Half Day
Start discovering the Revolutionary War at the museum inside the Cumberland County Historical Society. This museum has 16 galleries filled with military weaponry, folk art, wood-carvings, quilts, Carlisle Indian School artifacts, Revolutionary War related items, including Molly’s pitcher, and more. The research library houses documents and manuscripts dating back to 1785. TIP: Visit the outdoor courtyard and marvel at the mural that highlights pieces of Cumberland Valley’s history, which includes Molly Pitcher.
After being inspired by Molly Pitcher’s heroic Revolutionary War story, visit her statue at the Old Public Graveyard in Carlisle. Then stop by the oldest public building in Carlisle, The First Presbyterian Church. This church was built between 1769 and 1772. James Wilson, Signer of the Declaration of Independence, belonged to this church as did many Revolutionary War officers. President George Washington also attended a service here in October 1794.
Full Day
Carlisle invites you to continue your Revolutionary War journey at the Carlisle Barracks. The Carlisle Barracks is the second-oldest Army post in the U.S. and was the Army’s supply headquarters during the Revolutionary War. The Barracks houses the Army War College, the Center for Strategic Leadership and the Hessian Powder Museum. Today, the magazine that was once a storage facility for sulfur, brimstone and other explosive material during the Revolutionary War has a variety of military artifacts and displays. Pick up a copy of the Self-Guided Walking Tour of the Carlisle Barracks at the Cumberland Valley Visitors Center. IMPORTANT: Visitors are required to show a photo driver's license, car registration and proof of car insurance. Passengers also need photo ID.
You can also explore the Redoubt Number 10 from the Revolutionary War siege of Yorktown on the Army Heritage Trail at USAHEC. This one-mile outdoor trail features full-scale reconstructions from the French and Indian War through the present.
Make it a Weekend
Plan for a Revolutionary War themed weekend and uncover stories at area cemeteries and monuments. Big Spring Presbyterian Church’s Graveyard in Newville is the burial spot of Revolutionary soldiers. Also visit the Middle Spring Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Shippensburg to see the First War Memorial tablet that contains names of men from bounds of Middle Spring Church who fought in wars of the Colonial Revolution in 1812 and 1846 and the Second War Memorial in memory of the soldiers that are buried there who participated in the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812 and the Mexican War 1904.
Visit the Carlisle Iron Works [behind the Grist Mill in Boiling Springs] to see where cannons were made and used during the Revolutionary War and Pine Grove Furnace State Park’s Iron Works Furnace, where George Washington’s Chief of Artillery, General Henry Knox, manufactured artillery shells.
Extend Your PA Stay
Stay in PA and visit the locations that helped shape our country. Visit the Valley Forge National Historic Park. Valley Forge was the site of the 1777-1778 winter encampment of the Continental Army. Travel the short distance to the Independence National Historic Park in Philadelphia to see nationally recognized American symbols like the cracked Bell and Independence Hall.
