Special Exhibitions

About Special Exhibitions

Special exhibitions at LancasterHistory highlight specific, focused topics in the history of the county. These topics range from the physical characteristics of artifacts to wider contexts at the county, state and national level of social and political movements. LancasterHistory staff and guest curators create special exhibitions. Previous guest curators included Lancaster artists, teams from local churches, and area collectors. All of our gallery spaces feature changing special exhibitions, and they rotate on a varied basis. Browse our current special exhibitions below.

How To Visit Special Exhibitions

Admission to special exhibitions is included with the purchase of a General Admission ticket or Gallery-Only ticket. Free admission for LancasterHistory members.

Below are the special exhibitions currently on display at LancasterHistory:

The Store With More: Lancaster’s Watt & Shand, 1878-1995

On Display through December 30, 2024

A black and white image of a storefront display with a female mannequin in a dress, looking at herself in a mirror in a study with a desk and hanging plants.
A historic image of a storefront display at Watt & Shand.

“The Store With More” explores the history of the Watt & Shand Department Store from its founding in 1878 until its closing in 1995 through photographs and artifacts from the collections of LancasterHistory and Nancy Groff. There are good reasons to be critical of the commercialization of holidays like Christmas and Chanukah. However, there is also joy to be found in gift-giving, and there are meaningful memories attached to the presents we receive and the experiences of shopping at landmark institutions like Watt & Shand.

Nancy Groff’s book Watt & Shand: East, West, Hame’s Best inspired this exhibit. We thank her for collecting and documenting such an important part of our community’s history. Artifacts in this special, temporary exhibit include Watt & Shand gift boxes, clothing, and ephemera from throughout the store’s history.

“The Store With More” is on display now through December 30, 2024. Admission to the exhibit is included with the purchase of a Yuletide at Wheatland General Admission ticket or Exhibitions-Only ticket. LancasterHistory Members receive complimentary admission.

 

Pathways of Persistence: AANHPI Legacies in Lancaster County

Coming February 1, 2025!

A young Asian-American man in a military uniform stands in a fighting ready position with boxing gloves on his hands.
From the Johnny Hauck Photograph Collection, Collections of LancasterHistory.

Lancaster’s Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) residents have contributed to the county’s cultural, economic, and social landscape, adapting to challenges and thriving across generations. Pathways of Persistence, a collaboration between LAAPI and LancasterHistory, celebrates these stories of resilience, perseverance, and impact. Through this exhibit, we honor the voices and experiences that have helped shape Lancaster, bringing to light the multifaceted contributions AANHPI individuals have made in business, cultural, and beyond.

“Pathways of Persistence” will be on display at LancasterHistory in Stoudt Gallery from February 1 – May 31, 2025. Admission to the exhibit is included with the purchase of a General Admission ticket or Exhibitions-Only ticket. LancasterHistory Members receive complimentary admission.

 

Open The Door: Baseball’s Color Line in Central Pennsylvania

Coming June 9, 2025!

A black and white image of a young Black man in a baseball uniform.
Keith Kelley began playing for the Lancaster Red Roses in 1951, pitching a no-hitter in his debut. From the Collections of LancasterHistory.

When Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color line in 1947, he toppled a barrier that existed nationwide for Black baseball players, including those in Central Pennsylvania. Open The Door, will tell the remarkable stories of teams like the Harrisburg Giants of the Eastern Colored League and men like Keith Kelley who integrated the Red Roses on the 100th anniversary of the Giants’ stint playing at Lancaster’s Rossmere Base Ball Park.

“Open The Door” will be on display at LancasterHistory in Stoudt Gallery from June 9 – August 30, 2025. Admission to the exhibit is included with the purchase of a General Admission ticket or Exhibitions-Only ticket. LancasterHistory Members receive complimentary admission.