The Imperial Gridiron: Manhood, “Civilization,” and Football at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School

Cumberland County Historical Society 21 N. Pitt Street, Carlisle, PA, United States

Many recognize the athletic success that the famous football teams at the Carlisle Indian School enjoyed during at the turn of the 20th century. Football served as a publicity tool meant to promote the school’s mission to assimilate Indigenous Americans into Anglo-Protestant identities, and it did so in ways that reflected competing ideas about gender, manhood, […]

Henry’s Valley, A Storied Place

Jerry Clouse speaks on Henry's Valley, a Storied Place: Life within the Folds of the Blue Mountain. Come and learn where this somewhat mysterious valley is located. Local author Jerry Clouse, will illustrate its history and the stories that developed around this secluded spot in the mountains.

Iron Horse Rambles Book Signing

Jim Bradley captured on film 19 of the Reading Company's Iron Horse Rambles at numerous locations in Pennsylvania. This book presents over 200 photos, many not previously available to the public with commentary by George C. Johnson.

Memories of Christmas Past Walking Tour

Saturday, December 10, 2022  2:30 PM Join Jim Griffith as he takes you around Carlisle and shares memories of Christmas festivities over the generations. Cost: $10/member; $15/nonmember; $5/school-age-children. Register Here

The Sleeping Car Porters

Cumberland County Historical Society 21 N. Pitt Street, Carlisle, PA, United States

The men and women who worked as porters for the Pullman Car Company on the Pennsylvania Railroad have an extraordinary history in both the labor movement and the civil rights movement. Starting as freed slaves and developing by the 1920’s into a militant union, the history of the porters is rich and exciting. This discussion […]

Oh the Stories They Tell

The amazing history uncovered while collecting stories in Mt Holly Springs.

Carlisle’s Lincoln Cemetery

This presentation will explore the history of Carlisle's oldest historic Black Cemetery. RSVP Here:

First Ladies: More Than a Dress

Since 1912, tourists have flocked to the Smithsonian to see the gowns of our First Ladies. By the 1960s, moved to larger quarters in what eventually became the National Museum […]

19th Century Black Fashion History Through Photographs

The culture of fashion in the nineteenth century represents a completely different world when compared with today’s attitudes towards dress and individuality. Within this context, photos of African Americans from […]

Tracks Through Time in Cumberland County

This program sets the stage for our upcoming exhibit on the railroads of Cumberland County Pennsylvania from 1831 to the present.  It will provide an overview of when each section […]