The history of the United States Army is one that is lengthy and mighty. This means there is a mountainous supply of materials to research on the subject. But before you run to the Internet in search of information, there must be an actual place one can visit to stand on solid ground and become educated on the United States Army's impressive history. In this blog, we will provide you with some interesting information on the U.S. Army Heritage Education Center – a facility enriched in all elements involving the United States Army. What is it? The U.S. Army Heritage Education Center (USAHEF), located in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, is the United State Army's primary historical research facility. It is here that the USAHEF provides interpretative and educational outreach programs in order to help create a greater understanding of the Army's integral role in the growth, development and protection of the nation and its way of life. First formed in 1999, then later reorganized in 2013, the USAHEC consists of the U.S. Army Military History Institute (USAMHI), the Army Heritage Museum (AHM), the Historical Services Division, Visitor and Education Services, the U.S. Army War College Library, and the USAHEC Staff. The USAHEC stands by the motto: Telling the Army story, one solider at a time. With this motto in mind, they provide an incredible research college that contains military history books, military newspapers, technical and field manuals, periodicals, veteran's surveys, photographs, and transcribed oral histories. It also includes materials from as early as the French and Indian War to current U.S. Army operations. The Campus As part of the U.S. Army War College, the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center features its own 56-acre campus located near the Carlisle Barracks in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. This prominent center stands as the U.S. Army's primary historical research facility. Here, contemporary and historical materials related to strategic leadership, global applications of Land-power, and U.S. Army Heritage are available to the public to research, educate, and honor soldiers of the Army both past and present. Since 2014, the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center has consisted of three primary working buildings. Here is a look at each: Ridgeway Hall: Ridgeway Hall – Home of the Military History Institute – stands at 66,000 square feet and holds over 15 million items on the history of the U.S. Army. It was named after Matthew B Ridgeway (1895-1993). Ridgeway filled several prominent rolls in the U.S. Army, including Chief of Staff General, commander of the 82 nd Airborne Division in WWII, and commander of the United Nations forces in the Korean War. Visitor and Education Center: The USAHEF's Visitor and Education Center stands as the welcome and orientation site for visitors of the facility after opening its doors to the general public in May 2011. This specific building includes a 7,000-square-foot museum exhibit space, a museum store, and 2 large multi-purpose rooms designed for conferences and lectures. Within the museum space is “The Solider Experience”. While traveling through the exhibit, there is access to artifacts, oral history recordings accessible via smartphone, a movie theater, and the opportunity to write a letter to a currently serving soldier. At the exhibit, guests also have the chance to test their skills at a digital shooting range, discover what it was like to parachute into Normandy as part of the D-Day invasion, and experience a nighttime attack during the Korean War. This noted exhibit allows visitors to explore the U.S. Army through the eyes of the men and women who lived during times of war and peace, from as far back as the Spanish-American War to operations currently happening today. Conservation Facility and Collections Management: Providing a 35,000-square-foot museum, the Conversation Facility and Collections Management building hold the Army Heritage Museum's artifacts and serves as a curatorial work space. Unlike the other buildings mentioned, it is not open to the public. The building is designed with state-of-the-art climate-controlled storage space that contains objects, paper, and analytical and digital laboratories. Here, a team of specialists are in charge of acquiring, conserving, and administering historical materials. For more information on the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center, click here.
Best Ice Cream Shops in or near Harrisburg
Now that it’s summertime, you’re probably craving a tasty ice cream treat. We know we sure are! Lucky for you, then, that you stumbled upon this comprehensive guide to the best ice cream shops in or near Harrisburg, PA. We’ll provide you with their locations, operating hours, and links to their websites. That way, you can learn more about these chilly spots and decide for yourself which one to visit. Fox Meadows Creamery Location: 2475 West Main Street, Ephrata, PA 17522 Hours: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM (Monday to Thursday); 11:00 AM to 10:00 PM (Friday and Saturday) Over at Fox Meadows Creamery, their ice cream is made on-site. The milk that they use to make it comes from their nearby dairy farm. The employees who scoop it are either a part of the family or members of the community. In other words, everything is done locally, just the way it should be. Hall’s Homestyle Ice Cream Location: 861 Raccoon Valley Road, Millerstown, PA 17062 Summer Hours: 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM (Monday to Friday); 2:00 PM to 9:00 PM (Saturday); 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM (Sunday) According to their website, Hall’s Ice Cream is one of Central Pennsylvania’s last remaining family ice cream businesses. What does this mean for you? It means that you’ll get everything that’s associated with a family business when you stop by for a few scoops: excellent service and a premium product. The Jigger Shop Location: 202 Gettysburg Avenue, Mount Gretna, PA 17064 Hours: Open at 12:00 PM (every day) When we use the term “jigger,” we’re not talking about the South American chigoe flea. We’re also not talking about “Jigga,” Jay Z’s famous nickname. We’re talking about The Jigger Shop, one of the best ice cream parlors in the Harrisburg area. It’s been around since 1895, a.k.a., they know what they’re doing. Leo’s Homemade Ice Cream Location: 816 W. High Street, Carlisle, PA 17013 Summer Hours: 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM (every day) Vanilla Fudge, Chocolate, Coffee Chocolate Chip, Rocky Road, Oatmeal Raisin Cookie, Chocolate Chip, Golden Oreo Cookie, Raspberry, Vanilla, Mint Chocolate Chip, Salt Caramel, Coconut, Peanut Butter and Jelly, Caramel Cashew...the flavors go on and on and on. Rakestraw’s Ice Cream Company Location: 313 South Market Street, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 Hours: 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM (every day) Lee and Judy Seitz’s ice cream spot, Rakestraw’s Ice Cream Company, has been in operation since 1903. Obviously, though, they haven’t been at the helm for its entire run—it’s been passed down over the years. With over 30 flavors of delectable hand-dipped ice cream, you really can’t go wrong at all! Discover Other Cool Businesses, Restaurants & Bars Around Harrisburg! You know just as well as we do that you simply can’t eat ice cream all day every day…even though you might like to. With that in mind, we feature a variety of other articles on our blog. These pages cover different businesses, restaurants, and bars that are close to Harrisburg. Check ‘em out.