One of Pennsylvania's most treasured historic communities, Carlisle, is noted for its restored architecture and tree-lined streets-once walked on by George Washington, Molly Pitcher and other icons of early America. The town is also home to three contemporary institutions of higher learning: Dickinson College, Dickinson School of Law and the U.S. Army War College. Carlisle has a long tradition of welcoming visitors, offering a wide variety of cultural and culinary options.

April 2010: Forbes ranked Carlisle-Harrisburg (Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry) as No. 5 on its “most livable cities” list.
June 2010: Forbes ranked Carlisle-Harrisburg (Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry) as No. 2 among America's best places to raise a family.

Fast ‘n Fun Fact: Carlisle is known as the state's "automotive capitol", hosting 10 seasonal auto shows that attract millions of visitors from around the world, annually.

Self-Guided Walking Tours

18th-Century Architecture in Carlisle
17 beautiful 18th-century buildings.
Download this tour by clicking here.

Carlisle Barracks
More than 100 historical buildings to explore on foot. Hessian Powder Magazine is the only building open to public. See Carlisle Barracks info here. To receive a copy of this self-guided walking tour in the mail, please call the office at 1-888-513-5130 or send an e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Carlisle Historical Waymarkers
The stories of Carlisle's people, historic sites and events.
Download this tour by clicking here.

Carlisle's Old Public Graveyard
Home to 750 veterans from the Revolutionary through the Korean Wars. About 550 are from the Civil War. 20 highlight stops.
Download this tour by clicking here.

To learn more about Carlisle, please visit the Carlisle Borough website.  You can also view the Carlisle Borough's Shopping, Dining and Attractions video here.

Carlisle is a Preserve America Community