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Harriet Lane arrived in London for the first time in her life in the spring of 1854. Just one month shy of her 24th birthday, Harriet had persisted long enough for her Uncle Buchanan to give in to her wishes. Ever since her uncle’s appointment as Minister of Great Britain under President Pierce in 1853, […]
Read MoreBefore You Read: While this article is written to show that body diversity exists in the past, there are also discussions of themes relating to body image, body size, and the societal pressures surrounding sizing that may be triggering to some readers. Reader discretion is advised. Thank you! Have you ever looked at a photograph […]
Read MoreLancasterHistory’s first major project of 2023 for President James Buchanan’s Wheatland is complete! Staff and contractors worked to create a historically appropriate space for the Butler’s Pantry during the mid-19th century. But what is the Butler’s Pantry, and what work was done exactly? Today, we seek to answer those questions… and more! What is the […]
Read MoreWhen people talk about Harriet Lane Johnston, they tend to focus on all the outstanding elements in her life. Behind these exceptional stories is a reoccurring story of loss. Like many Victorians, Harriet knew death well. Today’s post explores the grief that coexisted with the timeline of Harriet’s public and political accomplishments. Rife with Tuberculosis […]
Read MoreContinuing from our previous post, we know that Peter Hilliard escaped arrest in April 1867. There is a small period where his whereabouts remain unknown until Buchanan’s Chemical Bank Book lists Peter Hilliard back at Wheatland as early as June 1867. In this book, Buchanan records wages of $12.00 per month given to Peter Hilliard […]
Read MoreFrom 1848-1868, Buchanan employed domestic staff at Wheatland. Some worked briefly and others worked for many years. The majority were people of Irish, African American, and German descent. Their age range during employment was as young as 13 and as old as early 60s. The domestic staff at Wheatland also had a variety of family […]
Read MoreJames Buchanan “Buck” Henry was one of James Buchanan’s nephews. Orphaned at the age of seven, he lived under the guardianship of his Uncle Buchanan. Buck went on to attend the College of New Jersey (presently known as Princeton), become a successful lawyer, serve two years as President Buchanan’s private secretary, and serve as the […]
Read MoreIn many ways, Buchanan’s presidency was a failure. While we regularly discuss those failures from a political perspective, there is one other fatal flaw to his presidency that lurks at a microscopic level. Indeed, as Buchanan made fatal decisions during his term in office, his body suffered the fatal error of his choice in hotel […]
Read MoreA Marriage in High Life While the month of January can be a quiet time at Wheatland today, it was not so quiet in 1866. In the chill of midwinter, Wheatland prepared for a wedding. Wedding guests filled the rooms, a chef prepared a special dinner, and family gathered together for the wedding of Harriet […]
Read MoreWhen guests visit Wheatland and learn about the Yuletide traditions during Buchanan’s time, many ask if Buchanan was a humbug. This question arises after hearing stories of Buchanan not celebrating with the same pomp and circumstance that we associate with the holiday today. In today’s blog post, we’ll look at some of the reasons why […]
Read MorePresidential hopeful Theodore Roosevelt made a stop in Lancaster while campaigning for the Bull Moose Party in April 1912.