In Carlisle, history takes many forms: preserved remains at the Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument, galleries at the Cumberland County Historical Society, and historic markers along the Carlisle History Walk. There is also the program at the historic Carlisle Theatre, as well as routes for cycling and hiking. This gives you a choice of collections, local history, cultural events, and time outdoors as you plan your trip.
History in Collections and Along the Trail
The Carlisle Federal Indian Boarding School National Monument includes preserved remains of the school: gates, the gymnasium, former dormitories, exterior walls of a print shop, the cinder track, playing fields, and a grandstand. The range of remains extends from parts of buildings and walls to sports facilities.
The Cumberland County Historical Society Museum in Carlisle offers self-guided tours. Its main campus on North Pitt Street houses 16 galleries spanning 250 years of local and national history. The society also preserves artifacts and archival materials that illustrate what the American Revolution was like on the home front. The galleries cover a long span of time, while the home-front materials shed light on a specific topic within this broader historical field. This lets you choose between a broad historical overview and a more focused subject.
The Carlisle History Walk guides visitors through the city’s history with the help of historic markers. The markers present important events, notable people, and significant landmarks. The walk thus complements the galleries with a local-history perspective focused on events, people, and landmarks.
Cultural Program at the Carlisle Theatre
The historic Carlisle Theatre is located downtown and presents music concerts, performances, films, live theater productions, and programs for children and families. If you want to plan a particular type of event or an evening at the theater into your stay, check the performance dates in advance.
Cycling and Hiking Trails in Carlisle
The Carlisle Borough Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail Network is a 13.8-mile on-street bicycle route within the Borough of Carlisle. It connects to off-road paths in the borough’s park and trail network. On certain streets, green bicycle route signs and sharrows mark the route. Two features are important for planning: the bicycle route runs on streets and is also connected to off-road paths.
The Letort Nature Trail is another option for outdoor activity. It is 2.5 miles long, is used by walkers, joggers, and hikers, and runs from Letort Park in Carlisle to South Spring Garden Street in South Middleton Township. These details clearly distinguish the trail from the longer bicycle route: its length, uses, and endpoints are all specified.
Visitors can walk the Army Heritage Trail from sunrise to sunset. Factor this time window into your day’s plans if you are considering visiting the trail. Together, the trails offer different points of reference for choosing: an on-street bicycle network connected to off-road paths, a trail for walking, jogging, and hiking, and a trail with a specified visiting time window.
Discover more destinations: Wormleysburg, New Cumberland, Enola, Boiling Springs, Mechanicsburg, Shippensburg, Camp Hill.
For the regional travel overview: Cumberland.
