Events

Drawn from History

  • October 9, 2024
  • LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Avenue, Lancaster
  • 5:30-8:30pm
  • $60/person
A perspective view of the "Thieves & Vagabonds" exhibition featuring various historic artifacts mounted along a wall.
A perspective view of the "Thieves & Vagabonds" exhibition featuring various historic artifacts mounted along a wall.
A perspective view of the “Thieves & Vagabonds” exhibition.

Join LancasterHistory and the Pennsylvania College of Art & Design (PCAD) for a night of art and artifacts at the museum! PCAD Instructor Dobe Steigelman will introduce students to artistic techniques that can be used to draw historic artifacts in the LancasterHistory collections, including those featured in the major exhibit Thieves & Vagabonds: A History of Law and Justice in Lancaster County.

Dobe Steigleman is a proud disabled freelance illustrator who graduated from Pennsylvania College of Art and Design. Since transitioning out of college, they have had the pleasure of working on 4 children’s books, as well as a range of projects from private commissions to business marketing. They aim for their art to capture the essence of the subject material while also igniting a sense of whimsy. Dobe is known for being highly detailed and giving a sense of character to everything they design.

Registration is $60/person and can be completed through PCAD’s website. (LancasterHistory is not accepting registrations for this program and all registrations must be facilitated through PCAD.) LancasterHistory Members can access a special 10% discount for the course by emailing info@lancasterhistory.org or calling 717.392.4633 for the discount code. A portion of the workshop cost will also benefit LancasterHistory.

“Drawn from History” takes place on Wednesday, October 9 from 5:30-8:30pm at LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Avenue in Lancaster. This course must meet minimum enrollment by October 2nd in order to run.

Featured Event In-Person Event Workshop

Mr. Buchanan’s Coachman

A black and green colored carriage with four large wheels.
James Buchanan’s Carriage

America’s love affair with the automobile can be traced back to the coachman of the 1800s. Join LancasterHistory for a special subject tour of Wheatland to learn who James Buchanan hired for this important and skilled position, and the special training required to care for Buchanan’s carriages, sleighs, and horses.

Mr. Buchanan’s Coachman, a special guided tour of Wheatland, will be held on Saturday, October 5. 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.

In-Person Event Living History Tour

October 5, 2024 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Avenue, Lancaster Tours from 10am - 3pm FREE/Members | $17/Adults (18+) | $15/Seniors (65+) | $10 (11-College ID)

Fall Seasonal Gathering Tour

The Black Maple starting to change colors in October 2022.
The Black Maple starting to change colors in October 2022.

*RESCHEDULED FROM SEPTEMBER 14 TO OCTOBER 5*

Join the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum for their Fall Seasonal Gathering Tour on Saturday, October 5 at 10am. Tanger Arboretum Board Members Bob Davis and Jeffrey Hazlett will lead attendees on a walking tour through the Arboretum to take in the changing of the seasons through vibrant fall colors, ornamental trees, and the pollinator gardens in the Tanger Arboretum.

Bob Davis is a member of the Board of the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum and a former Board member of the American Conifer Society. He also serves as the Chair of the Program Committee of the Lancaster County Garden Club and has done so for 20 years. A tree and nature enthusiast, Bob maintains a personal collection of trees at his home and is the dedicated caretaker of the American Conifer Society Reference Garden in the Tanger Arboretum.

Jeff Hazlett is the current Vice President of the Board of the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum and past president of the organization. He studied horticulture at Penn State University and is currently the president of Ever Green Tree & Lawn Care in Lancaster, PA. Jeff is a nature lover and an active volunteer for the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum and LancasterHistory.

HOW TO REGISTER
The event, “Fall Seasonal Gathering Tour,” will take place on Saturday, October 5 at 10am at LancasterHistory. Tickets are $5/Adult (18+) and $3/Child. 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 the program has limited capacity. The tour will last approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. If you would like to attend but have questions or concerns about the accessibility of the walking route, please contact Emily Miller at (717) 392-4633, ext. 133 or emily.miller@lancasterhistory.org for more information.

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.

Family-Friendly In-Person Event Outdoor Tour

October 5, 2024 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster 10am $5/Adults (18+) | $3/Children | FREE for Friends of the Tanger Arboretum Members

Southern Unionism During the Antebellum and Civil War Era

On Thursday, October 10, Dr. Barton Myers of Washington & Lee University will join LancasterHistory for a presentation, “Southern Unionism During the Antebellum and Civil War Era.” Not every citizen of the American South supported the Confederacy and secession in the 1860s. Before and during the Civil War, many Southerners were Unionists who were repressed and punished for their views. Dr. Barton Myers of Washington & Lee University will join LancasterHistory for a presentation on these Unionists, including those who served within the Federal government like Buchanan’s Secretary of the Treasury, Howell Cobb of Georgia.

A man with light skin, brown hair, and a brown beard and mustache. He is wearing glasses, a blue suit jacket, and a blue and red striped tie.
Dr. Barton A. Myers

Dr. Barton A. Myers is a Professor of History at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, an award-winning teacher and author, and a recognized authority on the American Civil War, military history and Presidential history. He has taught at Cornell University, the University of Georgia, Texas Tech University, and currently teaches military history and Civil War era courses at Washington & Lee University. Before becoming a professor, Myers served as a historian with the National Park Service at Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. Myers is a frequent consultant on American history for national media outlets, including the Los Angeles Times, the Richmond Times-Dispatch, and NPR’s Virginia Insight. Myers was a featured expert for the documentary miniseries “GRANT” and “LINCOLN.” He is the author of the awarding winning Executing Daniel Bright: Race, Loyalty, and Guerrilla Violence in a Coastal Carolina Community, 1861-1865 (LSU Press, 2009), Rebels Against the Confederacy: North Carolina’s Unionists (Cambridge Univ. Press, 2014), and he has a 2023 National Endowment for the Humanities grant supporting his current book project on the southern-born generals and admirals who fought for the Union cause during the Civil War.

EVENT DETAILS & HOW TO REGISTER

This event will take place in person at LancasterHistory on Thursday, October 10, 2024. Doors open and a reception begins at 5pm. The lecture will begin at 5:30pm. The lecture will also be streamed 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. Register online by clicking the appropriate link below or by calling (717) 392-4633. Registration will close online on Thursday, October 10 at 5:30pm. 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 Online/Virtual Event Reception

October 10, 2024 Ryder Hall at LancasterHistory & Livestream 5pm Reception | 5:30pm Presentation FREE | Registration Required

The Legacy of Slavery at Franklin & Marshall College

On Thursday, October 17, Dr. Gretchel Hathaway and Louise LoBello of Franklin & Marshall College and LancasterHistory’s Shianne Hargrove will join us for a presentation, “The Legacy of Slavery at Franklin & Marshall College.” Since 2021, the “Legacy of Slavery at Franklin & Marshall College” Study Group has been exploring the connections between the College’s namesakes, its early trustees, and the system of slavery. In this presentation, Hathaway, LoBello, and Hargrove will share the group’s research into F&M’s history from its institutional connections to slavery to its Black students’ involvement in the Civil Rights Movement to the ongoing relationships between the College and the broader Lancaster community.

Photos of three women side-by-side. On the left, a woman with dark skin, dark short hair, and glasses wears a gray cardigan. In the middle, a woman with light skin with brown, wavy hair and glasses wears a cream turtleneck sweater. On the right, a woman with dark skin and dark, curly hair wears a purple sweater.
Dr. Gretchel Hathaway (left), Louise LoBello (middle), and Shianne Hargrove (right).

Gretchel Hathaway, Ph.D. is the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA. She previously served as the Dean of Diversity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer at Union College in Schenectady, New York. While at Union College, she also supervised the Office of Intercultural Affairs and Interfaith Department, served as the Director of Community Outreach and as an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Compliance Officer, and taught in the Sociology Department. Hathaway received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Manhattanville College, a master’s degree in psychology from Yeshiva University, and her doctorate in social work from the University of Pittsburgh. She has presented programs on inclusion and bias, intercultural topics, and Title IX programs at various institutions of higher learning.

Louise LoBello (she/her), MI is the Digital and Special Collections Librarian at Franklin & Marshall College. Working in the College Archives and Special Collections of the College Library, LoBello is responsible for preserving and making accessible both physical and digital material from the F&M archives and historical collections related to Pennsylvania’s history and culture. Louise liaises with the academic departments of Art, Art History, Film, Anthropology, Spanish, and Linguistics to provide library instructional classes for students and helps develop research materials in these areas for the College Library. LoBello also curates exhibits that aim to highlight underrepresented areas of the collections, serves as the co-chair of the Legacy of Slavery Study Group at F&M, and serves on the Mindfulness at F&M Committee. In the community, LoBello serves on the Lancaster City Historical Commission. LoBello received her Bachelor’s degree in Art History, Anthropology, and a certificate in Cultural Heritage and Preservation from Rutgers University. She also holds a Masters in Information from Rutgers University, focusing on archival studies.

Shianne Hargrove is the Communications and Research Services Assistant at LancasterHistory. She has been with the museum since May 2022. Along with her position at LancasterHistory, Shianne is also a board member, archivist, and social media coordinator for the African American Historical Society of South-Central Pennsylvania. Currently, her work with both organizations includes providing local genealogical and historical research services and marketing programs and services to the Lancaster County community. Shianne graduated from Millersville University in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in Communication and minors in African American Studies and International Studies.

EVENT DETAILS & HOW TO REGISTER

This event will take place in person at LancasterHistory on Thursday, October 17, 2024. Doors open and a reception begins at 5pm. The lecture will begin at 5:30pm. The lecture will also be streamed 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. Register online by clicking the appropriate link below or by calling (717) 392-4633. Registration will close online on Thursday, October 17 at 5:30pm. 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 Online/Virtual Event Reception

October 17, 2024 Ryder Hall at LancasterHistory & Livestream 5pm Reception | 5:30pm Presentation FREE | Registration Required

Vote Baby Vote: Thaddeus Stevens and the Fight for Democracy

A NAACP flyer informing readers about how they can learn about issues and candidates for elections.
A NAACP flyer informing readers about how they can learn about issues and candidates for elections.

After the Civil War, Thaddeus Stevens led the effort to remark the nation as a multiracial democracy that lived up to its promise of freedom and equality for all of its citizens. Though that promise was not realized during Stevens’ lifetime, his legacy has lived on in movements for voting rights, civil rights, and democracy over the last 150 years. On Saturday, October 19, join us for a tour and pop-up exhibit that explores the fight for democracy in America from the 15th Amendment to the 19th Amendment to arguments about how to improve democracy today.

In Collections Up Close programs, LancasterHistory staff and visiting experts highlight documents, photos, and artifacts from LancasterHistory’s vast collections. In a conversational setting, participants will hear the stories of these objects and what they reveal to us about the history of Lancaster County and its place in American history.

“Vote Baby Vote,” a Collections Up Close program, takes place on Saturday, October 19 with programs at 11am and 2pm at LancasterHistory. The event is free and open to the public, but attendees are encouraged to register in advance to guarantee a spot at the program. Tickets can be purchased or reserved online or by calling (717) 392-4633.

Register for the 11am Program

Register for the 2pm Program

In-Person Event Program

October 19, 2024 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Avenue, Lancaster Program Offered at 11am and 2pm FREE | Registration Required

Past, Present, Pumpkins!

A table with a bright yellow table cloth, covered in crafting supplies and pumpkins in various stages of being decorated with eyes, stickers, and puff balls.
Pumpkins in the midst of decoration!

Learn about the autumnal icon, the pumpkin, at this fun, family-friendly event on Saturday, October 19 at 10am! Discover the historical origins of the pumpkin and why we decorate our front porches each year with a vegetable we probably won’t eat. Plus, decorate a small jack-o-lantern in a spiffy style of your choice!

Perfect for families and children 12 and under. Tickets are $5/Child and free for Adults. (Ticket price goes towards the purchase of supplies.) Advance registration is required to guarantee supplies for everyone. LancasterHistory requests the presence of one (1) adult per household. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling (717) 392-4633.

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

October 19, 2024 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster 10am $5/Child for Supplies

The Astonishing Dawn Redwood

Photo of the speaker, Len Eiserer, wearing a baseball cap and a blue collared shirt. The photo on the right is of a very tall but barren dawn redwood tree in winter.
(left) Len Eiserer. (right) A Dawn Redwood tree in winter in the Tanger Arboretum. Photo by Len Eiserer.

Finding a remnant population of supposedly extinct Dawn Redwoods in a remote Chinese valley was one of the most important botanical discoveries of the 20th century. Join tree hobbyist Len Eiserer for a presentation on Saturday, November 2 at 10am about the incredible past, thriving present, and sparkling future of the Dawn Redwood, a living fossil.

Len Eiserer received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Maine and his doctorate in Psychology from Bryn Mawr College. He has taught for 38 years and currently teaches at Harrisburg Area Community College (HACC). He maintains the website, Tree Treasures of Lancaster County, and serves on the board of the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum.

HOW TO REGISTER

The Astonishing Dawn Redwood will take place on Saturday, November 2 at 10am at LancasterHistory, 230 North President Avenue. Tickets are $5/Adults (18+) and $3/Children (17 & Under). Friends of the Tanger Arboretum receive complimentary admission, but advance reservations are highly recommended. (Walk-in tickets are not guaranteed.) Tickets may be purchased (or reserved) online or over the phone by calling (717) 392-4633. Ticketholders should check-in at LancasterHistory’s museum before proceeding into the auditorium in Ryder Hall.

*Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian 18 years or older.


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.

Family-Friendly In-Person Event Lecture

November 2, 2024 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Avenue, Lancaster 10am

Forgotten Fighters: Chinese Soldiers in the Civil War

Two sepia historic photographs of two Chinese men. The man on the right stands posed next to a chair in a suit. The man on the right is seated and is wearing a Civil War uniform.
(left) Hong Neok Woo c. 1860 in Lancaster, PA. From the Collections of LancasterHistory. (right) Corporal Joseph Pierce of Co. F 14th Connecticut Infantry Regiment. Liljenquist Family Collection.

On Thursday, November 7, join LancasterHistory as we welcome Anneliese Meck, a public historian and historical costumer, for an online presentation on “Forgotten Fighters: Chinese Soldiers in the Civil War.”

When Hong Neok Woo, a Chinese American citizen living in Lancaster County, enlisted as a private in the United States Army in 1863, he joined ranks with a small yet significant number of Chinese soldiers who fought for their adopted country. In the years that followed, the US would discriminate against these citizens and all but forget their contributions on the battlefield and beyond. In this online lecture, Anneliese Meck will join us to explore the story of Mr. Woo and other Chinese Americans who fought for freedom, citizenship, civil rights, and belonging in 19th-century America.

A young woman of Asian descent stands in bright green foliage. She wears a bonnet and dress from the 19th century.
Anneliese Meck

Anneliese Meck is a public historian and content creator, specializing in historical costume construction, Chinese American history, and living history practice. She studied costumes and textiles at Kent State University, and has worked with historical societies and museums throughout the East Coast. She previously served as the Associate Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Genesee Country Village & Museum in Mumford, New York, and, as of June 2024, serves as an event coordinator at the Women’s Rights and Harriet Tubman National Historic Parks for the National Park Service. Find her latest projects on the blog – The Sewphisticate – and social media: @youngsewphisticate.

EVENT DETAILS & HOW TO REGISTER

This event will take place online via Zoom on Thursday, November 7, 2024 at 5:30pm ET.

This program is free and open to the public, but requires advance registration in order to receive the Zoom link. Register online or by calling (717) 392-4633. Registration will close online on Thursday, November 7 at 5:30pm. At the speaker’s request, the presentation will not be recorded.

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.

Lecture Online/Virtual Event

November 7, 2024 Online via Zoom 5:30pm ET FREE | Registration Required to Receive Zoom Link

Lancaster County Amish Quilts from the Espirit Quilt Collection

Two men hold the edge of a red and purple quilt.
Dr. Jim McMahon and Nick Siegert from LancasterHistory hold the corner of one of the Esprit Quilts. Photograph courtesy of Art Petrosemolo.

Doug Tompkins, American businessman and co-founder of Esprit Clothing, assembled a large collection of Amish quilts including 82 made in Lancaster County between 1880 and 1950. Join us for a special Esprit Quilt showing to view a selection of these iconic quilts and learn more about their history, cultural significance, and the women who made them.

In Collections Up Close programs, LancasterHistory staff and visiting experts highlight documents, photos, and artifacts from LancasterHistory’s vast collections. In a conversational setting, participants will hear the stories of these objects and what they reveal to us about the history of Lancaster County and its place in American history.

“Lancaster County Amish Quilts from the Esprit Quilt Collection,” a Collections Up Close program, takes place on Saturday, November 9 with two presentations, one at 11am and one at 2pm, at LancasterHistory. Tickets are $10/LancasterHistory Members and $15/Non-Members. To register, please click the applicable program hour below or call (717) 392-4633.

Register for the 11am Program

Register for the 2pm Program

For those who previously attended quilt showing in March 2024, the November program will feature a mix of quilts that appeared in March’s program as well as others from the collections.

In-Person Event Program

November 9, 2024 LancasterHistory, 230 N. President Ave., Lancaster Programs at 11am & 2pm $10 LH Members | $15 Non-Members