by Amanda Paul (Author)
Settled on the banks of the Potomac River, Cumberland has watched time and progress stream through since its days as a fort in the colonial wilderness. Ascending the throne as the Queen of the Alleghenies, the town became an essential transportation and industrial hub throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Serving as the starting point for the National Road, the western terminus of the C&O Canal, and an important link along the B&O and Western Maryland Railroads, Cumberland attracted dozens of industries that churned out glass, textiles, tires, and even local brews. Prosperity and growth began to reshape the town, and soon distinct neighborhoods found their own identities while maintaining their strong links to Cumberland as a whole. Despite a post-war decline in its industrial sector, Cumberland continues to be a vibrant town of hardworking people who remain proud of their rich heritage and traditions. Selected from a variety of local sources, photographs in Images of America: Cumberland offer unique and memorable views of the people and places that have defined Cumberland over the past 150 years.