Dickinson College - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

The once-strained relationship between the town and the College is beginning to grow. Recent efforts facilitated by Dickinson President William Durden have helped this process immensely, and the growth of the town of Carlisle is encouraging these efforts. Whether attending a film at the Carlisle Theater, eating at restaurants, shopping at the popular Clothes Vine boutique, or grabbing a drink at Alibis, students are frequently seen in the area around High Street patronizing local businesses. As developments of upscale neighborhoods are being constructed all along the town’s borders, Carlisle is swiftly becoming one of the most decorated and advanced municipalities in central Pennsylvania.

Yet, Carlisle is still not the ideal college town. While it has its share of bars, restaurants, and movie theaters, there is virtually nothing else to do downtown on weekend nights, which is the reason most Dickinson students stay on campus for weekend activities. There are no nightclubs or under-21 hangouts, and the town pretty much shuts down after 10 p.m. However, efforts are being made, by both the college and Carlisle Borough, to increase the availability of activities in town on the weekend.

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Students Speak Out

DicCC says: Dickinson College 2013 Arts, Visual and Performing

There is a lot of hiking and... There is a lot of hiking and fishing to do in the area, but not much by way of urban entertainment and all that. There's a good movie theater that gets independent films and some good restaurants, but there's no real live music on a regular basis. 12345 Local Atmosphere: February 18, 2009 Report

DicBC says: Dickinson College 2015 Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

It's a cute small town with plenty... It's a cute small town with plenty of little restaurants and shops within walking distance. If you want to see a movie or go to stores like Target or Old Navy, you have to drive. 12345 Local Atmosphere: February 17, 2009 Report

DicAF says: Dickinson College 2013 English Language and Literature

The town generally dislikes us,... The town generally dislikes us, but if you give them the chance, they're really friendly people. The best/only things to do around are hike—there is great hiking north and south of the town, which is in a valley—and eat. There are tons of places to eat, with good food, too. Avoid the sketchy parts of town at night—just use common sense. 12345 Local Atmosphere: February 17, 2009 Report

babybl1115 says: Dickinson College 2016 Social Sciences

Carlisle is what most describe as... Carlisle is what most describe as your typical small town. Coming from an even smaller town, I feel that Carlisle is actually pretty big. here is a huge range of restaurants in town, from sushi to Thai to Japanese noodles to Italian. Harrisburg is about a half-hour away, where there is a train station to just about anywhere, like New York and DC. 12345 Local Atmosphere: February 17, 2009 Report

DicTL says: Dickinson College 2015 Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies, and Humanities

Carlisle is a small town with not... Carlisle is a small town with not much substance. Aside from a few good restaurants and the three or four good bars, there isn't much else. The nearest mall is about a half-hour away in Harrisburg. The lack of a town is definitely a downside to Dickinson. 12345 Local Atmosphere: February 17, 2009 Report

Facts

Did You Know?

Five Fun Facts About Carlisle

• Carlisle has played a prominent role in United States history and has seen action from nearly every war ever fought on American soil. During the French and Indian War, Carlisle was the westernmost point at which British Crown regiments bivouacked. Carlisle provided an unusual number of high-ranking officers to the Revolutionary War, as well, including the heroine Mary Hayes, also known as Molly Pitcher.
• President Washington founded the Carlisle Barracks in 1798, the first military school and oldest Army post in the country. The Carlisle Barracks are now home to the U.S. Army War College. President Washington made routine visits to Carlisle and even stayed the night at least once in the downtown area.
• Carlisle is the northernmost point reached by the confederacy during the Civil War and was visited by two contingents of confederate troops led by General Jeb Stuart during the Battle of Gettysburg. The Cumberland County Courthouse in Carlisle bears the scars from the shelling of the town by the confederates to this day. Dickinson’s monumental Old West became a temporary field hospital during this event.
• Carlisle is also a center of manufacturing for the automotive industry, as a wide variety of automotive materials are produced here each day. To complement this distinction, the Carlisle Events Company hosts 10 collector car, truck, and motorcycle events each year, drawing over 500,000 visitors from around the world to Carlisle annually. These events include two automotive swap meets (one in the spring and one in the fall), and eight individual specialty shows featuring Corvettes, Fords, GMs, Chryslers, trucks, motorcycles, sport compacts, and vintage imports. These shows are some of the largest in the country.
• Jim Thorpe, a two-time Olympic gold medal winner, pro football player, major league baseball player, and the man described as the greatest American athlete of the 20th century, was schooled in Carlisle and played football for the Carlisle Indian School as a young adult.

Famous People from Carlisle:

John Bannister Gibson – Last Chief Justice under the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1790
Mary Hayes (otherwise known as Molly Pitcher) – Heroine at the battle of Monmouth in the Revolutionary War
Marianne Moore – Poet
Jim Thorpe – Great American athlete
Fredrick Watts – The first U.S. Commissioner of Agriculture
James Wilson – Local lawyer who signed the Declaration of Independence

Local Slang:
Davenport – Sofa, couch
Dippy Eggs – Eggs over easy
Warsh – To wash

Most Recent Contributing Author

Name: Rachel Warzala
Hometown: Somerset, NJ
Major: English/Political Science

Rachel is a campus tour guide and a member of the Orientation Committee. So if you decide to come to Dickinson, either to visit or to stay, make sure you say hi

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