same historic district as our meeting.
Emmanuel Episcopal Church: Underground Railroad Tunnels and the Fort Cumberland Site
16 Washington Street
Beneath Emmanuel, low earthwork tunnels left over from Fort Cumberland are remembered as a stop on the Underground Railroad. The parish tells of the abolitionist rector David Hillhouse Buel, who arrived in 1847, and its tours cover the parish’s role in that history. A 2025 Baltimore Magazine travel feature singled out the tunnel walk as a highlight of the visit.
Above ground, the church sits on the foundations of Fort Cumberland, the 1755 outpost where George Washington began his military career. The Gothic Revival sanctuary holds three original Tiffany stained glass windows and a scale model of the fort.
The Washington Street Historic District
Washington Street, from Wills Creek to the 600 block
The church sits inside this National Register district, about 35 acres of mostly residential blocks west of downtown. The remains of Fort Cumberland are here, along with the Washington Street Library, the Allegany County Circuit Courthouse, George Washington’s Headquarters from the French and Indian War (his first Military Command), and the Allegany County Historical Society.
The grounds around Emmanuel are part of the Fort Cumberland Walking Trail, which is marked with plaques. A trail leaflet is available at the visitor center. This is an easy stop for a short walk after lunch.
Plan your visit: Free and open to walk at any time. Pick up the trail leaflet at the Cumberland Visitor Center, 13 Canal Street.
Gilchrist Museum of the Arts and History
104 Washington Street
A restored 1845 mansion on the same street as the church. The museum offers rotating art exhibits, an art library, and landscaped gardens. It is a good place for quiet reflection and a slower pace.
Plan your visit: Free admission, with donations welcome. Listed hours are 1 to 4 p.m. More information
Allegany Museum
3 Pershing Street, downtown Cumberland
The museum fills a 1932 Art Deco and Neoclassical building that once served as a federal courthouse and post office. The 3,400 square foot Grand Courtroom is part of the visit.
he first floor tells the story of how people moved through this region, with canal and train models, a restored 1825 Conestoga wagon, a model of Fort Cumberland, and early depictions of George Washington. Upstairs you will find regional glassware, Appalachian folk art, and other local industry and craft collections.
Plan your visit: Free admission, with donations welcome. Hours on Thursday are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 301-777-7200. More information
Canal Place and the C&O Canal Visitor Center
13 Canal Street
Canal Place marks the western end of the C&O Canal and the starting point of the Great Allegheny Passage. The Visitor Center occupies the historic 1913 Western Maryland Railway Station. Exhibits cover the canal’s construction, cargo, mules, locks, and crews, and include a model of the Paw Paw Tunnel and a life-size section of a canal boat.
Outside, you can walk the towpath, visit the shops, and see a full-size replica canal boat. A pedestrian bridge leads to George Washington’s Headquarters, part of the Fort Cumberland site. There are also bike rentals at Wheelz Up if anyone does want to enjoy a bike ride without their own bike.
Plan your visit: Visitor Center hours vary. Check with the National Park Service before you go.
The Gordon-Roberts House
218 Washington Street
The Gordon-Roberts House was built in 1867 by Josiah Hance Gordon, a prominent attorney in Cumberland.The Second Empire style home is operated as a house museum and is opened to the public for tours. Visitors are welcomed by costumed tour docents that escort them along three floors of the home illustrating the lifestyle of an upper-middle class family of the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.
Hours, tour availability, and ticket details change. Confirm with each site before you visit.
