Maryland’s First Heritage Area
In 1993, Maryland created the state’s first Heritage Area- Canal Place, and established the Canal Place Preservation & Development Authority to oversee the preservation, development, and management of the Canal Place Preservation District, a designated heritage area in Cumberland around the western end of the C&O Canal.
In 2018 the Heritage Area was expanded to include historically significant districts within the cities of Cumberland and Frostburg. The enlarged Heritage Area has been appropriately renamed The Passages of the Western Potomac Heritage Area and includes sites that tell a fascinating story of early America, from the mid-1700’s through to today.
Canal Place Development Authority Board
- Janice Keene, Chair
- Rebecca Ruppert, Vice-Chair
- Tina Capetta, Federal Representative
- Albert Feldstein, Maryland Historical Trust Representative
- Ray Morris, City of Cumberland Representative
- Bradford Nixon
- Michael Mudge
- Jeremy Bender
- Stuart Czapski
Heritage Area Staff
Deidra Ritchie
Executive Director
Nicole Gray
Executive Assistant/Financial Manager
Crystal Lloyd
Administrative Aide
Need Info? Drop us a line or give us a call!

Canal Place Preservation and Development Authority
Western Maryland Railway Station, Room 301
13 Canal Street, Cumberland, MD 21502
Telephone: 301-724-3655
Fax: 301-724-3659
Web: passagesofthepotomac.org