Become A Member

Preserve the Past. Inspire the Future.

Your membership to LancasterHistory demonstrates your passion for and commitment to Lancaster County’s history and your support of LancasterHistory. As LancasterHistory grows with the latest addition of the Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy, we realized our membership program needed to grow as well to accommodate all the many changes the last few years have brought!

History Lives Here — Be Part of It!

LancasterHistory Members have exceptional access to all of LancasterHistory’s sites:

• The LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center  |  Journey through three centuries off powerful stories from the 1700s to today. Art, artifacts, and rare archival treasures bring our rotating exhibitions to life, highlighting community voices and fresh perspectives. Trace your family’s story in our Research Center, or discover unique, locally made items in the Museum Store.
• President James Buchanan’s Wheatland  |  Tour a preserved 1828 mansion and explore the life and legacy of America’s only bachelor president, along with the stories of the many people who lived and worked within Wheatland’s walls. Stand in the very rooms where a president once stood and consider the decisions he faced while leading a nation on the brink of Civil War.
• The Louise Arnold Tanger Arboretum  |  Step outside the Museum & Research Center and recharge in the 11-acre Louise Arnold Tanger Arboretum, where breathtaking trees and global plant collections create a living landscape of discovery. The Tanger Arboretum includes over 150 species of trees from all over the world and features two Pennsylvania State Champion trees, native plant pollinator gardens, and an American Conifer Society Reference Garden.
• The Stevens & Smith Center for History and Democracy  |  The Stevens & Smith Center brings together historic buildings and powerful stories in a new, state-of-the-art museum. Be inspired by the courage and resilience of Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith and their networks of abolitionists. Through compelling exhibitions, the Center examines the struggle against slavery, the pursuit of freedom, and the continuing fight for equality in the United States.

Standard Membership Benefits

Members are the heart of LancasterHistory! All memberships contain the following benefits:

• Unlimited free general admission to all LancasterHistory museums and sites, including the LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, President James Buchanan’s Wheatland, and the Stevens & Smith Center
• Unlimited access to the Research Center, LancasterHistory’s repository of thousands of books, manuscripts, records, and more chronicling the history of Lancaster County
• Discounts on specific events, classes, workshops, and various Research Center services
• Special invitations to LancasterHistory programs and events
• Print subscription to The Journal of Lancaster County’s Historical Society, LancasterHistory’s scholarly history publication
• Digital subscription to The Historian, our bi-weekly e-newsletter, and Bookmarks, our monthly Members’ exclusive e-newsletter
• 10% shopping discount at our Museum Stores
• Discount parking voucher for any Lancaster County Parking Authority (LCPA) garage when visiting the Stevens & Smith Center
• Digital membership card access, with your membership card, renewal notices, guest passes, and coupons all at your fingertips!

Membership Levels

Each level enjoys standard membership benefits. Each subsequent level enjoys the benefits of all previous levels.

Did you know? Membership to the 1729 Society is included when donating over $1,000 a year to LancasterHistory!

Take A Look at Our New Membership Brochure

Next Steps

Over the coming days, as we make the move to our new membership program, we’ll create—and share—new resources for you to use during this transition, including video tutorials on how to download and access your digital membership cards. And never fear! We’re here to help you navigate the changes, so you don’t miss a moment of our growth. New rates go into effect on Monday, April 13.

Thank you so much for your enthusiasm—and patience!—as we bring you the latest and greatest in LancasterHistory membership opportunities!