Boalsburg is a census-designated place (CDP) in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 3,578 at the 2000 census. The village claims to be the birthplace of Memorial Day. The name Boalsburg comes from the Boal family who settled the region. The fifth generation of the Boal family, Col. Theodore Davis Boal, married a descendant of Christopher Columbus and brought the Columbus Chapel to the Boal Mansion from Spain in 1909 including an Admiral's Desk that belonged to Columbus himself. Boalsburg originally was on the main road for travelers from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, with the tavern that housed travelers still standing today. It is also home to the Pennsylvania Military Museum, as well as the headquarters of the Civil War reenacting unit, 3rd Pennsylvania Light Artillery Battery "B" (aka F Troop). The Tussey Mountain Ski Area is also located in Boalsburg.