LancasterHistory

LancasterHistory LancasterHistory is a non-profit history organization in Lancaster, PA. We're also known as LancasterHistory.org though the ".org" was dropped in 2019.
(3)

Also developing the Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy, set to open Spring 2026. This is the official page of LancasterHistory, formerly known as Lancaster County's Historical Society.

Calling all high school students! Do you want to help shape summer learning at LancasterHistory? Join our education team...
06/17/2026

Calling all high school students! Do you want to help shape summer learning at LancasterHistory?

Join our education team to co-create new field trips and youth programs. During the week of July 6–10, 2026, you’ll tour all our sites, including Lancaster's newest museum, The Stevens & Smith Center, participate in test activities, and tell us what’s working, what needs fixing, and how to make programs better for students. We want to give young people the skills to dive into our community’s past and imagine the future they’ll build. This is your chance to make those programs your own. Our history won’t be complete without your voice! The application deadline is June 30.

📆 July 6–10, 2026
🏫 Students entering grades 9-12 in fall 2026
📍 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave & The Stevens & Smith Center, 13–15 E. Vine St
🔗 To learn more, click the link https://buff.ly/LLdGPPa

06/08/2026

Your LancasterHistory membership card is now digital, so your member benefits are always right at your fingertips. Simply save it to your phone, present it when you arrive, and start exploring!

From the newly opened Stevens & Smith Center for History and Democracy, President James Buchanan’s Wheatland, to the LancasterHistory Research Center and Museum and the surrounding 11-acre Tanger Arboretum, your next visit is now just a tap away!

Not a member yet? Join today and discover the stories that shaped Lancaster and the nation.

06/02/2026

Join LancasterHistory each Thursday in June from 10-11 am, as we read aloud nature-themed stories, followed by a fun craft or activity inspired by that week’s book. First up, on June 4, we’ll be reading “Beautiful Bats” by Linda Glaser, illustrated by Sharon Lane Holm. So, grab your little ones and head to LancasterHistory for an hour of fun and educational reading! To register, click or call (717) 392-4633.

06/02/2026

A wonderful spotlight on The Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History & Democracy

What a wonderful day for a stroll through the Tanger Arboretum!Our groundskeepers have helped usher in a new season of b...
06/01/2026

What a wonderful day for a stroll through the Tanger Arboretum!

Our groundskeepers have helped usher in a new season of beauty and blooms, and our campus is looking especially vibrant. Hummingbirds, butterflies, and honeybees are flitting about blooming lilacs and along the shaded pathways. Across the Wheatland lawn, towering trees echo with the songs of cardinals and the steady drumming of woodpeckers.

The Tanger Arboretum is free to visit and open daily from dawn until dusk. Leashed dogs are welcome! Come take a walk, enjoy the season, and experience another side of LancasterHistory

On Thursday, May 28, LancasterHistory will welcome Penn State University Professor Dr. John R. Haddad to discuss "Thrill...
05/21/2026

On Thursday, May 28, LancasterHistory will welcome Penn State University Professor Dr. John R. Haddad to discuss "Thrill Ride: The Transformation of Hersheypark." Dr. Haddad will explore how Hersheypark transformed from an old-fashioned amusement park into a modern entertainment complex modeled after Disneyland, answering the question of when and how the park discovered its magic formula of thrill rides and chocolate theming.

A reception will precede the lecture at 5pm, followed by the main event at 5:30pm. The lecture will be available via livestream but will not be publicly available after the event concludes. This lecture is free and open to the public. In-person attendance requires advance registration in order to guarantee a seat. Virtual attendance requires advance registration in order to receive the Zoom link. To register for this event, please click the link in our bio, or call 717.392.4633 to register over the phone.

Have you taken a DNA test and want to use it to grow your family tree? This is the workshop for you! Join genealogist Do...
05/19/2026

Have you taken a DNA test and want to use it to grow your family tree? This is the workshop for you! Join genealogist Donna Backus on Saturday, May 23, 10am–12pm at LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center for "Make Sense of Your DNA Matches: A Genealogy Workshop." Participants will learn to identify unknown matches, recognize matches already in their tree, add matches to their family tree, and sort and group DNA results. Register here https://buff.ly/oaXtj4j or call 717-392-4633. Please have already taken a DNA test, preferably through Ancestry.com.

05/08/2026

Lancaster, you came to party!

What started as a vision has now opened its doors, and last weekend, you helped us celebrate in a big way. Music. Movement. Community. History in motion. This was certainly a block party for the history books.

Another big thank you is due to our grand opening weekend sponsors, and

The Stevens & Smith Center is here! For tickets, visit stevensandsmith.org or click the link in our bio.

Join LancasterHistory for the special guided tour, Harriet Lane: America's Fair First Lady of the Land, on Saturday, May...
05/06/2026

Join LancasterHistory for the special guided tour, Harriet Lane: America's Fair First Lady of the Land, on Saturday, May 9, with tours from 10am-3pm. Harriet Lane was the first hostess of the White House to be publicly referred to as the “First Lady.” Although she was not the president's wife, she flourished in the role and helped define it for future First Ladies. In celebration of Harriet Lane's 196th birthday, visitors will explore Harriet Lane’s life from her childhood with her uncle James Buchanan and her role in the White House, to the personal losses she endured and the legacy she left behind. To register, please visit https://buff.ly/Ayu41ds

05/02/2026

The Block Party is underway - we’re rocking until 6pm! Come on down to Vine Street and join the fun!

Address

230 N President Avenue
Lancaster, PA
17603

Opening Hours

Monday 9:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 9:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 5pm
Thursday 9:30am - 5pm
Friday 9:30am - 5pm
Saturday 9:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+17173924633

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when LancasterHistory posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Museum

Send a message to LancasterHistory:

Shortcuts

Share

Category