CLOSED DECEMBER 31 – JANUARY 19 | All operations of LancasterHistory will be closed to the public from Wednesday, December 31, 2025 through Monday, January 19, 2026. We reopen to the public for the 2026 Season on Tuesday, January 20. Have a very Happy New Year!
Temporarily Closed | Reopening January 20, 2026
“A Splendid Little War” This year marks the 125th anniversary of the Spanish-American War. Described as a “splendid little war” by future Secretary of State John Hay, the war lasted only a few months. The defeat of Spain ended Spanish colonial rule in the Americas and resulted in the United States acquiring territories in the […]
Read MoreWritten by Patrick Clarke, Director of President James Buchanan’s Wheatland Edited by Emily Miller Before You Read: This article is written to educate about the health struggles of the Buchanan family and the prevalence and impact of tuberculous on communities. Therefore, there are discussions of themes relating to disease (epidemics), death, and dying that may […]
Read MoreFounding and Growth Organized in 1886 and incorporated in 1901, the Lancaster County Historical Society (precursor to LancasterHistory) got off to a rather rough start. After holding thirteen meetings between 1886 and 1887, the Society would not hold another meeting until 1896. A revitalized Society held regular monthly meetings on Friday afternoons at 2:00 pm. […]
Read MoreWe’ve all been asked that dreaded question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” at least once in childhood. Our seven-year-old minds usually conjure images of doctors, teachers, or firefighters pulling cats out of trees. They are the standard. However, one seven-year-old wasn’t interested in meeting the standard. Spencer F. Wilkerson knew […]
Read MoreArticle written by Patrick Clarke Edited by Emily Miller John Henry William Bonitz was born in Germany ca. 1840. He immigrated to the United States in 1850 and by 1856, at the age of 16, he landed a job as a messenger clerk for the Secretary of War, Mr. Jefferson Davis. William’s son, Frederich, would […]
Read MoreThis summer, LancasterHistory welcomed five undergraduate students into our NEH Summer Internship Program. We also welcomed two students who worked exclusively on projects relating to the Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History & Democracy. Starting in early June, the interns worked on various individual projects, participated in workshops, and travelled to other […]
Read MoreOn the afternoon of April 19, 2023, I attended the inurnment ceremony of a relative at Arlington National Cemetery. Knowing I would be staying in the Washington D.C. area, I reached out to the office of Congressman Lloyd Smucker to see if I could participate in a public tour of the White House in the […]
Read MoreHarriet 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 MoreMay is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The month celebrates and recognizes the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community and the rich history of AAPI individuals in the United States. In 2021, Lancaster County officially recognized May as Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage month through a county proclamation. This was the first time […]
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 MoreMcCaskey High School track star Barney Ewell won a gold medal at the 1948 Summer Olympics.