Events: In-Person Event

County Founding Day

An illustration of a cat wearing a toga next to text "County Founding Day."297 years and Lancaster County is still standing! Come toast the founding of Lancaster County with fun, facts, and a few surprises along the way. At our annual County Founding Day celebration, we’ll feature flash talks from local historians, pop-up exhibits, and the return of Lancaster County Cake Wars!

More information to come!

Family-Friendly Holiday In-Person Event

May 14, 2026 LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster 5:30pm To Be Determined

Make Sense of Your DNA Matches: A Genealogy Workshop

Carte de visites displayed in the Lorentz family photo album c. 1864 - 1877
Carte de vistes displayed in the Lorentz family photo album c. 1864 – 1877

If you’ve taken a DNA test and want to use it to grow your family tree, this workshop will help you do it! Donna Backus, a genealogist with decades of experience, will teach participants how to identify unknown matches and matches already in their family tree, add matches to their tree, and sort and group DNA matches.

“Make Sense of Your DNA Matches: A Genealogy Workshop” will be held on Saturday, May 23 from 10am-12pm at the LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center. Tickets are $20 for LancasterHistory Members and $25 for non-members. To register, click the button below to order online or call 717.392.4633 to register over the phone. Participants in this workshop should have already taken a DNA test, preferably through Ancestry.com.

Register for Workshop

Class In-Person Event Workshop

May 23, 2026 LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster 10am-12pm $20 LancasterHistory Members | $25 Non-Members

Thrill Ride: Hersheypark & Its Transformation in the 1970s

Image of an older man with light skin. He had a bad head, wears glasses, and is wearing a gray suit with a red striped tie.
Dr. John Haddad

Today, Hersheypark is famous for coasters and candy-themed fun, but it wasn’t always. When it was founded in 1906, it was central to Milton Hershey’s larger vision of paternalistic capitalism. It was only in the 1970s that it transformed from an old-fashioned amusement park into a modern entertainment complex that followed the model of Disneyland. When and how did the park discover its magic formula of thrill rides and chocolate theming? The answer is sure to surprise you, so join LancasterHistory and Dr. John Haddad of Penn State University to find out!

Dr. John R. Haddad is Professor of American Studies and Popular Culture at Penn State University in Harrisburg. He is the author of Thrill Ride: The Transformation of Hershey Park (2025) as well as three books that explore America’s historical relationship with China. He lives in Lancaster with his family. 

Information & Registration

The lecture, “Thrill Ride: Hersheypark & Its Transformation in the 1970s,” will take place on Thursday, May 28, 2026 at the LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster. A reception will precede the lecture at 5pm, followed by the main event at 5:30pm. The lecture will be available via livestream, but will not be available publicly after the event concludes.

This event is free and open to the public, but requires registration to guarantee a seat. Select your registration option below, or call 717.392.4633 to register over the phone. An email is required to receive the link to the livestream on Zoom.

ATTEND IN PERSON

ATTEND ONLINE

Online/Virtual Event In-Person Event Lecture Reception

May 28, 2026 LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster 5pm Reception | 5:30pm Lecture FREE | Registration Required

Nature Storytime | “Beautiful Bats”

Spring has sprung and so has an all new Storytime program focused on the great outdoors! This June, Storytime “goes wild” with educational books and fun crafts about the natural environment and the critters who call it home, including our own Tanger Arboretum!

For Thursday, June 4, we’ll read Beautiful Bats by Linda Glaser (illustrated by Sharon Lane Holm):

“Little Brown Bats are shy, gentle animals with strong toes and big ears and round black eyes.” Find out how bats fly, where they sleep, what they eat, and other fun bat facts. Bats will fascinate the young naturalist after he or she is introduced to this rhyming nonfiction picture book. Watch the Brown Bat glide through the sky, learn how he finds mosquitoes, and see him neatly fold his wings at night, as told by a little girl. Beautiful Bat Facts, a glossary, includes more bat facts and information about conservation efforts. 

Nature Storytime is free and open to the public. Books and crafts selected are suggested for ages 5-8 years of age, but all ages are welcome. We kindly ask one adult (18 years or older) attend per household. Nature Storytime will take place outdoors unless it rains, in which case it will be moved indoors. Registration is appreciated to guarantee space and supplies for all children. To register, please click the link below or call 717.392.4633.

Register for June 4 Storytime

Children's Program Family-Friendly In-Person Event Outdoor

June 4, 2026 LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster 10-11am FREE | Registration Requested

Nature Storytime | “Where Butterflies Grow”

Spring has sprung and so has an all new Storytime program focused on the great outdoors! This June, Storytime “goes wild” with educational books and fun crafts about the natural environment and the critters who call it home, including our own Tanger Arboretum!

For Thursday, June 11, we’ll read Where Butterflies Grow by Joanne Ryder (illustrated by Lynne Cherry):

In a field of lacy leaves, a small caterpillar hatches, grows, and sheds its skin, becoming a smooth, green creeper. It eats and changes some more, then in a sequence of remarkable close-ups, spins a silken sling in which to pupate—until it finally bursts forth as a brilliant black swallowtail butterfly. Includes suggestions on how children can grow butterflies in their own gardens.

Nature Storytime is free and open to the public. Books and crafts selected are suggested for ages 5-8 years of age, but all ages are welcome. We kindly ask one adult (18 years or older) attend per household. Nature Storytime will take place outdoors unless it rains, in which case it will be moved indoors. Registration is appreciated to guarantee space and supplies for all children. To register, please click the link below or call 717.392.4633.

Register for June 11 Storytime

Children's Program Family-Friendly In-Person Event Outdoor

June 11, 2026 LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster 10-11am FREE | Registration Requested

Wheatland “At Your Own Pace”

McMaster’s portrait of Buchanan hanging above the mantle in Wheatland’s parlor. (Courtesy of Larry Lefever Photography)

Explore President James Buchanan’s Wheatland at your own pace. On this self-guided tour, you can explore the President’s home and see what you want for as long as you want. Tour guides will be stationed around the mansion to provide visitors with information about the spaces, objects, and people who once called Wheatland home.

At-Your-Own-Pace tours are great for families (pick up a scavenger hunt from reception on your way in!) and those who want to take their time viewing the mansion in contrast to our regular ‘guided tour’ experience. Spend as little or as much time (within operating hours!) as you’d like in President Buchanan’s beloved home.

“Go-At-Your-Own-Pace” Tours are only available on Saturday, June 13. Entry times are every 30 minutes from 10am (first tour entry) until 12pm (last tour entry). Ticket purchase also includes self-guided access to LancasterHistory’s museum exhibitions. Tickets are $17/Adult (14+), $15/Senior (65+), $10/Youth (6-13), and free for children 5 and under. LancasterHistory Members receive complimentary admission. This tour is eligible for our Museums for All rate!

To purchase tickets in advance, please go online or call (717) 392-4633. Advance tickets are strongly recommended.

Purchase Tickets for A Tour

At Your Own Pace Tour Family-Friendly In-Person Event Tour

June 13, 2026 LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster, PA Tour Entry Every 30 Minutes, 10am-12pm FREE/LancasterHistory Members | $17/Adults (18+) | $15/Seniors (65+) | $10 (11-College ID)

For the Love of Sunflowers

On left is an image of an older woman with light skin and gray hair. On the right is a small bright yellow sunflower.
Holly List (left) and a sunflower (right).

Everyone loves sunflowers! These sun-following plants have spanned the globe and sprouted up throughout history, capturing our hearts (and gardens) to this day. At this Nature Series program, Master Gardener Emerita Holly List will discuss the history of sunflowers, how to nurture this iconic plant of summer, and how to grow your own “sunflower house.”

Holly List is a long-time gardener and an avid bird watcher who gardens to attract and support birds. List loves helping others pursue similar interests and enjoys sharing research, trends, and best practices to support everyone’s love of nature. List is a Master Gardener Emerita. She is an experienced business educator and is retired from banking and consulting. List lives with her husband and cat in Willow Street, PA.

HOW TO REGISTER
The program, “For the Love of Sunflowers” will take place on Saturday, June 13 at 10am at the LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $10/Adults (18+) and Free for Children 17 and Under (must be accompanied by an adult). 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 2026 Friends of the Tanger Arboretum Nature Series is sponsored by Pine Brook Farm, Inc. and Ever Green Tree & Lawn Care.
Their support enables us to offer these programs for the community and free tickets for children! Thank you for your generosity!

Family-Friendly In-Person Event Nature Series Program

June 13, 2026 LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster 10-11am $10/Adults (18+) | FREE for Children | FREE for Tanger Members

Nature Storytime | “Owls”

Spring has sprung and so has an all new Storytime program focused on the great outdoors! This June, Storytime “goes wild” with educational books and fun crafts about the natural environment and the critters who call it home, including our own Tanger Arboretum!

For Thursday, June 18, we’ll read Owls by Gail Gibbons:

With their striking appearance and distinctive hoot, hoot, owls are one of the most recognizable birds in the world. But did you know there are more than 140 types of owls living in the world? Gail Gibbons’ “Owls” celebrates the similarities and differences in the many species of owls, from large to small, living in diverse environments and making many different kinds of nests. The book covers basics of owl behavior, information on how they hunt, and the many factors that have led some types of owls to become endangered.

Nature Storytime is free and open to the public. Books and crafts selected are suggested for ages 5-8 years of age, but all ages are welcome. We kindly ask one adult (18 years or older) attend per household. Nature Storytime will take place outdoors unless it rains, in which case it will be moved indoors. Registration is appreciated to guarantee space and supplies for all children. To register, please click the link below or call 717.392.4633.

Register for June 18 Storytime

Children's Program Family-Friendly In-Person Event Outdoor

June 18, 2026 LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster 10-11am FREE | Registration Requested

Nature Storytime | “Frogs”

Spring has sprung and so has an all new Storytime program focused on the great outdoors! This June, Storytime “goes wild” with educational books and fun crafts about the natural environment and the critters who call it home, including our own Tanger Arboretum!

For Thursday, June 25, we’ll read Frogs by Gail Gibbons:

Growing from tiny tadpoles to massive master jumpers, frogs and their life cycles are fascinating. How far can frogs jump? Why do their eggs look slimy? Answer these questions and many more in this illustrated introduction to amphibians. With her signature bright, well-labeled diagrams and simple text, Gail Gibbons introduces the habitat and life cycles of frogs and gives an overview of common frog behaviors. Important biology vocabulary is introduced, defined, and reinforced with kid-friendly language and clear illustrations–plus a page of intriguing frog trivia and clear diagrams that show how frogs are different from toads. Bonus material is included about the unique role frogs play in the environment.

Nature Storytime is free and open to the public. Books and crafts selected are suggested for ages 5-8 years of age, but all ages are welcome. We kindly ask one adult (18 years or older) attend per household. Nature Storytime will take place outdoors unless it rains, in which case it will be moved indoors. Registration is appreciated to guarantee space and supplies for all children. To register, please click the link below or call 717.392.4633.

Register for June 25 Storytime

Children's Program Family-Friendly In-Person Event Outdoor

June 25, 2026 LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster 10-11am FREE | Registration Requested