Craighead House

Event is free, but pre-registration is required. November 16, 2025, 2 pm, Jim Gerencser and Kate Theimer  More than a decade of work by the Carlisle Indian School Digital Resource Center has made new insights possible - both large and small - about the history and effects of the school on indigenous students. This talk...

Twins John and Frank Craighead Jr. were integral in introducing the sport of falconry into the US when they were in their teens in the 1930s. Summers spent at Craighead House training and flying their hawks turned into a National Geographic magazine article, and a book on falconry, creating “falconry” friends from around the world,...

Have you ever listened for the first robin song of spring or watched a Bald Eagle soaring across the sky? Birds are an ever-present part of our lives and there are many ways that we can make a difference in providing a better world for them. Come learn about the birds who call PA home,...

Butterflies: how do we know what we know about these amazing insects? Two hundred years before Darwin, and before modern museums, a young woman in the late 1600s was the first to document the complete lifecycle of a butterfly, called metamorphosis. Through observation and detailed paintings, she became one of the first “citizen scientists” of her...

A 2025 summerfair event. Find more information and updates here.

In Honor of the Army’s 250th Anniversary. The Carlisle Barracks is the oldest continually operating military facility in the United States of America. Come listen to Cumberland County Historical Society’s Education Director, Matthew March tell stories from the many national and local roles the “barracks” has played, over the past 268 years.

Brian Howard, Chief Conservator at BR Howard and Associates, has dedicated his career to historic preservation and art conservation, including the kitchen walls and artwork at Craighead House. Join Brian, and his wife Jolene, as they talk about the intricate conservation work that went into this phase of renovating the house, as well as a...

Decorations will be made out of evergreen and other materials. This is a Camp Craighead event. RSVP if you plan on attending to ensure that enough seats & materials are available for your child or children. Register HERE.

Dr. Tom Benjey, Carlisle Indian School Football Historian, will present an alternate history based on a question not previously asked: What if Jim Thorpe had remained at Carlisle instead of taking a two-year hiatus playing minor league baseball. Register HERE.

Choose from a variety of crafts, games treats & Interactive Activity Stations. This year features The Batty World of Bats, a talk by Carissa Longo of DCNR. Please dress appropriately for this outdoor event.

Join Craighead House as The Falconry Girl, Margaret Young, brings her amazing birds to share informative presentations and unique flying demonstrations. Other fun events will be available, making this a great day for the whole family!