Rachel Carson Homestead

This modest five-room farmhouse in Springdale, Pennsylvania, is the birthplace and childhood home of Rachel Carson, the ecologist whose groundbreaking 1962 book Silent Spring awakened global awareness of environmental responsibility. Her early experiences in these wooded hills fostered a lifelong reverence for nature that shaped her legacy.

Built before 1892, the Homestead is one of Springdale's earliest structures, standing just 14 miles from Pittsburgh. Its original outbuildings—including a barn, chicken coop, and springhouse—echo the rhythms of rural life that nurtured Carson's vision. It remains the only site in the world dedicated solely to interpreting her legacy for the public.

Founded in 1975, the Rachel Carson Homestead Association works to preserve and interpret this National Register historic site and to advance Carson's environmental ethic through immersive education.

Visitors can enjoy:

• Guided tours of the home and grounds
• School and outreach programs
• Scout badge experiences
• Public workshops and special events
• A quarter-mile self-guided nature trail
• A bookstore offering environmentally focused literature

Inspired by Carson's essay The Sense of Wonder, our programs encourage both children and adults to explore nature with curiosity and awe. Through storytelling, ecological exploration, and hands-on activities, we honor Carson's belief that environmental stewardship begins with a sense of connection to the natural world.