REOPENING JANUARY 21, 2025 | All operations of LancasterHistory will be closed to the public through Monday, January 20. We reopen for the 2025 Season on Tuesday, January 21, 2025. Thank you, and have a very Happy New Year!
Temporarily Closed | Reopening for the 2025 Season on January 21, 2025
Grave Marker, Order of United American Mechanics The front of this iron grave marker is decorated with the symbol of the Order of the United American Mechanics (O.U.A.M.) secret fraternal society. A small keystone-shaped insert at the base of the marker includes the number “67,” indicating it was intended for use by North Star Council […]
Read MoreBy Payton Becker, Curatorial Intern My name is Payton Becker, and I am a doctoral pre-candidate in the American Studies program at Penn State Harrisburg. I grew up in Lancaster County and graduated from Lancaster Country Day School and Franklin and Marshall College with a B.A. in Classical Studies. I received my M.A. in Textile, […]
Read MoreA Seasonal Storefront Window Seasonal holiday window displays offer businesses and organizations unique opportunities to not only sell their products but to do so in an entertaining and sometimes informative way. Such is the case in this undated negative of a window display created by retailers Chandler & McBrearty in Sacramento, California discovered in the […]
Read MoreBy Payton Becker, Curatorial Intern My name is Payton Becker, and I am a doctoral pre-candidate in the American Studies program at Penn State Harrisburg. I grew up in Lancaster County and graduated from Lancaster Country Day School and Franklin and Marshall College with a B.A. in Classical Studies. I received my M.A. in Textile, […]
Read MoreA Rather Large, Heavy, Unmarked Crate The recent installation of a high-density storage system in the Decorative Arts Center necessitated a detailed inventory of objects to update locations. During the inventory process, we rediscovered a number of interesting objects that caused us to pause, ask questions, and conduct a little more research. One such item […]
Read MoreA Study of Witmer’s Bridge In 1933, local artist Ruth Hager painted this study of the nine arch bridge that then spanned the Conestoga River on the east side of Lancaster at Bridgeport. Completed in 1800 and named for its builder, Witmer’s Bridge was 19 feet wide and 540 feet in length. Constructed as a […]
Read MoreA Centennial Celebration – U.S. Postage Stamp On September 28, 1960 the United States Post Office issued a 4-cent first class stamp to commemorate the centennial of the Treaty of Amity and Commerce between the United States and Japan. That 1860 treaty officially opened trade between the two countries, provided for diplomatic relations, and opened […]
Read MoreIf you haven’t already heard, we’re hiring! This month, I was thrilled to post the job listing for a new position at LancasterHistory. With the opening of the Stevens & Smith Center next year, LancasterHistory is growing, and our new Education and Programs Manager will be a key member of the team. The to-do list […]
Read MoreThe recent installation of a high density storage system in the Decorative Arts Center has necessitated a detailed inventory of objects to update locations. During the inventory process we have rediscovered a number of interesting objects that cause us to pause and take a moment to ask questions and conduct a little more research. One […]
Read MoreIn June, LancasterHistory welcomed three undergraduate students into our NEH-funded Summer Internship Program. Each intern has been diligently working in one of three museum departments at LancasterHistory on various day-to-day projects as well as a larger research project. In this post, you’ll get to meet each intern and learn about their projects! Sarah Gehret, Historic […]
Read MoreEarl Rebman’s scrap drive accumulated 1,000 tons for the war effort on September 13, 1942.