What to See in Carlisle - Top Sights and Attractions

Museum in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The United States Army Heritage and Education Center, at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, is the U.S. Army's primary historical research facility. Formed in 1999 and reorganized in 2013, the center consists of the Military History Institute, the Army Heritage Museum, the Historical Services Division, Visitor and Education Services, the U.S. Army War College Library, and Collections Management. The U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center is part of the United States Army War College, but has its own 56-acre campus.

The Heritage and Education Center makes available contemporary and historical materials related to strategic leadership, the global application of Landpower, and U.S. Army Heritage to inform research, educate an international audience, and honor Soldiers, past and present.

The current research collection contains military history books, military newspapers, technical and field manuals, periodicals, veteran’s surveys, photographs, and transcribes oral histories. The collections include material from as early as the Revolutionary War to current U.S. Army operations. The USAHEC also provides interpretive exhibits and educational outreach programs to foster a greater understanding of the Army's central role in the growth, development and protection of the nation and its way of life. The USAHEC motto is "Telling the Army story, one Soldier at a time."^[1]

Museum in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Hessian Powder Magazine, also known as the Hessian Guardhouse Museum, is a historic guardhouse and gunpowder magazine located on the grounds of Carlisle Barracks at Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1777, and is a stone walled structure, lined with interior brick. It measures 70 feet by 32 feet and the walls are 4 1/2-feet thick. It has a vaulted stone roof, covered by timbers and tin to take a gable form. Tradition says that some Hessian Prisoners of war, captured at the Battle of Trenton were sent to Carlisle. They were used to build this guard house, originally a magazine. It was probably first used as a guardhouse in the 1870s and when included as part of the Carlisle Indian Industrial School. Afterwards, it was used as a quartermaster and medical supply storehouse, filmstrip laboratory, message center, and U.S. post office. It was designated a museum in 1948.

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.^[4]

Historical landmark in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Carlisle Historic District is a national historic district located at Carlisle, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. The district includes 1,011 contributing buildings, 1 contributing site, and 1 contributing object in the central business district and surrounding residential areas of Carlisle. Most of the contributing buildings date to the mid- to late-19th century, with a few dated to the 18th century. Residential areas include notable examples of the Late Victorian and Federal styles. Notable non-residential buildings include the Cumberland County Courthouse, St. John's Episcopal Church, Cumberland County Prison, First Lutheran Church, Tavern, First Presbyterian Church, Theatre, Fire House, Grace United Methodist Church, and St. Patrick's Church.

The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.^[5]

Liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Dickinson College is a private liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1773 as Carlisle Grammar School, Dickinson was chartered on September 9, 1783, making it the first college to be founded after the formation of the United States. Dickinson was founded by Benjamin Rush, a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence, and named in honor of John Dickinson, a signer of the Constitution who was later the governor of Pennsylvania, and his wife Mary Norris Dickinson. They donated much of their extensive personal libraries to the new college.

In addition to offering either a bachelor of arts or Bachelor of Science degree in 22 disciplinary majors and 20 interdisciplinary majors, Dickinson offers an engineering option through its 3:2 program, which consists of three years at Dickinson and two years at an engineering school of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute or Case Western Reserve University. Upon successful completion of both portions of the program, students receive the B.S. degree from Dickinson in their chosen field and the B.S. in engineering from the engineering school.

The Dickinson School of Law is located adjacent to the college campus and was founded in 1834 as its law department. It received an independent charter in 1890 and ended all affiliation with the college in 1917. In 2000, the law school merged with the Pennsylvania State University.^[6]