Events: In-Person Event

Mr. Buchanan’s Coachman

  • September 6, 2025
  • LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Avenue, Lancaster
  • Tours from 10am - 3pm
  • FREE/Members | $17/Adults (18+) | $15/Seniors (65+) | $10 (11-College ID)
A black and green colored carriage with four large wheels.
James Buchanan’s Carriage

Learn about James Buchanan’s coachmen: the men who represented him in public and transported him from place to place in his horse-drawn carriage. In addition to learning about who these people were, visitors will also explore the social and practical importance of coachmen in a time before automobiles.

Mr. Buchanan’s Coachman, a special guided tour of Wheatland, will be held on Saturday, September 6. Tours will be available on the hour, beginning at 10am and continuing until the last tour at 3pm. Please Note: These tours are not our regular General Admission tours and will be more focused on a particular topic than a general history of Buchanan and the home.

Tickets are available for purchase online or over the phone by calling (717) 392-4633. Advance reservations are highly recommended as tours may sell out and walk-in tickets may not be available. Members receive complimentary admission, but should reserve their tickets in advance to guarantee the tour time of their choice.

Featured Event In-Person Event Tour

September First Friday

Photo of a group of people sitting in a parking space that has been transformed into a mini green space.
Park(ing) Day in Minneapolis.

On Friday, September 5, join LancasterHistory and Strong Towns Lancaster for Park(ing) Day at the Stevens & Smith Center! Park(ing) Day is a global, public, participatory project where people from across the world temporarily repurpose curbside parking spaces into communal spaces for parks, artwork, conversation, and more. With LancasterHistory’s expansion into Lancaster City, we’re excited to be a bigger part of the downtown community both inside and outside the building that was once Thaddeus Stevens’ home and law office!

On First Friday, LancasterHistory staff will be outside on South Queen Street talking about the Stevens & Smith Center and giving you a preview of the new programs we’re developing for the new site. Visitors will get hands on with history as they try on costumes from LancasterHistory’s education collection and recite key speeches that explore the meaning of freedom in America. It’s an evening designed for community connection, historical reflection, and creative expression as we transform a simple parking space into a place for meaningful dialogue about our past, present, and future.

September First Friday is a free event and open to the public. No registration required. The Stevens & Smith Center will not be open that evening for public visitation. All activities will take place outdoors.

Family-Friendly In-Person Event Off-Site Event Outdoor

September 5, 2025 45 S. Queen Street, Lancaster | Outside the Stevens & Smith Center 4-8pm FREE

“Cursed Are The Peacemakers” Buchanan Biography Book Launch

On left, the book cover for "Cursed Are The Peacemakers." On right, Dr. Michael J. Birkner.On Saturday, September 6, join LancasterHistory for the long-awaited book launch of “Cursed Are The Peacemakers:” President James Buchanan, A Biography by Philip Shriver Klein with an introduction by Dr. Michael J. Birkner. The book launch will feature a brief, 20-minute talk about the republication of the book and Dr. Klein, plus a book signing of “Cursed Are The Peacemakers” by Dr. Birkner.

Dr. Philip Shriver Klein’s biography on James Buchanan is considered to be one of the most thorough biographies on the 15th President, and the most remarkable for Klein’s unique perspective on Buchanan as a strict “constitutionalist.” Since the book left publication and Dr. Klein passed away in 1993, LancasterHistory connected with Dr. Klein’s family to republish the biography with Klein’s original title and a new cover, layout, and interior photographs. In particular, the book features a new, insightful introduction by Dr. Michael Birkner about Buchanan, Klein, and the historiography involved in the construction of presidential biographies and how their writing influences our assessment of presidents today.

The book launch event of “Cursed Are The Peacemakers:” President James Buchanan, A Biography will take place on Saturday, September 6, from 10 – 11:30am at LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Avenue, Lancaster. The event will begin at 10am with a book signing by Dr. Birkner, followed by a brief talk at 10:30am. Dr. Birkner will resume book signings after his talk at 11am.

The event is free and open to the public. Advance registration is requested. Click here to register online or call (717) 392-4633 to register over the phone. Copies of “Cursed Are The Peacemakers” will be available for purchase in the Museum Store at $32, plus sales tax. LancasterHistory members save 20%! Unsigned copies of the book will also be available for purchase online at lancasterhistory.org/shop after September 8.

Book Launch Book Signing In-Person Event

September 6, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster 10-11:30am FREE | Registration Requested
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Rethinking Fall Gardening & Cleanup

A headshot photo of a man with light skin wearing a black and white t-shirt.
Adam Barkafski

Cutting back stems and raking out flower beds may feel therapeutic after summer, but the stems, sticks, and leaves we take away are vital to the wildlife and insects that call our gardens home. Join Master Gardener Adam Barkafski for our September Nature Series program, “Rethinking Fall Gardening and Cleanup” and discover new ways to tackle your fall gardening that have positive effects on the health and survival of pollinators, wildlife, and even the soil itself!

Adam Barkafski has been a Penn State Extension Master Gardener in Lancaster County since 2018. A web designer and former public school teacher, Adam is a home gardener by hobby. His gardening interests began with perennials and later focused on native plants. Adam now gardens with an intention to preserve and create pollinator and wildlife habitats, and observing pollinators interacting with plants are some of his favorite gardening joys.

HOW TO REGISTER
The event, “Rethinking Fall Gardening & Cleanup” will take place on Saturday, September 13 at 10am at LancasterHistory. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $10/Adults and $5/Children (17 & Under). Friends of the Tanger Arboretum members receive complimentary admission, but should still register for the program. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling (717) 392-4633. Advance tickets recommended as walk-in tickets are not guaranteed.

PURCHASE TICKETS ONLINE

Membership gets you more! Membership to the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum not only supports the care and conservation of this local natural resource, but also gets you great benefits such as complimentary admission to Nature Series programs! Learn more about membership and sign up today here.

The Friends of the Tanger Arboretum is a member of the American Horticultural Society Reciprocal Admission Program. AHS Reciprocal Admission Program members may register for tickets in advance and must show a valid membership card upon checking in. AHS Members should contact Emily Miller, emily.miller@lancasterhistory.org, with any questions or to register for tickets in advance.

This event is hosted by the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum. The Friends of the Tanger Arboretum, a subsidiary organization of LancasterHistory, helps foster public interest in, and support for, the maintenance and development of the Tanger Arboretum as a community asset. To learn more about the Arboretum or to become a member, please visit the Arboretum’s webpage.

 

The 2025 Friends of the Tanger Arboretum Nature Series is sponsored by Ever Green Tree & Lawn Care! Thank you for your support!

 

In-Person Event Nature Series Program

September 13, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave, Lancaster 10-11am $10/Adults | $5/Children (17 & Under) | FREE for Friends of the Tanger Arboretum Members
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Music on the Lawn, feat. Denison Witmer & The Vulcans

Two photographs of musicians. The man on the left has light skin and short brown hair. He holds an acoustic guitar in front of a piano. The photo on the right is of three young men with light skin, holding various acoustic guitars in a field.
(left) Denison Witmer and (right) The Vulcans.

Music on the Lawn concludes its 2025 Season with one final fantastic concert in James Buchanan’s backyard! September’s event features headliner indie-folk artist Denison Witmer and opening band, The Vulcans.

Tickets are free for LancasterHistory Members, $10/Adult (18+) Non-Members, and free for Children 17 & Under. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling (717) 392-4633. Tickets are also available at-the-door with cash or card (cash preferred).

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own blankets, foldable chairs, and picnics. Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome. If you require any special accommodations to attend, please notify Annie Weeks at (717) 392-4633, ext. 134 or annie.weeks@lancasterhistory.org in advance. Restrooms available onsite.

 

Many Thanks to Our 2025 Music on the Lawn Season Sponsors!

A graphic with the sponsor logos of Mosaic by Willow Valley Communities, Ville Painters, EHD, and Yurchak Printing.

Family-Friendly In-Person Event Outdoor

September 13, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster, PA 5-7pm FREE/LancasterHistory Members | $10/Non-Member Adults (18+) | FREE/Children 17 & Under
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Research Center Book Sale

Support LancasterHistory’s Research Center at this once-in-a-generation book sale! A comprehensive review of the library resulted in the removal of many books from the collection. These books include duplicates, outdated editions, or those that are unrelated to the history of Lancaster County. This is your chance to browse and buy them! Books from the personal collections of LancasterHistory’s staff will also be on sale, so expect to find offerings from all genres, for all ages.

The Research Center Book Sale will take place on Saturday, September 13 from 10am – 4pm at LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster. The sale will take place indoors in the Research Center and there is no entry fee to browse the sale. Cash or card is accepted for purchases; card is preferred. Final sale of all items. No returns or exchanges.

Sale Family-Friendly In-Person Event

September 13, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster 10am - 4pm No Entry Fee

From Blacksmith To Inventor: The William Chester Ruth Legacy

Two headshot photos. The left photo is of an older woman with dark skin, short dark brown or black hair, wearing a black shirt and glasses. The image on the right is of an older man with light skin with short gray hair and wearing glasses and a plaid button up shirt.
Gwendolyn Dickinson (left) and Bruce Bomberger (right).

Blessed with inherent mechanical genius and a family environment conducive to success, African American metalsmith William Chester Ruth evolved his forge in Gap, Pennsylvania from farm machinery repair into a workshop of mechanical creation. Gwendolyn Dickenson, Ruth’s granddaughter, and Bruce Bomberger of the William Chester Ruth Legacy Project join LancasterHistory to tell Ruth’s story.

Gwen Ruth Dickinson, raised in Gap, Pennsylvania is the granddaughter of William Chester Ruth, and she carries his legacy as an inventor and entrepreneur close to her heart. Graduating from Hahnemann University’s College of Allied Sciences, she dedicated over 30 years to healthcare as a Primary Care Physician Assistant. In 2021, after her retirement, she founded the William Chester Ruth Project to honor her grandfather’s memory and his accomplishments as an inventor.

Bruce D. Bomberger has degrees in history from Lebanon Valley College, Penn State University, and Lehigh University as well as graduate credits in museum studies from the University of Delaware. He has worked for the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission for 35 years and is currently an archivist with Lebanon County Historical Society.

EVENT DETAILS & HOW TO REGISTER

This event will take place in person at LancasterHistory on Thursday, September 18, 2025. Doors open and a reception begins at 5pm. The lecture will begin at 5:30pm. The lecture will also be livestreamed to Zoom at 5:30pm for those who wish to join us virtually.

This program is free and open to the public. In-person attendance requires advance registration in order to guarantee a seat. Due to capacity restrictions, tickets may not be available at the door. Virtual attendance requires advance registration in order to receive the Zoom link. The Zoom link will be emailed to registrants before the event. Register online by clicking the appropriate link below or by calling (717) 392-4633. The online version of this program will also be recorded and uploaded to LancasterHistory’s YouTube channel after the event.

REGISTER TO ATTEND IN PERSON

REGISTER TO ATTEND ONLINE

By purchasing a ticket to our facility and/or program, you are agreeing to our Admissions & Programs Terms and Conditions.

Membership Makes History Happen! Your membership enables us to bring dynamic speakers to LancasterHistory and gives you other exciting benefits! Learn more about becoming a member of LancasterHistory or renewing your membership today.

In-Person Event Lecture Reception

September 18, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster, PA 5pm Reception | 5:30pm Lecture FREE | Registration Required

Capital Day Celebration

Celebrate September 27, 1777, the day when Lancaster served as the nation’s capital! Full of family fun and quirky history, there will be activities throughout the evening, and all attendees are invited to dress in a capital way for a Capital Day!

More information and tickets coming soon!

Open House Family-Friendly In-Person Event

September 27, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster, PA 5:30-7:30pm To Be Determined

Domestic Help Wanted

LancasterHistory Volunteers & Staff portray domestic workers who were employed at Wheatland in a reenactment in 2019.

Step back in time to Wheatland in 1867 and meet the retired president and his housekeeper, Miss Hetty Parker, as they hire new staff to manage daily life around the mansion. Rosanna and Thomas Gordon resigned in April, leaving Wheatland short-staffed. Miss Hetty is looking for help maintaining a home along with managing her personal responsibilities.

Domestic Help Wanted, a living history tour of Wheatland, will be held on Saturday, October 4. Tours will be available on the hour, beginning at 10am and continuing until the last tour at 3pm. Please Note: These tours are not our regular General Admission tours and will not be Buchanan-focused. Living History Tours are an immersive and interactive experience that can incorporate historical tools, activities, and dress to give observers or participants a sense of stepping back in time. 

Tickets are available for purchase online or over the phone by calling (717) 392-4633. When booking online, be sure to first select the date of October 4, followed by the time of your choice. Advance reservations are highly recommended as tours may sell out and walk-in tickets may not be available. Members receive complimentary admission, but must reserve their tickets in advance.

In-Person Event Living History Performance Tour

October 4, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 North President Avenue, Lancaster, PA Tours 10am - 3pm FREE/Members | $17/Adults (18+) | $15/Seniors (65+) | $10 (11-College ID)
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Samurai At The White House: Harriet Lane & The 1860 Japanese Embassy

A photograph of a young woman with light skin and dark, wavy hair in a blue blazer standing in front of a Japanese style building.
Dr. Natalia Doan

In May 1860, Harriet Lane welcomed a delegation of samurai to the White House. These samurai were members of the first official Japanese delegation to the United States. During the embassy’s two month visit to America, crowds of people gathered across the East Coast in the hopes of meeting (or at least glimpsing) the mysterious travelers from across the seas. The Japanese embassy members recorded in their journals their different experiences of this historic encounter, and perhaps no American woman left as much of an impression on the samurai as Harriet Lane during her hosting and entertaining of the Japanese at the White House. In this October lecture, Dr. Natalia Doan of the University of Tennessee will explore the exciting history of Harriet Lane’s connection with the Japanese embassy and the impact of the samurai on antebellum America.

Dr. Natalia Doan is an Assistant Professor of History at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville where she teaches the history of modern and early modern Japan. She completed her doctorate in Asian Studies at the University of Oxford and recently co-edited the academic volume Black Transnationalism and Japan (Leiden University Press, 2024) which discloses over a century of cultural and intellectual exchange between Japanese and African American people. Her work on Japanese history has appeared in, among other publications, Reopening the Opening of Japan: Transnational Approaches to Modern Japan and the Wider World (Brill, 2023) and the Historical Journal and the Journal of Social History, in which her work on the 1860 embassy was shortlisted for the Royal Historical Society Alexander Prize.

EVENT DETAILS & HOW TO REGISTER

This event will take place in person at LancasterHistory on Thursday, October 9, 2025. Doors open and a reception begins at 5pm. The lecture will begin at 5:30pm. The lecture will also be livestreamed to Zoom at 5:30pm for those who wish to join us virtually.

This program is free and open to the public. In-person attendance requires advance registration in order to guarantee a seat. Due to capacity restrictions, tickets may not be available at the door. Virtual attendance requires advance registration in order to receive the Zoom link. The Zoom link will be emailed to registrants before the event. Register online by clicking the appropriate link below or by calling (717) 392-4633. The online version of this program will also be recorded and uploaded to LancasterHistory’s YouTube channel after the event.

REGISTER TO ATTEND IN PERSON

REGISTER TO ATTEND ONLINE

By purchasing a ticket to our facility and/or program, you are agreeing to our Admissions & Programs Terms and Conditions.

Membership Makes History Happen! Your membership enables us to bring dynamic speakers to LancasterHistory and gives you other exciting benefits! Learn more about becoming a member of LancasterHistory or renewing your membership today.

 

In-Person Event Lecture Reception

October 9, 2025 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster, PA 5pm Reception | 5:30pm Lecture FREE | Registration Required