WHEATLAND CLOSED NOVEMBER 9-16 | President James Buchanan’s Wheatland will be closed to the public for tours from November 9 through November 16 in preparation for Yuletide at Wheatland. All other operations at LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center will operate on a regular schedule. Thank you!
LancasterHistory’s digital exhibitions capture curated samples of collections. They provide access to the resources at LancasterHistory from anywhere with internet access! Enjoy a selection of the wide variety of collections items arranged by topic.
How To View
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Clare Point Stock Farm
When Thomas Willson of Reading retired in 1897, he purchased a farm along the Cocalico Creek just north of Ephrata. Here, he would breed and train some of the finest racehorses of the time.
Fight Club
In the 1850s, German immigrants took up residence in Lancaster’s Eighth Ward, nicknamed Cabbage Hill. Leo Houck would go on to be the Hill’s most famous son and a champion boxer.
Garden Spot
For nearly three centuries, Lancastrians have planted and grown various crops. Whether they've done it for themselves, in support of the country, or for a livelihood, they've done it with green thumbs.
Gradual Abolition in PA
Home to the first abolition society, Pennsylvania is considered progressive in its movement towards emancipation. Still, strides were slow, and slavery did not fully end in the state until 1850.
Harriet Lane
President Buchanan's niece remains one of America's finest First Ladies.
Historic Pets of Lancaster
Animals of all sorts have been providing love, companionship, and support to humans for thousands of years.
Leafy Retreat
At the turn of the 20th century, Lancastrian escaped the summer heat by retreating to woodsy weekend getaways outside of the city.
Little Munich
As long as there have been taverns in Lancaster County, there have been brewers. By the mid-19th-century, Lancaster's independent German brewers were producing 775,000 gallons of beer annually.
Love Letters
Before the digital age, people relied on letters to carry sentiments and information to loved ones. These love letters provide an intimate look into relationships of bygone days.
Now Showing!
Downtown Lancaster's "Theater Row" was home to several glamorous movie theaters screening the latest motion pictures during the Golden Age of American cinema.
Path to the Presidency
In 1856, diplomat and statesman James Buchanan was elected the 15th President of the United States at the age of 65.
Retail Therapy
Are you being served? In its heyday, nothing was more fun than a day shopping in downtown Lancaster, and Lancaster had its share of landmark stores.
The Eby Family Bible
The Eby Family Bible was printed by Mathias Harnisch in 1596 in Newstadt an der Hardt in Germany. Theodorus (Durst) Eby brought this Bible when he and his family came to Lancaster County in 1715.
The Gallery of Facial Hair
Join us in a journey through Lancaster's historic photographs to admire centuries of fantastic, and often regrettable, facial hair.
The Great Outdoors
Before there was social media, there were social clubs. Getting together and having a good time was paramount, and usually made camping in the woods a full production number.
The LeFevre Family Bible
The LeFevre Family Bible is one of the most requested items in the LancasterHistory collections. It belonged to the family of Isaac LeFevre, a French Protestant who escaped religious persecution in France in 1685.
The Tale That River Told
The Conestoga River flows through the heart of Lancaster County, and has been both geographically and culturally central to Lancaster's history.
Urban Renewal
The federal policy of urban renewal gave cities funding to "clean up" their impoverished areas and invest in urban infrastructure. But this policy had devastating consequences for many cities, including Lancaster.
Windsor Forge
In June 1902, Frank Reid Diffenderfer and friends visited Blanche Nevin, esteemed sculptor, at her home, Windsor Forge.
WWI Posters
The impact of posters during the World War I-era was greater than at any other time in American history.
Did You Know?
Early boxing matches were held at the Fulton Opera House, now the Fulton Theatre.
