2023-2024 Alternative Education Series
Ages: Eight and up
Time: 10:00-11:30 AM
Place: Cumberland County Historical Society’s G. B. Stuart History Workshop
29 W. High Street
Carlisle, PA 17013
717-249-7610
Cost: $10.00 per student per session and $5.00 for each additional child from the same family. (Family members pay $5.00 per student per session. Information on memberships available below.)
September 20: Native Americans of the Eastern Woodlands
Do you think that you could stand still and proud as your nose was pierced with a sharpened bone? Would you like to know how to make clothing out of animal flesh using only stone tools and brain matter? These were the skills and cultural expectations of people from the Eastern Woodlands. Using clothing, animal pelts, weapons, and tools, we will explore the fascinating and vibrant heritage of our county’s earliest settlers
October 18: Early Settlers
Can you imagine a woman of today wanting to have hips five feet wide or a man wearing skintight pants that stopped at the knee? How about men and women parading about wearing white fluffy wigs and lip gloss made from dead bugs? It may seem strange now, but at the time these trends made perfect sense. Examine how colonists expressed their station, economics, gender, and technology through material culture. You may find that you have more in common with the past than you think.
November 22: French and Indian War
Would you have been willing to fight over dead animals and brass cooking pots? Scalping, abduction, massacres, ambushes; we had it all during the French and Indian War. As a vital hub for trade and transportation, Cumber-land County held a strategic role in the conflict. Follow the emergence of heroes and characters whose compelling stories of survival and perseverance will astound you.
December 20: Holiday Traditions
Come explore why we celebrate the holidays the way we do, and if you’re good you just might get a visit from a traditional gift-giver or two. But beware, they were not always so jolly.
January 17: American Revolution
John Penn once said, “Every man in Cumberland County is a rioter at heart.” Learn the dynamic story of how Cumberland’s “rioters” became acclaimed patriots of the revolution. Many of these men enlisted as Pennsylvania Riflemen, whose skill and bravery became legendary. We will address the important role of women through the story of Molly Pitcher.
February 21: The War of 1812 & the Whiskey Rebellion
We will examine one of the most overlooked wars in America’s history. We will discover the story of one county resident who in the eyes of some became a national hero and to others a scapegoat. Tarring and feathering did not end with the American Revolution, nor was the Civil War the first time a segment of the United States attempt-ed to form a new country. One of the earliest groups to threaten secession consisted of 5 counties from Western Pennsylvania. Cumberland County found itself front and center during the first challenge to our new nation.
March 20: Slavery and the Underground Railroad
Cumberland County held slaves longer than any other county in the state of Pennsylvania and yet was also known as a route on the Underground Railroad. We will explore reasons why Cumberland County held this dual identity. Hear the daring stories of courageous runaways and determined abolitionists and be inspired by ways that slavery gave birth to uniquely American forms of food, music, and dance.
April 17: 150th Anniversary Celebration
Come commemorate the 150th anniversary of the CCHS, with a behind the scenes tour of the facility. Hear amazing stories on a guided museum tour and see some of the most unique items from the county’s history.
Cost: $10.00 per student per session and $5.00 for each additional child from the same family. (Family members pay $5.00 per student per session. Information on memberships available below.)
