Events: Special Event

Grand Opening Weekend of the Stevens & Smith Center

Graphic advertising the Grand Opening Weekend of May 1-2, 2026 for the Stevens & Smith Center.It’s the moment we’ve all been waiting for: the Grand Opening of the Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy!

Join LancasterHistory for a weekend celebration, including a ribbon cutting, Grand Opening Gala, and a family-friendly community block party!

Check out each event and register today!

Dedication/Memorial Family-Friendly In-Person Event Opening Reception

May 1, 2026 The Stevens & Smith Center, 13-15 E. Vine Str., Lancaster

Juneteenth Celebration

On June 19, 1865, two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, enslaved people in Texas finally received word: They were free.

Join LancasterHistory and the Lancaster Branch of the NAACP for a gathering and celebration of the Juneteenth holiday.

More information to come!

June 19, 2026