The Craighead Family
South Middleton Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
Marker Inscription
The 1886 house and surroundings were an inspiration to this family. Brothers Frank and Eugene became prominent entomologists. Frank's nationally known conservationist sons, John and Frank, Jr., saved Yellowstone's grizzlies, popularized falconry, inspired the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, and contributed to National Geographic. Newbery-winning daughter Jean Craighead George wrote nature books Julie of the Wolves and My Side of the Mountain.
Erected by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission
The Story
From an 1886 house in the rolling country south of Carlisle came a remarkable American family whose lives orbited the natural world. Brothers Frank and Eugene Craighead earned national reputations as entomologists, and Frank's twin sons carried the work into wild landscapes—studying and helping save Yellowstone's grizzly bears, championing falconry, and lending their voices to the movement that became the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The family's most famous member, Jean Craighead George, turned that same intimacy with nature into beloved books like 'Julie of the Wolves' and 'My Side of the Mountain.'
Why it matters
The Craigheads bridged rigorous field science and popular imagination, shaping both American conservation policy and how generations of children came to understand the wild.
Plan your visit
NearbyMake a day of it — museums, food, and places to stay near this marker.
Museums & culture
- Ye Olde Sulphur Spa Historical Society9.8 mi away
- Appalachian Trail Museum10.7 mi away
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Related people
- · Frank Craighead
- · John Craighead
- · Jean Craighead George
Themes & tags
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