Celebrate George!

February 11 -or 22nd (!) is George Washington’s birthday.The young George Washington visited our area at important points in his life and career.In March 1748, during his time as a surveyor, he wrote of visiting the Cresap home at the mouth of the South Branch...

The 18th Amendment in Cumberland

On Jan 16 1789, Congress passed the 18th Amendment to the Constitution, prohibiting the manufacture, transport or sale of intoxicating liquors. (Citizens of Cumberland voted nearly two to one against the idea.) Bars closed while speakeasies flourished, and near-beer...

Famous local historian

Will Lowdermilk is a name famous among local historians. Will H. Lowdermilk was born in Cumberland, January 7, 1839. He attended college and afterwards learned the art of printing.After fighting on the Confederate side in the Civil War, he returned to Cumberland,...

Jane Frazier – frontiers woman

Jane Frazier was born January 1, 1735. Her life is an example of the hardships endured by the early settlers to the Cumberland area. The Maryland Gazette of October 9, 1755, reported that Indians had carried off a woman from Frazier’s Plantation, near the mouth...

Taste New York Christmas at Allegany Museum

Do you love New York’s Christmas store window displays? Allegany Museum is lucky enough to house scenes from Sleeping Beauty, featuring mechanized Sleeping Beauty characters, originally displayed in the windows of Saks Fifth Avenue in New York City. It is very...

Holiday Magic at Allegany Museum

Allegany Museum’s 2019 Holiday Event Series will begin with an Open House, Friday November 29th. After the civic Tree Lighting Ceremony, the Arthur and Bernice Friedland Grand Courtroom on the 2nd floor of Allegany Museum will be open to all for refreshments and a...

1930s unrest at Celanese plant

In 1918, the Cellulose & Chemical Manufacturing Company, Ltd. (the ‘Celanese’) was opened in Cumberland, Maryland . At times, the plant employed more than 5,000. Most worked about 10 hours a day, six days a week, and earned less than $10 a week.  . Whole...

Magic & Comedy at the Allegany Museum!

Louis Paul, ” Master Magician” will present “Holiday Magic at the Museum”.on Saturday, December 7Two shows @ 10a.m. & 11a.m.Paul is an internationally known, award winning performer who will blend magic, music and comedy plus audience participation for a half hour...

Do we belong to Dixie?

On November 14 1763, Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon began surveying the Mason-Dixon line between Maryland and Pennsylvania. The line was established to end a boundary dispute between the British colonies of Maryland and Pennsylvania/Delaware. The most serious...