James Buchanan’s parents raised him to believe that one day he would be the family patriarch. The stern and devoted persona that Buchanan carried throughout his life correlated to his childhood. Buchanan’s father was more adept to criticize rather than praise young James’ work and his mother was modest and humble. But despite having no children of his own, James Buchanan was devoted to his nieces and nephews, such as  James Buchanan “Buck” Henry and Harriet Lane, as well as numerous others who visited Wheatland regularly. During this special tour of Wheatland on Saturday, April 1, visitors will hear about how Buchanan cared for his wards and relatives, his critical yet caring method of instruction, and stories of how Buck and Harriet would hide their secular newspapers and novels on Sundays!

A Stern but Devoted Uncle, a special guided tour of Wheatland, will be held on Saturday, April 1. 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. When booking online, be sure to first select the date of April 1, followed by the tour 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 should reserve their tickets in advance to guarantee the tour time of their choice. All visitors must abide by LancasterHistory’s Health & Safety Protocols for Visitors.

Event description updated on March 2, 2023.