One of Cumberland’s most beautiful and historic attractions is the Skyline of Steeples viewed from Interstate 68. Get off the interstate (Exit 43C marked “Downtown Cumberland”) and you’ll be greeted by many, many churches - over a hundred in the Queen City! At night the view is breathtaking as several of Cumberland’s churches are illuminated, and visible from almost anywhere you look in any direction.

Many of these churches have historic backgrounds like the two churches that raced to complete their steeples for the privilege of displaying the official town’s clock. This race took place between 1848-1850. It was a race against time between the German-speaking Lutherans and the Germanspeaking Roman Catholics. The prize was a very handsome clock with chimes made in New York City, and donated by the city of Cumberland.

The Lutherans won. Today, the Town Clock chimes Beautiful By Day… Illuminated at night!