Shippensburg offers several distinctly different points of interest for an exploratory trip: the nearly 13-mile-long Cumberland Valley Rail Trail, the preserved open space of Dykeman Park, historic sites, and a recurring monthly event. When planning your trip, you can first consider whether a longer route, a park setting, local history, or a fixed event date should be the deciding factor.
Trail and Open Space
The Cumberland Valley Rail Trail runs from downtown Shippensburg, along the edge of Shippensburg University, to Greenhill Road beyond Newville, and is nearly 13 miles long. Its route therefore extends beyond downtown: the endpoints and length give you concrete ways to distinguish this trail from a short path in the town center.
Dykeman Park offers a different focus. This 56-acre preserved open space surrounds the historic Dykeman Springs. The site includes the Dykeman Walking Trail, the Dykeman Park Meadow Trail, and the Dykeman Park Upland Trail, as well as two ponds, several picnic tables, and Dykeman Baseball Field. Its historic significance is also specific: Dykeman Springs is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
These two landscape features address different questions: the Rail Trail is defined by its route and total length, while Dykeman Park is defined by its area and several features in one place. This can help you decide whether you would rather orient your choice around a longer connection or a park with named trails and other features.
History in Buildings
The Shippensburg Historical Society is located in the historic Dr. Alexander Stewart House in the heart of Shippensburg’s Historic District. The 18th-century mansion is built of limestone and brick. The Society collects and preserves the community’s history. Here, a specifically described historic building and an institution dedicated to the community’s history come together.
Widow Piper’s Tavern adds another perspective on historic buildings: it has been restored and now serves as the home of the Shippensburg Civic Club. While collecting and preserving the community’s history is the focus of the Historical Society, the Tavern’s present-day role as the Civic Club’s home is specified.
An Event on a Set Schedule
Ship First Fridays offer a different, calendar-based point of reference. They take place at Ship Station on the first Friday of each month from April through October; the program includes food trucks, a beer garden, and live music. Unlike the trail, park, and historic sites, this event has a clearly specified schedule. If you would like to plan your trip around it, check the specific Friday in your chosen month.
More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Boiling Springs, Wormleysburg, Camp Hill, New Cumberland, Mechanicsburg, Carlisle, Enola
Back to the main travel overview: Cumberland.
