Carlisle Barracks

"Fun with the Family"

Carlisle Barracks was originally established by the British Army as a camp in 1757. During the War for Independence, the post served as an arsenal for the Continental Army. The Hessian Powder Magazine, built to store munitions during the American Revolution, is located at the corner of Garrison and Guardhouse Lanes. Walking tour brochures of the grounds are available in the museum. The Carlisle Indian Industrial School was established here in 1879. The school educated thousands of Native American children, including famous athletes such as Jim Thorpe, Charles Bender, and Louis Tewanima.
The U.S. Army War College moved to Carlisle Barracks in 1951. It is a senior service college for colonels and lieutenant colonels that prepares senior leaders “to pursue mastery of the art of strategy, and apply strategic leadership in a unified, joint, or multinational environment.” Graduates include President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Gen. Richard B. Myers, Gen. Omar Bradley, and many others.
The U.S. Army Military History Institute (Ridgway Hall) is located off the grounds at 950 Soldiers Drive, off Army Heritage Drive, adjacent to Claremont Road. The Military History Institute is the primary research facility for the historical study of the U.S. Army and holds over 14 million items documenting military history.