As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday in 2026, there is no better place to explore the stories that shaped our nation than Allegany County, the Mountain Side of Maryland. From our strong connections to George Washington's travels through the region to the historic and symbolic National Road, Revolutionary-era Liberty Trees, and centuries of transportation history, Mountain Maryland offers countless ways to connect with the nation's past while creating new memories.

 

Celebrate America's 250th in Mountain Maryland: 10 Ways to Connect with History on the Road to 250

#1 - Discover Indigenous Heritage Sites

Follow along the George Washington Trail 1753 through Allegany County, the Mountain Side of Maryland, commemorating young Washington's first diplomatic mission to western Pennsylvania - a mission that led to the outbreak of the French and Indian War.

 

Indigenous American Exhibit at Alllegany Museum

Discover Indigenous Heritage at Historic Sites

The mountains, forests, and waterways of present-day Allegany County were part of the homeland and travel routes of Indigenous peoples including the Shawnee, Delaware (Lenape), and others. Exploring these landscapes offers a deeper…

#2 - Follow Along George Washington's Trail

Follow along the George Washington Trail 1753 through Allegany County, the Mountain Side of Maryland, commemorating young Washington's first diplomatic mission to western Pennsylvania - a mission that led to the outbreak of the French and Indian War.

 

#3 - Explore African American Heritage Sites

Allegany County’s mountains, rivers, and historic communities hold powerful stories of courage, resilience, and freedom. From Underground Railroad routes to self-sustaining Black settlements and remarkable individuals who shaped local history, Mountain Maryland offers visitors a meaningful journey through African American heritage in the heart of Western Maryland.

#4 - FOLLOW THE LIBERTY TREE TRAIL

Perhaps the most meaningful way to celebrate America's 250th is to spend a quiet moment beneath one of Allegany County's Liberty Trees, and Mountain Maryland is home to one of the largest concentrations of documented Liberty Tree descendants in the nation. These living landmarks remind us that freedom, resilience, and community continue to grow from generation to generation.

#5 - RIDE THE RAILS

Climb aboard the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad and travel through the Allegheny Mountains on rails that helped fuel America's industrial revolution. The experience offers a firsthand look at the transportation innovations that connected communities and powered economic growth.

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad - 1309 - Switzerfilm - Cumberland MD

Western Maryland Scenic Railroad

The Western Maryland Scenic Railroad offers a three-hour round trip excursion from Cumberland to Frostburg on their fully-restored 1309 steam engine, the largest operating locomotive of its type in the world.

#6 - TRAVEL THE HISTIORIC NATIONAL ROAD

America's first federally funded highway began in Cumberland, connecting eastern cities with the growing western frontier. Today, visitors can follow the Historic National Road Scenic Byway and explore sites such as Mile Marker 0 and the LaVale Toll Gate House.

#7 - DISCOVER THE C&O CANAL

Learn how waterways helped move goods and people across the young nation and transformed Cumberland into a transportation crossroads. Explore sites such as the C&O Canal Museum and Visitor Center, the Paw Paw Tunnel, and the Canal Boat replica while discovering one of the nation's most treasured National Historical Parks.

Paw-Paw-Tunnel

C&O Canal National Historical Park & Towpath

The C&O Canal National Historical Park was the 10th most visited national park in the US in 2021 and preserves and interprets the 19th-century transportation canal from Washington, DC, to Cumberland, MD, and its associated…

#8 - EXPERIENCE APPALACHIAN FRONTIER

Step into generations of Appalachian history through a preserved farmstead, historic buildings, gardens, and hands-on programs that showcase how people lived, worked, and cared for the land.

Evergreen Heritage Center

Evergreen Heritage Center

  • 15613 Trimble Road NW
  • (301) 687-0664

This historic farm, located just outside Mt. Savage, was established over 200 years ago. It includes three museums (the Farmhouse Museum, Agricultural Museum in the c.1783 barn, and the Coal Camp Museum) plus acres of gardens…

#9 - TRACE INDUSTRIAL ROOTS

Journey through Mountain Maryland's coal country and discover the people, places, and industries that helped build America. Explore attractions and historical sites such as the Lonaconing Iron Furnace, the Coal Miner Memorial and exhibits at local museums. 

Coal Miner Memorial - ED - Frostburg MD

Coal Heritage Itinerary

Trace the legacy of coal mining in Allegany County, where the industry powered a nation and shaped the lives of immigrant families who built Mountain Maryland’s communities.

#10 - DISCOVER STORIES IN OUR MUSEUMS

Mountain Maryland's history can be experienced year-round through our museums. Each tells the unique stories of the people, places, industries, and culture that have shaped our region.

Crossroads-of-America-Exhibit-Wagon-Allegany-Museum-Cumberland-MD

History & Museums

Allegany County, Maryland, boasts three centuries of American history. The heyday of Allegany County was the turn of the 20th century and, luckily for visitors, many of the homes, commercial centers and transportation hubs of that…

America's 250th anniversary is more than a celebration—it's an opportunity to explore the people, places, and stories that built our nation. In Mountain Maryland, history isn't confined to museums. It's found along trails, beneath centuries-old trees, aboard historic trains, and around every bend of the National Road.

Start planning your Road to 250 adventure in Mountain Maryland and discover where America's story continues.

 

Steve-Dean-Potomac-River-Cumberland-MD

Heritage Area

Where the story of America's early transportation milestones is told in our rivers, rails, trails, mountains, and towns.