Conococheague Institute

Conococheague Institute Where history, nature, and community meet! Explore 18th-century life at the Conococheague Institute located at 12995 Bain Rd, Mercersburg, PA 17236.
(3)

As we gear up for our 1776: Music of the Revolution event tomorrow, let's look at an iconic image, The Spirit of '76, ...
06/05/2026

As we gear up for our 1776: Music of the Revolution event tomorrow, let's look at an iconic image, The Spirit of '76, painted by Archibald MacNeal Willard in 1876 for America's Centennial celebration.

The painting depicts a fifer and two drummers marching through the smoke of battle, capturing the determination, sacrifice, and spirit associated with the nation's founding. While it was painted a century after the Revolution, its imagery became so influential that generations of Americans came to associate the fife and drum with the patriot cause through this single work of art.

Today, fife and drum corps across the country continue to preserve that musical tradition, not as a painting or a symbol, but as a living part of history. New musicians might play their first fife after visiting a museum gift shop (we sold 50 fifes this spring!), and end up as lifelong musicians as a result!

This Saturday, we're proud to carry that tradition forward at 1776: Music of the Revolution, with the Uxbridge Fife and Drum, Forbes Road Frolic, and ice cream available by Antietam Dairy. We hope you'll join us and experience the sights and sounds that have inspired Americans for nearly 250 years.

Give a warm welcome to Jacob, Trey, and Ellie, who are joining the Conococheague Institute this summer as our 2026 paid ...
06/04/2026

Give a warm welcome to Jacob, Trey, and Ellie, who are joining the Conococheague Institute this summer as our 2026 paid interns!

Trey McCarty is a college student joining us in our Environmental and Conservation internship role. Throughout the summer, he'll be leading our wetlands restoration project while also helping with prairie, native garden, and woodlot management. In his own words, he hopes to "learn the full scope and processes of environmental management and preservation through hands-on experiences."

Jacob Shaffer is a familiar face to many CI families, having volunteered with us for years. Now that he has graduated from high school, he is looking forward to developing career-based skills while building on his CI knowledge and applying it in professional settings. As a Public History intern, he'll be instrumental in our weekend programs and summer camps, and his hands-on experience will be especially valuable as we expand our animal husbandry facilities.

Ellie Stine also joins us as a Public History intern, where she hopes to kickstart a career in American history. Ellie has volunteered throughout the region, is actively engaged in leadership organizations, and has a background in gardening, textile processing, and interest in her own regional Native American and settler family heritage and ancestry. In her own words, she is excited to join CI because it does "so much for the surrounding community, and I want to be part of the amazing group that brings the history and nature of our area to life!"

Our paid internships wouldn't be possible without the support of our members, Lee Davis, the Stauffer Family, and the Pennsylvania Federation of Museums and Historical Organizations Cultural and Historical Support Grant. Their contributions create these valuable career opportunities for young people and help CI thrive and grow with new energy.

Thank you to everyone who supports this important program! If you'd like to meet the team in person, visit us this weekend for our 1776: Music of the Revolution event.

06/03/2026

Hear the sounds that helped shape a nation! This Saturday, step back to 1776 and experience the music of the American Revolution as Uxbridge Fife and Drum and Forbes Road Frolic bring history to life with the stirring rhythms that inspired soldiers, rallied communities, and lifted spirits during the fight for independence.

Join us for our 1776: Music of the Revolution event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and enjoy:
- Live fife and drum performances
- Revolutionary-era songs and music
- Family-friendly activities and demonstrations all day
- Ice cream, treats, and drinks from Antietam Dairy
- Free admission (donations encouraged)

Featuring performances by Uxbridge Fife and Drum and Forbes Road Frolic, as well as ongoing living history, hearth cooking, and more!

The Conococheague Institute is located at 12995 Bain Road, Mercersburg, PA and this event is being held on Saturday, June 6th from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Bring the family, enjoy a day of living history, and discover the music that marched alongside the American Revolution! Event made possible thanks to the generous support of Americana Corner’s Preserving America Partners program and our community sponsors, including F&M Trust, Middletown Valley Bank, and the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center.

Business members who support CI mean so much to us, doubly so when they also organize team volunteer days like Undone Ko...
06/02/2026

Business members who support CI mean so much to us, doubly so when they also organize team volunteer days like Undone Kombucha recently did. Their team joined Kori for a full day of pasture fence painting, with a little animal petting mixed in, too.

They were also kind enough to bring cold kombucha and kefir for our team to enjoy throughout the rest of the week (and we'll need the refreshment, it's going to be hot and busy!). They are located at 3385 Wayne Rd, Chambersburg, but you will also see them as a vendor at some of our upcoming events.

Volunteer work days like this have a real impact. They help us tackle important projects around the site, allowing us to focus more resources on our educational programs, historic preservation efforts, and community events.

We're especially grateful for our annual business members who support our mission year-round and choose to give back through hands-on service as well.

Interested in organizing a volunteer day for your business or team? We'd love to connect and explore opportunities to work together! Reach out to [email protected] to learn more.

Happy 6th Work Anniversary to our Executive Director, Matthew Wedd!Over the past six years, Matthew has helped lead the ...
06/01/2026

Happy 6th Work Anniversary to our Executive Director, Matthew Wedd!

Over the past six years, Matthew has helped lead the Conococheague Institute through an exciting period of growth. From expanding programs and events, to improving accessibility, launching innovative experiences like Can You Live 18th Century?, Animal Husbandry on the Frontier, creating his unique brand of historic charm with bonfires & cricket, earning multiple awards, and helping establish CI's $1 million endowment, his leadership has helped position CI for a strong future.

But Matthew would be the first to say that none of this happens alone. These achievements are the result of the incredible support of our donors, members, community partners, dedicated staff, interns, volunteers, and CI's Board of Directors. Together, we've built something truly special.

Thank you, Matthew, for your passion, vision, and commitment to preserving and sharing frontier history. Here's to the next chapter of growth at CI!

Join us in congratulating Matthew on six years with CI! And be sure to enjoy the fruits of our labors. Free programs every Saturday and Sunday this summer, while this week we are hosting more volunteer groups, education bookings, and preparing for our June 6th: 1776: Music of the Revolution event this Saturday!

Not sure what to have for lunch on this beautiful, sunny day? Let what’s growing in our garden inspire you!Yesterday, a ...
05/31/2026

Not sure what to have for lunch on this beautiful, sunny day? Let what’s growing in our garden inspire you!

Yesterday, a surplus of radishes became a quick pickled radish dish to accompany a meat-and-potatoes lunch with gravy for our interpretive team.

As well as being a tasty snack, radishes had a benefit for the 18th century gardener. English horticultural writer Richard Bradley described radishes as “a Root which might be sown promiscuously among other Roots.” Because radishes sprout and mature much faster than vegetables such as carrots or parsnips, gardeners sowed them among slower-growing crops. The radishes could be harvested first while also marking where the rows were planted.

We have plenty more radishes, greens, herbs, and other fresh produce available. Stop by today for Sunday Revolutionary Homestead programming. It’s a glorious day for a fresh-picked salad! Ask one of our team members for help harvesting your own lunch.

05/30/2026

It's the weekend, and that means two days of Revolutionary Homestead programming at the Conococheague Institute!

Haven't visited recently and wondering what that means? Check out the Good Day PA on ABC27 feature that aired yesterday.

Our focus is the American Revolution, but rather than battles, we showcase the tangible day-to-day life skills of the period: what people grew in their gardens, the food they cooked in the hearth, daily chores and trades, animal husbandry, games, dance, music, and more.

In addition to 18th-century living history, visitors can enjoy a variety of exhibits in our Visitor Center, pick up a souvenir in the gift shop, and explore our nature trails, playgrounds, and picnic areas.

No RSVP is required. Join us from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thanks to support from the Americana Corner Preserving America Partners Program, admission is free.

We look forward to seeing you this weekend at 12995 Bain Road, Mercersburg, PA 17236!

We’re excited to share that the Conococheague Institute was recently featured by Good Day PA on ABC27 as part of a spotl...
05/29/2026

We’re excited to share that the Conococheague Institute was recently featured by Good Day PA on ABC27 as part of a spotlight on our summer Revolutionary Homestead programming! Supported by the Americana Corner Preserving America Partners program, this special on-site filming focuses on the expansion that begins this weekend of our programming hours: extended to Sunday through to Labor Day!

Tune in today between 10 AM and 11 AM on ABC 27 to catch the segment. You may also be able to watch live online here: ABC27 Live Stream or through your regular tv services.

If you miss it, don’t worry, we’ll share the YouTube link once the segment is posted online! We can't wait!

05/28/2026

We have a few more weeks of school bookings before summer hits, and a busy lineup of summer camps ahead, but our spring education programs are wrapping up their busiest stretch of the year. Throughout our educational experiences with schools across the Tri-State area, we’ve captured videos here and there, and Mikaela just finished editing them into this spring 2026 compilation video!

From Washington County Public Schools to Gettysburg Montessori and beyond, thousands of students gain hands-on experiences in frontier life at the Conococheague Institute each year. These programs are made possible through the generous support of Patriot Federal Credit Union and M&T Bank, and we’re incredibly grateful for their support, as well as for every teacher, chaperone, and parent who helps make each trip a success!

Our Executive Director Matthew is enjoying his vacation in Sicily (and is still wearing his CI swag at times), from Mt E...
05/27/2026

Our Executive Director Matthew is enjoying his vacation in Sicily (and is still wearing his CI swag at times), from Mt Etna to the Valley of Temples in Agrigentum! As well taking a break with family, his mind still lingers with CI...he found a heritage breed goat that thrives on the temple plateau, and a milestone that would very well for a apple cider mill...but it's beyond the luggage weight limit!

Address

12995 Bain Road
Mercersburg, PA
17236

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 8pm
Tuesday 7am - 9pm
Wednesday 7am - 5pm
Thursday 7am - 5pm
Friday 7am - 5pm
Saturday 7am - 8pm
Sunday 7am - 8pm

Telephone

+17173282800

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Conococheague Institute posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Conococheague Institute:

Shortcuts

Share