Events
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This Just In:  Collecting Lancaster's History

Thanks to donations of artifacts from the community, as well as purchases at auction, our collections continue to grow. These items are diverse in nature and donors recognize that they are a tangible connection to our past that provide a voice for our ancestors and a chance to view life at an earlier time.

Our current exhibition in the Willson Memorial Building highlights some of the many wonderful recent additions to our collections and examine the ways in which this material will be made available to the public.

Upcoming Events
Check here for events from across the various programming efforts of LancasterHistory.org, Lancaster County's Historical Society & President James Buchanan's Wheatland.
 

Saturday, September 11, 2010 @ 08:30AM - 12:00PM
Tanger Arboretum

Fall Clean-up of Arboretum Grounds

Volunteers are invited to join current trustees of the arboretum in sprucing up the grounds around the trees of the arboretum. The work will involve such tasks as weeding, mulching, light pruning of ivy, cutting and hauling away dead branches, etc. Refreshments and some garden tools will be provided.Volunteers should wear clothing suitable for yard work and appropriate to the weather. Please bring gloves, long pants and long sleeves, due to the possible presence of poison ivy.

Saturday, September 11, 2010 @ 10:00AM - 09:00PM
Explore & Celebrate

Civil War Encampment

The year 2011 will mark the beginning of the Civil War Sesquicentennial - 150 years since battle began between North and South. Groups throughout Pennsylvania have been preparing and planning for this 4 year tribute that will share the stories of the Keystone State's important role in this historic event. Here at LancasterHistory.org we are already sharing the story. One weekend each fall, the grounds of Lancaster County's Historical Society are transformed by the Civil War Living History Encampment. This fall is no exception. On Saturday and Sunday, September 11 & 12, 2010, over 100 Civil War re-enactors from across the region will set up camp, relive, and remember those turbulent years. More than a dozen military and civilian tents will dot the landscape as Union and Confederate soldiers and civilians display the equipment, the firearms, the ammunition and the accoutrements of war.

scapeExperience military drills and artillery displays; chat with the soldiers; watch as surgeons and nurses care for the wounded in makeshift hospitals; capture the scent of cooking over open fires and the sounds of the Fife and Drum Corps. Early each afternoon enjoy a fashion show of period dress; a special program "A Day with Harriet Lane" will follow each performance at President James Buchanan's Wheatland. Another special guest this year is Pennsylvania Dutch musician and historian Keith Brintzenhoff who will share a variety of Civil War music through banjo, harmonica, fiddle and folklore. Be prepared to join in for a jig or two. And yes, the Civil War cannon will be there and will be fired! .Saturday evening experience the camp at dusk as you wind through the grounds lit by luminaries and listen to voices from the past capture life in the camps through story and song. There is no charge for the "Torchlight Tour."

The Civil War Encampment is free and open to the public. It's also a history lesson like no other. Don't miss this opportunity to share the Civil War with your children, your students, your friends. Join us and experience history firsthand. On the grounds of Lancaster County's Historical Society, 230 North President Avenue, Lancaster, PA. Hours: Saturday, 10 am - 9 pm, Torchlight Tour of the camp at dusk. Sunday, 10 am - 4 pm.

Saturday, September 11, 2010 @ 10:00AM - 04:00PM
Wheatland Garden Club

Fall Plant Sale at Sweet Bay Farm

Fall is a great time for planting!  If you look in your garden and see empty spaces or have plants that did not perform well, now is the time to purchase a plant to fill that space for next spring.  We have a variety of late summer and fall blooming plants, and we offer excellent help to aid buyers in selecting the right plant. 

Click here to view a list of the plants we will be offering at this year's Fall Plant Sale.

All proceeds go to the restoration and maintanence of the gardens at President James Buchanan's Wheatland.

The Fall Plant Sale will be held at Sweet Bay Farm, 425 Shultz Road, Washington Boro, PA 17582.

From Address:

Saturday, September 11, 2010 @ 01:00PM - 03:00PM
Wheatland

Harriet Lane, Democratic Queen

During your visit you will encounter Harriet, the precocious niece of President James Buchanan, at the age of 15. Teenager Harriet will share her experiences as one of James Buchanan's many nieces and about her yearning to travel and see the world.

But you will also meet Harriet Lane who tackled the diplomatic task as Hostess, or "Democratic Queen" of the White House at the age of 26.  You will have the opportunity to chat with the First Lady as she describes her many social causes and diplomatic challenges

And in yet another room of Wheatland you will visit with Mrs. Harriet Lane Johnston in 1902 as she reminisces about her late husband and sons in the autumn of her own life.

Harriet Lane, 1855
Harriet Lane, 1855

Harriet Lane, 1855
Harriet Lane, circa 1890
Harriet Lane, 1845 - 1850

Sunday, September 12, 2010 @ 10:00AM - 04:00PM
Explore & Celebrate

Civil War Encampment

The year 2011 will mark the beginning of the Civil War Sesquicentennial - 150 years since battle began between North and South. Groups throughout Pennsylvania have been preparing and planning for this 4 year tribute that will share the stories of the Keystone State's important role in this historic event. Here at LancasterHistory.org we are already sharing the story. One weekend each fall, the grounds of Lancaster County's Historical Society are transformed by the Civil War Living History Encampment. This fall is no exception. On Saturday and Sunday, September 11 & 12, 2010, over 100 Civil War re-enactors from across the region will set up camp, relive, and remember those turbulent years. More than a dozen military and civilian tents will dot the landscape as Union and Confederate soldiers and civilians display the equipment, the firearms, the ammunition and the accoutrements of war.

scapeExperience military drills and artillery displays; chat with the soldiers; watch as surgeons and nurses care for the wounded in makeshift hospitals; capture the scent of cooking over open fires and the sounds of the Fife and Drum Corps. Early each afternoon enjoy a fashion show of period dress; a special program "A Day with Harriet Lane" will follow each performance at President James Buchanan's Wheatland. Another special guest this year is Pennsylvania Dutch musician and historian Keith Brintzenhoff who will share a variety of Civil War music through banjo, harmonica, fiddle and folklore. Be prepared to join in for a jig or two. And yes, the Civil War cannon will be there and will be fired! .Saturday evening experience the camp at dusk as you wind through the grounds lit by luminaries and listen to voices from the past capture life in the camps through story and song. There is no charge for the "Torchlight Tour."

The Civil War Encampment is free and open to the public. It's also a history lesson like no other. Don't miss this opportunity to share the Civil War with your children, your students, your friends. Join us and experience history firsthand. On the grounds of Lancaster County's Historical Society, 230 North President Avenue, Lancaster, PA. Hours: Saturday, 10 am - 9 pm, Torchlight Tour of the camp at dusk. Sunday, 10 am - 4 pm.

Sunday, September 12, 2010 @ 12:00PM - 04:00PM
Wheatland Garden Club

Fall Plant Sale at Sweet Bay Farm

Fall is a great time for planting!  If you look in your garden and see empty spaces or have plants that did not perform well, now is the time to purchase a plant to fill that space for next spring.  We have a variety of late summer and fall blooming plants, and we offer excellent help to aid buyers in selecting the right plant. 

Click here to view a list of the plants we will be offering at this year's Fall Plant Sale.

All proceeds go to the restoration and maintanence of the gardens at President James Buchanan's Wheatland.

The Fall Plant Sale will be held at Sweet Bay Farm, 425 Shultz Road, Washington Boro, PA 17582.

From Address:

Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 06:30PM - 09:00PM
Thirsty for History, LancasterHistory.org Night at the Fulton

Monty Python's Spamalot

pc_thirsty

Call the Fulton Theatre at (717) 397-7425 to purchase your tickets.  Be sure to mention that you are a member of LancasterHistory.org to receive a 10% discount.

Reception begins at 6:30 p.m., Presentation by Dr. Tom Ryan at 7:00 p.m., The show begins at 7:30 p. m.

RSVP

Friday, September 17, 2010 @ 04:00PM - 05:30PM
Presidential Lecture Series

John Quist Lecture at Manheim Township Public Library

Presidential Lecture Series with John Quist, historian from Shippensburg University, at the Manheim Township Public Library. Quist will explore the impact of the lack of religion on the decision making process of Presidents Lincoln and Buchanan.

Friday, September 24, 2010 @ 04:00PM - 05:30PM
Colloquium

The Seagoing Cowboys of World War II

 The Seagoing Cowboys of World War II
Speaker:  Peggy Reiff Miller

Please join us for the Regional History Colloquium beginning at 4 pm with a social gathering and refreshments in the gallery of Lancaster County's Historical Society, 230 North President Avenue in Lancaster. The talk follows from 4:30 to 5:30. All colloquia are free and open to the public.

Miller, a writer from Milford, Indiana, will bring to life the long-forgotten history of livestock shipments made following World War II to countries devastated by the war. “Over 7,000 men and boys, ages 16 to 72, signed on to serve as ‘seagoing cowboys,’ as the cattle tenders for these trips were called,” says Miller. “Several hundred of them came from Lancaster County. They tended animals sent by the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration and the Heifer Project between 1945 and 1947.

“Life aboard ship and in port was full of drama, humor, and danger,” Miller says. “The trips were a window to a hurting world, and they led many of the cowboys into service-oriented occupations and lifetimes of working for peace.” Miller’s presentation will include a portion of her documentary photo story, A Tribute to the Seagoing Cowboys.

seagoing

The Heifer Project, which was the catalyst for the seagoing cowboy program, was started by the Church of the Brethren Men’s Work of Northern Indiana in 1942. Indiana church leader Dan West, on his return from distributing powdered milk to victims of the Spanish Civil War in 1938, sparked the interest of area farmers. West’s idea to send ‘a cow, not a cup’ caught on, and farmers began raising heifers for the cause.

With World War II raging, transporting heifers to Europe was impossible. The creation of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) by 44 countries at the close of the war provided the means for the Brethren to obtain free shipping for their heifers. In return, the Brethren agreed to provide all of the cattle attendants needed for UNRRA’s planned shipments of livestock to replenish Europe’s devastated herds.

When UNRRA disbanded in 1947 and the Heifer Project lost its ready transportation, the stories of the seagoing cowboys about the tremendous need overseas helped provide momentum to keep the Heifer Project going. The project has evolved into the award-winning Heifer International of today based in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Miller has spent the past eight years traveling around the country interviewing and documenting the stories of the seagoing cowboys. She is working on several books about this history. More information about the seagoing cowboys and the documentary DVD can be found at www.seagoingcowboys.com.

Friday, September 24, 2010 @ 05:30PM - 08:00PM
Tanger Arboretum

Wine & Cheese Under the Beeches

Current and potential new Friends of the Tanger Arboretum are invited to spend an evening under the beech trees in the arboretum enjoying wine, cheese and conversation.   This is an annual event that helps Friends of the Arboretum get to know each other and provides an opportunity to spend time together among the trees.   There is no cost to attend.  

Friday, October 15, 2010 @ 05:30PM - 08:00PM
Explore & Celebrate

Spirits at the Mansion

savethedateSave the Date!

Friday, October 15th, 5:30 - 8 pm

A spooktacular evening on the grounds and in the Mansion of Wheatland.  Jazz, catered cuisine, local brews, & more! Cost: $40 for members, $45 for non-members.  RSVP to Erin Taylor at 717.392.4633 ext. 114

Sponsored by Lancaster Brewing Company

Lancaster_Brewing_Co

Saturday, October 16, 2010 @ 01:00PM - 03:00PM
Wheatland

The War Years at Wheatland

BuchananJames1860

James Buchanan, 1860

    

Visit with former United States President James Buchanan in the year 1863, soon after the burning of the Wrightsville Bridge.  During your visit you will meet:

  • brothers from Buchanan's Lodge who will be guarding his farm
  • Dr. Carpenter, Old Buck's physician
  • his niece, Harriet Lane

as well as many others as they share their feelings about the Civil War and the fear that Lee's Army has caused among Pennsylvanians throughout the region!

 

Thursday, October 28, 2010 @ 06:30PM - 09:00PM
Thirsty for History, LancasterHistory.org Night at the Fulton

Deathtrap

pc_thirsty

Call the Fulton Theatre at (717) 397-7425 to purchase your tickets.  Be sure to mention that you are a member of LancasterHistory.org to receive a 10% discount.

Reception begins at 6:30 p.m., Presentation by Dr. Tom Ryan at 7:00 p.m., The show begins at 7:30 p. m.

RSVP

Friday, November 5, 2010 @ 05:00PM -
Wheatland

Civil War Webelos Camp-Out

campoutCalling all Webelos Scouts!  Register for this exciting, annual outdoor camping trip.  Camp out with members of the Union Army on the grounds of Wheatland and discover what life was like for Civil War soldiers during the 1860s.  Meet former President James Buchanan inside his home, discover how he feels about the Civil War, ask him what he thinks about secession and what we should do about slavery in our Nation.  While you participate you will achieve some requirements for your Webelos activity badge groups.

Pre-Registration is required for this program.  Full registration is $35 and Saturday daytime registration is $25.  To register by phone call 717-392-8721 ext. 222, or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

You may also register on-line using PayPal:

registerbutton

Saturday, November 6, 2010 @ 07:00AM - 10:00PM
Wheatland

Civil War Webelos Camp-Out

Calling all Webelos Scouts!  Register for this exciting, annual outdoor camping trip.  Camp out with members of the Union Army on the grounds of Wheatland and discover what life was like for Civil War soldiers during the 1860s.  Meet former President James Buchanan inside his home, discover how he feels about the Civil War, ask him what he thinks about secession and what we should do about slavery in our Nation.  While you participate you will achieve some requirements for your Webelos activity badge groups.

Pre-Registration is required for this program.  Full registration is $35 and Saturday daytime registration is $25.  To register by phone call 717-392-8721 ext. 222, or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

You may also register on-line using PayPal:

registerbutton

Our Volunteers & Interns

That girl has Moxie!

stories_Juli_with_Moxie_1_2010

My name is Julianne Petrillo.  I am a freshman at Lancaster Catholic High School.  I enjoy learning about history, so I am volunteering this summer at LancasterHistory.org, Lancaster County’s Historical Society and President James Buchanan’s Wheatland.  At the Historical Society I volunteer in the archives department.  I studied receipts from a store in Lancaster during the 1920s.  I learned so much about items being sold back then and was amazed at how old some of my favorite snacks were such as Life Savers, Oreos, taffy, saltines, and Moxie.  At Wheatland I volunteer for special events giving tours as well as helping dust the antique furniture.  I enjoy working at the Historical Society and Wheatland very much and hope to be back next summer!

Parks and Recreation

Amy_at_computer_2010

Amy Noll is a New Hampshire native who graduated with her B.A. in History and Management from Gettysburg College in 2007.  She received her M.L.S. with a specialization in Archives, Records, and Information Management from the University of Maryland in 2009, and recently moved into the Lancaster area.  She has past experience working at the National Archives and is also a Civil War Reenactor.  In the Archives, Amy is working on the Lancaster Recreation Commission Records manuscript group.  She has found many interesting records about past recreational programming for senior citizens as well as records detailing the creation and acquisition of some of Lancaster’s most well known public parks.

Living History

katelynstauffer

At the time of her internship Katelynn Stauffer will be a rising sophomore at Gettysburg College, where she will be majoring in History and Political Science with minors in Education and Civil War Era Studies. While interning at Wheatland she will be working on the creation of a new living history tour that will examine the war years at Wheatland.  She will be organizing volunteers and setting up a test run of the program for the public.

Building a Tour

faith_spring_2010

Faith McCarrick is a senior history major at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This semester she has been interning in both the archives and education departments at LancasterHistory.Org. In the archives department, she found herself creating box lists of manuscript groups that covered the history of the United Steel Workers Union in Lancaster and the writings of Jewish World War II veteran and journalist, Charles H. Kessler.  Read more...

Diplomacy

alextrimble

Alex Trimble is a senior at Elizabethtown Area High School. His primary focus of study has been in history and social sciences. During his internship at the James Buchanan Wheatland mansion he will be conducting research on James Buchanan's diplomatic mission to Russia.

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