Cumberland County Historical Society
and the 
Hamilton Library Association
21 North Pitt Street 
P.O.Box 626 
Carlisle, PA 17013 
(717) 249-7610 or 249-6931 
FAX (717) 258-9332 

Two Mile House
1189 Walnut Bottom Road 
(717) 243-3437 
 

See our "E-mail Us" for specific routing electronic mail addresses. 

General inquiries only, E-mail to info@historicalsociety.com


Index

Mission
The Purpose of the Cumberland County Historical Society is : 
"To collect, preserve, interpret and promote research of the history of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, from the first Native Americans to the present". 
 

Hours
 
CCHS Museum and Library Hours
  Monday                                          3:00pm - 9:00pm  
  Tuesday through Friday                   10:00am - 4:00pm
  Saturday                                         10:00am - 3:00pm
  Office Hours : Monday - Friday       8:00am-  4:00pm
  Groups by appointment 
 
 
 
 
 
 

HOLIDAY CLOSINGS

    Monday, May 26, 2008
    Friday, July 4, 2008
    Saturday, August 30, 2008
         McLain Festival – CCHS Closed
         Join us at the McLain Festival
         at the Two Mile House.
    Monday, September 1, 2008

During winter months, CCHS will observe the 
same delayed opening schedule as the Carlisle School District. 
Closings are dictated by the severity of the weather. 
If in doubt, call 717-249-7610 for closing information. 
 
 

Two Mile House
  Open Wednesdays 1:00pm - 4:00pm and by special appointment May through December.

Directions
New Interstate Exit numbers in the Carlisle area

Old Number
New Number
12
44
13
45
14
47
15
48
16
49
17
52
  • Maps / Parking Information : 

  •  

     
     

    Parking Information
    The map below shows CCHS with its free but limited parking behind the facility as well as metered parking nearby at the U.S. Post Office. Other parking is available at the Pomfret Street Parking Garage.
     

    For an even more detailed map sketching of 
    downtown Carlisle, click here.



  • Directions to the Cumberland County Historical Society :
    • From I-76 (Turnpike):

    • Take Exit 52 South to Carlisle. 
      Make a right at bottom of exit ramp. 
      At 7th traffic light turn right on High Street. 
      Go one block and turn right on North Pitt Street - 
      red brick building on right hand side. To park, 
      go beyond building to alley, make a right and then 
      a right into lot behind building. 
       
    • From I-81 Northbound reflecting new Interstate exit numbers:

    • Take Exit 47 W (Hanover Street) north to Carlisle. 
      At 5th traffic light turn left on High Street. 
      Go one block and turn right on North Pitt Street - 
      red brick building on right hand side. To park, 
      go beyond building to alley, make a right and then 
      a right into lot behind building. 
       
    • From I-81 Southbound:

    • Take Exit 49 - High Street. 
      Stay to right at bottom of exit ramp. 
      At 7th traffic light turn right on North Pitt 
      Street - red brick building on right hand side.
      To park, go beyond building to alley, make a right 
      and then a right into lot behind building. 
       
    • From Rt. 34 Southbound (from Perry County):

    • After passing Masland Carpets on the right and 
      crossing the railroad tracks and staying towards 
      the right onto North Hanover Street, 
      At third traffic light, turn right on West High 
      Street, 
      Take next right on North Pitt Street - red brick 
      building on right hand side. To park, go beyond 
      building to alley, make a right and then a right 
      into lot behind building. 
       
    • From Rt. 34 Northbound (from Mt. Holly,

    • Gettysburg, York Springs): 
      After going under the I-81 overpass, at the 5th 
      traffic light turn left on West High Street. 
      Take the next right to North Pitt Street - red 
      brick building on right hand side. To park, go 
      beyond building to alley, make a right and then a 
      right into lot behind building. 
       
    • From Rt. 641 (Newville Road):

    • Make a right under the railroad overpass. 
      Make a left at light to West High Street. 
      At 5th traffic light make a left on North Pitt 
      Street - red brick building on right hand side. 
      To park, go beyond building to alley, make a right 
      and then a right into lot behind building. 
       
    • From Rt. 11 Eastbound - Shippensburg, Chambersburg

    • (Carlisle or Ritner Pike or Molly Pitcher Highway): 
      After passing where Rt. 641 comes into Rt. 11, 
      Proceed on West High Street and at 5th traffic 
      light. 
      Make a left on North Pitt Street - red brick 
      building on right hand side. To park, go beyond 
      building to alley, make a right and then a right 
      into lot behind building. 
       
    • From Rt. 641 Westbound (from Mechanicsburg):

    • After going under the I-81 overpass, 
      At 7th traffic light turn right on North Pitt 
      Street - red brick building on right hand side. To 
      park, go beyond building to alley, make a right 
      and then a right into lot behind building. 
       
    • From Rt. 74 (Boiling Springs and Allenberry):

    • Take Forge Road or Rt. 74 North towards Carlisle. 
      After going under the I-81 overpass you are on 
      Old York Rd. 
      Continue to light at "T" and make a left to East 
      High Street. 
      At 6th traffic light make a right on North Pitt 
      Street - red brick building on right hand side. 
      To park, go beyond building to alley, make a right 
      and then a right into lot behind building. 
       
    • From Rt. 74 Southbound (Waggoners' Gap):

    • At "T" in road make a right. 
      Continue to West High Street, make a left. 
      At 2nd traffic light turn left on North Pitt 
      Street - red brick building on right hand side. 
      To park, go beyond building to alley, make a right 
      and then a right into lot behind building.
  • To the Two Mile House : 

  • Easy access from Route 81 
    If heading South on Route 81 take exit 45, turn left; if heading North take exit 45 and turn right. 
    Proceed on the Walnut Bottom Road.
Admission
CCHS
  • Members of CCHS are admitted free 
  • $5.00 library user fee (non-members) 
  • Students are admitted free 
  • Museum and special exhibits free to the public 
  • A docent is required for Museum touring
  • Please call for group tour arrangements 
The Two Mile House
  • Free to the public 
  • We welcome group tours, please call for appointment and fee schedule. 

Accessibility

   The Historical Society and the Two Mile House are accessible to 
handicapped visitors. 
Parking is also available at both sites. 
 

History of the Cumberland County Historical Society

When James Hamilton, Jr., died in 1873, he left no heirs but he did leave a legacy that has benefited historians and residents of Cumberland County for more than a century. In his will he bequeathed a sum of $2,000 and a sixty-foot square lot in downtown Carlisle for the establishment of a library. 

James Hamilton, Jr., graduated from Dickinson College in 1812. Following in his father's footsteps, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1816. He was described as "a respected lawyer and a person of affluent circumstances who preferred living a quiet and retired life". 

In writing the constitution of the Library, Hamilton's executors interpreted his wishes. They were explicit that the Library was for "the advancement of literature and the elucidation and preservation of the history of Cumberland County. Accordingly on April 17, 1874, a "Hamilton Library and Historical Association of Cumberland County" was proposed, making the Society one of the first county historical societies established in Pennsylvania. 

After the first fund raiser, a well publicized, "Grand Concert" held in the local Opera House, the building "a very pretty and suitable structure of brick and two-storied", was underway by the late spring of 1881. 

For about 75 years the Society's primary efforts were directed toward the development of the research library and the reading of historical papers. During these years, however, the Society also acquired items, through gifts, that were displayed in the reading room and in available space on the second floor. The areas eventually evolved into gallery space. 

After World War II development of a more effective museum became a priority. Building expansions provided additional space. Efforts to build the museum collections received generous support from the community. In the 1970s exhibits were developed, modern record keeping and conservation practices led the way for an active exhibition program. 

During the 1980s the Society's financial base was enhanced by an endowment campaign to hire professional staff. The endowment continues to grow today under the guidance of an active Board of Directors. 

Growth in activities has also resulted from the educational partnership with the county's school districts established in 1989. The Society was designated as the official Historical Society for the county by the County Commissioners. In 1992 The Two Mile House was bequeathed to the Society by Mary Wheeler King. 

Increased visitation, membership and volunteers as well as increases to the Society's collections during the last three decades caused a need for more space. The Society completed a three-year capital campaign in 1996 to expand its building on Pitt Street. In 1997 the new addition was opened and doubled the size of the Society's home. 


 
 

Technology Grows at the Cumberland County Historical Society

WOW!  In the Winter 1999 edition of "Cumberland County History" it was noted that the use of computer technology at the Cumberland County Historical Society has grown dramatically since the purchase of our first computer in 1984.  Major growth occurred in 1997 with the generous gift of George F. and Elizabeth V. Gardner of a computer system for the library.  This marked the real beginning of our computer revolution!

It is hard to believe how much the Society has relied on computerization in 1999 alone. At the beginning of the year several Society staff members were working closely with the newly created Computer Committee to develop long range and short term goals for use of computer technology throughout the Cumberland County Historical Society.  One of those goals is to organize Society collections in the Museum, Library, and Photo Archives using computer technology.  To achieve this the Society purchased the computer software program, PastPerfect. 

This software has kept the staff and trained volunteers busy.  Once we have completed entering information, this computer software will maintain an inventory of all Museum, Library and Photo Archives holdings at the Cumberland County Historical Society. The end result will be a more efficient and effective way of locating and retrieving items throughout the Society. 

In 1998 a new computer was purchased for the Photo Archives.   This purchase facilitated the work of volunteer Homer Henschen, working with Richard Tritt, to develop guidelines for utilizing PastPerfect in the Photo Archives.  Eight volunteers have now been trained to assist with this effort.  Thousands of photographs have been entered into the system.  During 1999 a scanner was purchased and is now part of the process of documenting the Photo Collection. When information regarding a specific photo is accessed through PastPerfect a picture of the image appears along with the information on the computer screen. 

1999 also saw the purchase of a new computer for the Museum. Prior to this time the Museum staff and volunteers had to share computers with other staff members and volunteers when the time was not necessarily convenient.  The purchase of the computer allowed the entering of Museum items into the new software to move forward.  Thanks to the foresight of the late Dr. Warren Gates, who initiated a computerized data base of museum objects, the Museum had the ability to move a step ahead of the Library and the Photo Archives since his efforts were able to be easily transferred to the PastPerfect software.  Currently Museum staff and volunteers are editing and entering newer accessions into PastPerfect. 

In the Library, the staff worked with the Computer Committee and the Library Committee to determine how the new PastPerfect software would best assist the Library with the conversion of the library collections to Past Perfect.  It was decided during 1999 that a reclassification of the library monograph collection would occur as information regarding these books was added to PastPerfect.  This reclassification will eliminate a problem the Library has had for many years involving many books having exactly the same call letters.  In the revised system, each book will have a unique call letter following professional library standards.  A procedure manual for the library was created for PastPerfect use in the library.  Volunteers such as Charlie Maclay, Kris Senecal, Bill McNaughton, Mary Bamber, and Jane Long and the library staff have worked hundreds of hours during 1999 adding the information into the computer system, replacing call letter labels, reshelving books, replacing card catalog cards and changing indexes.  As the changes are implemented, visitors to the library will discover changes to the current card catalog and in the not too distant future will be able to use the library computer station to search for information. 

In addition to PastPerfect staff members and volunteers have actively been using computers throughout the Society to apply for grant funding, compose letters, create data bases, design in-house brochures, maintain financial records and answer e-mail requests.  With the creation of the CCHS web page we have been able to reach a greater audience.  During 1999 the CCHS had over 10,000 'hits' to our Web Site and during December 1999 the CCHS received 75 e-mail requests!  This number rose to almost 80,000 hits and well over 300 CCHS-specific e-mails weekly by the end of 2002. This increase in activity has caused the much needed creation of more volunteer positions.  In December, 2002, our hopes for networking became a reality with the connection of 18 computers for Internet, E-mail and PastPerfect library software.  Networking will allow users to access information about the collections contained in the Museum, Photo Archives and Library from anywhere in the building, through the use of a central server system which is updated daily with new information and acquisitions. We are PowerPoint-ready, a unique presentation software package, with a dedicated laptop PowerPoint computer, digital projector and software making our offerings not only portable, but in step with the 21st century. Presently, we utilize 26 computers, two complete networks, and e-mail addresses for each member of the staff to make our experience at CCHS the best we can for our patrons.
In April of 2005, we opened the new museum and added a Virtual Museum Tour (red button at the left) showing what is offered in our museum for you, the virtual patron. That tour may be accessed by using the navigation button at the left. 
Another milestone was passed in April, 2008, when our award-winning web page reached the 300,000 hit mark! 
As of the beginning of 2007, we have almost 30 computers that handle various jobs of word processing, financial work, marketing support, Internet connection and research, extensive emailing, PastPerfect cataloging of library, genealogical concerns, museum, and photo archive materials, book, journal, and research e-commerce, gift shop items for sale, network administrations, photo scaning and reproduction, and security cameras. What a technological journey we have undertaken!