to
Update
is a town in the west-central part of Garrett County, Maryland, United States. With a population of 1,930 according to United States Census 2000 figures, it is the most populated community in Garrett County. The town is also the county seat of Garrett County and is located within the Pittsburgh DMA.
Oakland is situated only miles from the source of the Potomac River, which flows directly into the Chesapeake Bay. It is also near the Wisp Resort at Deep Creek Lake, a major ski resort for many Marylanders and other visitors. The Autumn Glory Festival, a fall festival that attracts a great amount of tourists, takes place in Oakland every October.
The town is home to a historic B&O train station, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, and restored in the 2000s. Trains still run on the train tracks behind the station, but it is mainly used for special organizations or gatherings as of the present day. A gift shop is also located within the station. In front of the station, there are a plethora of festivities that go on, mainly seasonal activities such as housing the town Christmas tree, decorating the plaza for a holiday, and sometimes parties.
Main Street of Oakland consists mainly of historic two to four story buildings that house the main shopping in the area, such as a theatre, museum, book store, a local pharmacy, antique shops, clothing stores and banks. Many of the homes and businesses in the downtown area are examples of Victorian architecture. Much of the central section of Oakland is part of the Oakland Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
One of the most prominent and historic churches in Oakland is St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, where U.S. Presidents Ulysses S. Grant, James Garfield, Grover Cleveland, and Benjamin Harrison attended the services offered there in the past. Because of this, it is now called the Church of Presidents. A large neoclassical courthouse is also very prominent and dominates the town center.
In the late 19th century and early 20th century, a large hotel named the Oakland Hotel was located near the downtown train station. It was a major tourist attraction for that time period until it was torn down in the early 20th Century.