Cumberland County Historical Society

08/29/2026

Stop in and see what our gift shop has to offer!

08/28/2026

📣 Calling All Homeschoolers! 📣

Our 2026–2027 Homeschool Series is now available! Join us for a hands-on journey through history with our very own Education Director, Matthew March. 🏛️📚

The best part? CCHS members attend for FREE! Not a member yet? The cost is just $10 per child for each program.

Interested in becoming a member? We would be happy to chat with you and share all the wonderful reasons to join the Cumberland County Historical Society! Membership offers great benefits while helping support the preservation and sharing of our community's history.

We can't wait to learn, explore, and make history with you this school year!

https://www.historicalsociety.com/education/homeschool/

08/27/2026

🚂 Step back in time to August 27, 1973, with this view of the Reading Railroad station at Carlisle Junction. Once a bustling hub of rail transportation, stations like this connected Cumberland County to communities across Pennsylvania and beyond, playing a vital role in commerce and travel.

📸 Photo by Jim Bradley from the Cumberland County Historical Society collections.

08/26/2026

🐾 Today is National Dog Day! 🐾

What a great day to celebrate not just man’s best friend, but everyone’s best friend! ❤️🐶

Whether they are our loyal companions, adventure buddies, protectors, or simply the ones who are always happy to see us, dogs have a special way of bringing joy into our lives.

Share a photo of your favorite four-legged friend with us! 🐕🐾

08/25/2026

Even after 146 years, we are still discovering new photographs connected with the Carlisle Indian School.

While we have long had another image of Red Dog, Oglala Lakota, taken during his visit to the School in August 1880, this is the first photograph we have seen of him at the School itself.

In this remarkable image, Red Dog is pictured in front of the bandstand. Another photograph from his visit was taken at Choate’s studio, where he posed with students Lizzie Glode and Lucy Day.

Discoveries like these continue to add new pieces to the story of the Carlisle Indian School and remind us that there is always more history waiting to be uncovered.

08/22/2026

Caring for Two Mile House 🌳

A lot of hard work has been happening behind the scenes at Two Mile House! Here’s a look at the before, during, and after of recent forest mowing and wisteria vine removal.

Two large wisteria vines had become entangled in the telephone lines along Walnut Bottom Road at two locations. Thanks to the generosity of Joan and Jay McBride, who sponsored the removal and cleanup, these invasive vines have been safely cleared. Special thanks to Rhett Hatterman of Top Notch Tree for the hard work!

The northern end of the property also suffered damage from recent high winds, including several dead and fallen trees. Felled trees were removed, and overgrown invasive species were cleared to help restore and maintain this beautiful historic property.

We are grateful to everyone who helps care for and preserve Two Mile House for future generations! ❤️🌳

08/20/2026

On this day in Cumberland County history—August 20, 1953—baseball legend Cy Young pauses to look at a photograph of Olympic champion and Carlisle Indian School alumnus Jim Thorpe while visiting the bar of the historic James Wilson Hotel in Carlisle.

Captured through the lens of photographer James Steinmetz, this remarkable image brings together two of America's greatest sports icons in one unforgettable moment.

📸 Photo by James Steinmetz from the Cumberland County Historical Society collections.

08/19/2026

🎉 Looking for something fun to do this Saturday from 2–6 PM?

Join our friends at the West Shore Historical Society for their 2nd Annual Red, White & Blue BBQ Fundraiser! 🇺🇸🍔🎶

Enjoy delicious food, live music, trivia, America 250-themed libations, and more—all while supporting local history and preservation! The event takes place at the beautiful Peiffer Memorial Arboretum and Nature Preserve in New Cumberland.

🎟️ Today is the LAST DAY to purchase tickets, so don’t wait!

👉 Get your tickets here

https://www.historicalsociety.com/product/red-white-blue-bbq-ticket/ https://www.historicalsociety.com/product/red-white-blue-bbq-ticket/ Visit us at our new location - 430 North Front Street, Wormleysburg. We are open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10-3:00 PM! It is with heavy hearts and deep sadne...

08/18/2026

On this day, we commemorate the anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which granted many women the right to vote on August 18, 1920.

This landmark achievement was the result of decades of determination, advocacy, and courage by countless women and their allies who fought to expand democracy. While the amendment marked a significant victory, many women—particularly women of color, Native American women, and Asian American women—continued to face barriers to voting for decades afterward.

The fight for voting rights is an important chapter in the ongoing story of the Constitution and the rights it guarantees. As you reflect on the legacy of the 19th Amendment, we invite you to visit the Sam Fink U.S. Constitution Art Exhibit at the Cumberland County Historical Society. Through master calligrapher Sam Fink's beautifully illustrated interpretation of the Constitution, visitors can explore the principles, people, and amendments that have shaped our nation—including those that expanded the promise of democracy to more Americans. The exhibit is free and open to the public during museum hours through December 2026.

History reminds us that democracy is strengthened when more voices are heard. Join us as we honor those who fought for the right to vote and continue to preserve the stories that connect our past to our present.