elcome to the online home of The Historical Society of Dauphin County and the John Harris-Simon Cameron Mansion. The Historical Society of Dauphin County (HSDC) was founded in 1869 and has been headquartered at the Harris-Cameron Mansion, a National Historic Landmark, since 1941.
The mission of the HSDC is to collect, preserve, exhibit, publish, and promote interest in the history of Dauphin County for the education, enjoyment, and benefit of the public.
We welcome your interest in our collections, efforts, programs, and services.
Up and Coming at HSDC
March 9: 2nd Tuesdays - A Conversation with Mary S. Beatty
Also join us for the 141st Annual Members' Meeting
April 13: 2nd Tuesdays - National History Day Projects
April 16: The Harrisburg 2010 History Center Opens at 213 Market St
Harrisburg 2010 History Center
The Harrisburg 2010 History Center will be a temporary local museum with four exhibits designed to educate the public on the history of Dauphin County and Harrisburg, to showcase Harrisburg's upcoming SusqueCentennial, and to kick off local activities in celebration of Civil War 150. The History Center will be open from April through December of 2010 and will be located in the grand interior of the original and former Dauphin Deposit Bank Building at 213 Market Street. Built in the Greek Revival "Temple" style in 1839, the building was in existence in 1860, the SusqueCentennial anniversary year and saw continuous commercial use until it was closed to the public over twenty years ago.
2010 Blast from the Past - Save the Date
HSDC's 3rd annual Blast from the Past: 1960 Style, will be on April 23.
Building Harrisburg Now Available
Ken Frew's epic account (400 pages, 350-plus illustrations) of the history of Harrisburg’s architects, builders and buildings is now available for purchase.
Support HSDC while getting something in return. Our online shop includes the 2009-10 Susquehanna Heritage: Central Pennsylvania's Personal Civil War as well as Publications from the Past, which include transcripts of addresses given before the Society that cover topics such as transportation, industry, military and church histories.
Hours
- Alexander Research Library
- Tuesday through Friday
- 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
- Research Information
- Mansion Tours
- * Closed through March *
- Tuesday through Friday
- 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM
- Last tour starts at 3:00 PM
- * Available again in April *
- Tour Information
- Society Office
- Monday through Friday
- 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- * For research and tour hours
- please see above information *
Photo of the Week - March 8, 2010
S. W. Kuhnert takes a portrait photograph of a U.S. Army Private First Class on October 16, 1943 at his Harrisburg studio at 1011 N. 3rd Street. Kuhnert was best known for his aerial photography. Never finishing high school, he attempted to build several airplanes as well as aerial cameras. He took the first aerial photographs of Harrisburg, 40 shots on glass plates, in 1920 in a World War I surplus "Jenny" biplane: "When I was 35 I was walking out on the wings of biplanes to make in-flight repairs. In those planes, you held the camera out of an open cockpit. I wore goggles and a fur-lined helmet. Dog straps held me in and I had to balance myself and the camera. It was rough work. It was chilly behind the prop in the summer and bitter in the winter." (Read More)