The Little Beaver Historical Society owns three sites in town, each with its own theme.
The Greersburg Academy on Market Street was built in 1802 and is the oldest extant public building in Beaver County. This landmark originated as an institution of higher learning, the first one north of the Ohio River. It later served as a railroad depot and you can still see where the railroad tracks used to run parallel to the building.
Just down the block on Plum Street sits The Little Beaver Museum, previously known as The Second Greersburg Academy. Built in 1883, this two-story building eventually served as the Darlington High School through the mid-20th century. The first floor now displays historic artifacts from towns throughout Beaver County. On the second floor are rooms furnished to show what local domestic life was like in the early 20th century, including a Dining Room and a Victorian Parlor.
The newest addition to the Society is the building that houses the McCarl Industrial and Agricultural Museum and the Hamilton Tool Forge and Foundry. This museum celebrates the county’s rich industrial heritage. From White’s Grist Mill in the 1780s, to the later coal and oil industries, glass factories and the Mayer China company, and finally the Darlington Brick company, the economy of Beaver County area has relied on industry. Now the machines used in local industries have found a home at the McCarl Museum. The newest acquisition is a rare 1915 Steam Shovel built by Keystone Driller, on long-term loan courtesy of collector Shane Watson. The Steam Shovel is still in working condition and was driven into the museum under its own power! Many of the machines including two Steam Engines and a Downie Water Pump are still operational. Visitors can see them in action during the Museum’s summer hours and at the town’s annual event, Darlington Days.