The birthplace and childhood home of Rachel Carson is a registered National Landmark of Historic Places. The 100 year-old homestead sits in a suburban setting in Springdale, PA, overlooking the Allegheny River.

Visitors can tour the four room home where the Carsons lived from 1906 to 1930 and see the spring house, gardens and woodland trail.

Rachel Carson’s books and other memorabilia are available in the gift shop.

Open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays and by appointment on weekends.

Programs develop a sense of wonder in nature and the natural world through exploring the gardens and trails. Lessons use exhibits, exercises, crafts and games to discover the ways people and the environment interact. On-site and off-site group programs and field trips take place year round, with special seasonal events. Great for schools, homeschoolers and Scout groups. Programs meet Pennsylvania Academic Standards. Also available is downloadable curricula.

Programs use Rachel Carson’s life and writing as examples to teach leadership, and to motivate high school students to pursue careers in environmental science. Participating students study to serve as docents, volunteer in the gardens, assist in program presentations for younger children, and interact with college interns and local industries who hire environmental science workers. College interns teach on-site programs, and work on specific projects for course credit. Interns have opportunities to visit local industries for career choices.

Programs for the general public include:

• Workshops on the environment and health;
• Classes on gardening with native plants without use of chemicals using the Homestead gardens as illustration;
• Conferences on consequences of chemical effects in the environment and information from academic and professional resources to promote understanding of environmentally sound practices.