General FAQs

No, during normal business hours you do not need to call ahead. During inclement weather we do suggest you check CCHS’ homepage or facebook page, as we post info about emergency hours there.

Yes, our museum, history workshop and galleries are all free and open to the public. No membership is required to visit. Non-CCHS members will need to pay a $5.00 per person fee to use the Archives and Library, but patrons can also sign up for a membership here. We ask that all patrons pay our nominal photocopy fees regardless of membership status.

Yes! When you have an appointment we do have staff and volunteers on-hand to help you get started. Right now make sure to sign up for an open library slot on our reservation page. Remember, we are also open by appointment Monday nights 3pm-7pm also! Click here for more information.

Yes, free parking for patrons and visitors is available on a first-come first-served basis in the parking lot at the rear of CCHS. We have a total of about 30 spots. Metered parking is also available on the street if the Society lot is full. Getting to the lot can be a little tricky. Once on Pitt Street you will need to turn down Dickinson Alley adjacent to the Society’s main building on Pitt Street. It’s a tight squeeze but you will find our lot on the right hand side just after you turn into the Alley. Once parked, remember to check in at the Society’s Visitors Services desk in the front lobby.

Yes, free parking for patrons and visitors is available on a first-come first-served basis in the parking lot at the rear of CCHS. We have a total of about 30 spots. Metered parking is also available on the street if the Society lot is full. Getting to the lot can be a little tricky. Once on Pitt Street you will need to turn down Dickinson Alley adjacent to the Society’s main building on Pitt Street. It’s a tight squeeze but you will find our lot on the right hand side just after you turn into the Alley. Once parked, remember to check in at the Society’s Visitors Services desk in the front lobby.

If you live or work in Cumberland County, we suggest you begin your research with us in person. Access to the Archives and Library is free to members but we do have a $5 fee for non-CCHS members. To become a member click here. Research requests are currently on hold but if you have quick question you can email Cara Curtis at ccurtis@historicalsociety.com. CCHS cannot entertain unsolicited research requests via phone call. Of course, we would love to hear from you, but we cannot do research over the the phone.

Typically, visitors are encouraged to explore on their own in the Museum and History Workshop. We do have volunteers available to answer any questions you might have during your visit. Group tours are available by reaching out to our Assistant Curator Cijianna Berry at cberry@historicalsociety.com.

Send an email to Sharon Filipovich at sfilipovich@historicalsociety.com. She can help straighten things out for you. Of course, you can manage your own eblast settings by clicking the button at the bottom of CCHS’ monthly e-newsletters.

Yes! More information about this can be found under the Education tab on the Society’s website or by clicking here. the Society has a robust education package with historical themes that we can offer here at the Society or in local schools. Matthew March our Education Curator can help guide you through this process. He can be emailed at mmarch@historicalsociety.com.

First, fill out CCHS’ facility rental inquiry form here. A breakdown of costs will be emailed to you after the online form is completed. After you fill out the form our Community Outreach Director Sharon Filipovich will be back in touch with you within two weeks. Sharon can also be contacted via email at sfilipovich@historicalsociety.com.

CCHS’ mission mandates that we focus on collections directly related to Cumberland County history. If you feel your object meets this criteria we would love to hear from you! Our curator Cijianna Berry at cberry@historicalsociety.com will need to present your request to our Museum Committee before the donation can be processed. If you have manuscripts or archival materials contact our Archives and Library Manager Cara Curtis at ccurtis@historicalsociety.com. If you have photos contact our Photograph Curator Richard Tritt at rtritt@historicalsociety.com. Again, these items will also need to be approved by the Archives and Library Committee.

The Society’s gift shop, called History on High- The Shop, is located at 33 W. High Street in Carlisle. Parking for History on High is in the same lot used by Museum, Archives and Library off of Dickinson Alley. You can reach out to History on High Shop Manager Kim Laidler at klaidler@historicalsociety.com for specific merchandise questions. We are also always adding items to our online shop.

Yes! But more so! Affiliated is a bit of a misnomer. History on High is the Society’s gift shop. It is not a standalone business or partnership. We do partner however with the Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau and their visitors center is located in History on High the Shop. Two visitor center parking spaces are also available for patrons utilizing the CVVB visitors center.

Contact our Community Outreach Director Sharon Filipovich by phone at 717-249-7610. She will arrange a time to meet with you in person if you are available. CCHS is grateful for all contributions to help us strengthen our mission and to extend our outreach.

CCHS strives to align volunteer opportunities with current Society needs and initiatives. We find this makes volunteering more purposeful and meaningful for all involved. We also find that many volunteers lead busy lives and that a rigid volunteer schedule is not always practical for the volunteer or even CCHS staff. Therefore, keep in mind, that getting started with regular volunteer work at CCHS might take some time and some experimentation for all involved! To help address this challenge, CCHS posts its most urgent and pressing volunteer needs on our Support page and we ask that interested persons first consult and utilize this online form, especially if you are just getting to know CCHS. An email notice is sent to staff when you use the form…don’t worry, we will contact you to set up a time to meet.

If the opportunities listed on the time to sign up calendar don’t seem quite right for you, email us at info@historicalsociety.com and we will put you in touch with an appropriate department to consult about moving forward. In the email, specifically address your interests and also your skills and experience. Depending on your roll, we will have a simple form for you to fill out at CCHS once we meet. Volunteers working directly with families and children will need to fill out appropriate federal and state child protection forms.

Yes, photos are permitted in our public spaces for noncommercial purposes. We also ask that patrons taking photos respect the privacy of visitors.