Summer 2026 America 250 Discovery Series
The Allegany County Historical Society is pleased to announce the return of our History Huddle series, where attendees can interact with presenters on topics of local history discovery. There are no bad questions and no wrong answers at the Canada Hose House on 400 North Mechanic Street as we discuss new information and new ways to consider its importance.
Events in this special series of American 250 discussions are free with on-line or phone reservations required at 301-777-8678, seating limited to available History Discovery Center space.
Early Allegany County Real Estate Records
FRIDAY JUNE 19th 7-8:30 PM
Made possible by a Maryland Two-Fifty Commission Fellows Grant
400 North Mechanic Street • Cumberland
History scholar Eve Hutcherson presents her research involving transfers of Deakin’s Lots West of Fort Cumberland and Thomas Beall’s City of Cumberland Lots during the early years of Allegany County beginning in 1790. The project seeks to better understand the impact of surveyed post-Revolutionary land parcels and lots on the early growth of Western Maryland.
Walking History of the Canada Viaduct Neighborhood
SATURDAY JULY 11th 1:30-3:30 PM
Made possible by Allegany County Historical Society and Oxbow Cultural Research
400 North Mechanic Street • Cumberland
Western Maryland Archeological Society President Suzanne Smith starts her presentation at Blue Spring and leads a tour to the Hector Macintosh House on North Mechanic Street. The Canada/Viaduct Neighborhood is among the oldest in Cumberland, dating back to the 1792 Log Post Office adjacent to Blue Spring and Thomas Beall’s first survey of the city in 1787.
Coal Impact on the Cumberland Transportation Hub
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22nd 1:30-3:30 PM
Made possible by the Allegany County Historical Society
400 North Mechanic Street • Cumberland
ACHS President and Eckhart area native Dave Williams will lead a discussion about the importance of west county mineral extraction as a driving force in creating Cumberland’s Canal Basin. The development of this early multi-modal transportation hub can be traced back to Maryland’s 1836 Hughes Report and even earlier assembly of land and coal rights anticipating coal distribution through Cumberland.
