Group, Bus, & Private Tours

Group, Bus, & Private Tours

Looking to bring your group to LancasterHistory? We offer a variety of group, bus, or private tour options for all ages. Please consult the accordioned list below to see what options we have available. We’re excited to welcome you to the Campus of History!

Definition Note: Please note that “Adult” group tours also can be comprised of individuals who identify as seniors.

Adult Tours of President James Buchanan's Wheatland

LancasterHistory offers in-person tours of Wheatland, the beloved home of 15th US President James Buchanan. These guided tours travel both floors of the home and discuss the lives of Buchanan and his family that occupied the home. LancasterHistory's tours of Wheatland are unique in that there are few room barriers, allowing visitors to stand in the spaces once frequented by a former president and his family.

Tour Length & Size

Since our tours are customizable, the tour length can vary depending on factors such as group size and time allotted. For example, if a group of 40 chooses to visit, we'd recommend their travel organizer to allow at minimum 3 hours. However, we recommend that travel organizers discuss this with a LancasterHistory staff member when inquiring for more information.

Add Ons

Groups may choose to add-on time in LancasterHistory's museum exhibitions for no extra cost. LancasterHistory's current, main exhibition is Thieves & Vagabonds: A History of Law and Justice in Lancaster County.

Groups can also further build out their itinerary by having a combination Wheatland Tour and Underground Railroad Tour OR a Wheatland Tour and Arboretum Tour. Please inquire for more information. (Additional cost incurred.)

Health & Safety and Accessibility

LancasterHistory strives to maintain as safe an environment as possible so that tour attendees can enjoy their tour and get the most out of their experience.

  • COVID-19: The risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in every public space where people are present. COVID-19 is a serious, contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and even death. Senior citizens and those with underlying medical conditions are particular vulnerable. By attending a tour or program facilitated by LancasterHistory, you voluntarily assume all risks of exposure to COVID-19.

Tour attendees and their guide are required to follow LancasterHistory’s Health & Safety Policies for Visitors regarding COVID-19.

  • Accessibility: To tour Wheatland and access the upstairs, attendees will need to stand for a period of time, walk, and travel stairs. For more information on the accessibility of our facilities, including alternative accommodations available, please visit our Logistics & Accessibility FAQ at the bottom of our Visitor FAQ webpage.

Pricing

To inquire about pricing, please fill out our Group Tour Information Request form or contact groups@lancasterhistory.org.

A minimum notice of four weeks is required to book a tour. A deposit is required within 7 days of booking to secure a tour's date and time. More details are supplied in our booking contract.

Student Tours of President James Buchanan's Wheatland

LancasterHistory offers in-person tours of Wheatland, the beloved home of 15th US President James Buchanan. These guided tours feature objects, documents, and images to help students learn more about James Buchanan and his "little family," and to discover the dilemmas and decisions President Buchanan faced during the challenging times leading up to the Civil War.

Tour Length & Size

In-person tours last about 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on the students' needs, ages, and amount of questions asked. Tours can be customized to meet students' needs across all ages and learning styles.

Add Ons

Groups may choose to add-on time in LancasterHistory's museum exhibitions for no extra cost. LancasterHistory's current, main exhibition is Thieves & Vagabonds: A History of Law and Justice in Lancaster County.

Health & Safety and Accessibility

LancasterHistory strives to maintain as safe an environment as possible so that tour attendees can enjoy their tour and get the most out of their experience.

  • COVID-19: The risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in every public space where people are present. COVID-19 is a serious, contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and even death. Senior citizens and those with underlying medical conditions are particular vulnerable. By attending a tour or program facilitated by LancasterHistory, you voluntarily assume all risks of exposure to COVID-19.

Tour attendees and their guide are required to follow LancasterHistory’s Health & Safety Policies for Visitors regarding COVID-19.

  • Accessibility: To tour Wheatland and access the upstairs, attendees will need to stand for a period of time, walk, and travel stairs. For more information on the accessibility of our facilities, including alternative accommodations available, please visit our Logistics & Accessibility FAQ at the bottom of our Visitor FAQ webpage.

Pricing

To inquire about pricing, please fill out our Group Tour Information Request form or contact groups@lancasterhistory.org.

A minimum notice of four weeks is required to book a tour. A deposit is required within 7 days of booking to secure a tour's date and time. More details are supplied in our booking contract. We're happy to work with school districts who may need alternative accommodations or a bit more time to book or make payments. Please discuss this with a LancasterHistory staff member upon inquiring.

Additional Student Tours and Programs

At LancasterHistory, our educational programs and workshops actively engage K–12 students with our shared history. Lancaster County’s past provides a case study in national history, with opportunities for celebration as well as understanding difficult legacies. Through primary source materials including documents, objects, works of art, and even a US president’s house, students will develop the tools to begin to understand our collective past, and the world in which we live today.

To view what other tours, workshops, and programs we have available, please click here.

If you are interested in a program that is not listed here or would like to talk to a staff member about creating a program or facilitating a special visit for your class or group to LancasterHistory, please contact Dr. Mabel Rosenheck, Director of Education & Exhibition Planning, at mabel.rosenheck@lancasterhistory.org.

Louise Arnold Tanger Arboretum Group Tours

The Louise Arnold Tanger Arboretum (pronounced “tan’-jer”) is an 11 acre arboretum featuring a multitude of plant specimens and garden features on the grounds of LancasterHistory and President James Buchanan’s Wheatland. The Arboretum includes over 100 species of trees from all over the world and includes two Pennsylvania State Champion trees, pollinator gardens, and a American Conifer Society Reference Garden. The Arboretum is cared for and conserved by the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum, a subsidiary of LancasterHistory.

LancasterHistory offers guided, private tours of the Tanger Arboretum for adult and student groups of 10 or more, led by knowledgeable Friends of the Tanger Arboretum members. Guided tours traverse the entire Tanger Arboretum and take approximately 60 - 90 minutes depending on the amount of questions from group members and the size of the group.

Pricing & More Information

Download a flyer for more information. [PDF, 218kb]

To inquire about pricing and start your booking process, please fill out our Group Tour Information Request form or contact groups@lancasterhistory.org.

Underground Railroad Site Tours

Visit historic sites in Lancaster County to learn about some of the earliest episodes of anti-slavery resistance in America. These spontaneous uprisings against slavery evolved into organized efforts, daring escapes, and legal challenges, culminating into a movement known as “The Underground Railroad.” Today, the Underground Railroad is noted by historians as the first mass movement of civil disobedience since the Revolutionary War, and America’s first racially-integrated and religiously-inspired civil rights movement.

To learn more and view these tour options, called "Origins of the Underground Railroad in Lancaster County," please click here.

Quilt Turnings, Archives, and/or Research Center Group Tours

LancasterHistory offers special subject tours, including textile demonstrations, quilt turnings, and archives tours customized to suit the needs and interests of your group.

Pricing & More Information

To inquire about pricing and more information, please fill out our Group Tour Information Request form or contact groups@lancasterhistory.org.

Yuletide at Wheatland Group Tours

Tours Available Mid-November - December 2024

LancasterHistory offers in-person tours of Yuletide at Wheatland, a guided, history and holiday-themed tour of the presidential home. Yuletide at Wheatland looks at the holiday season as it was experienced throughout President James Buchanan's lifetime. LancasterHistory's tours of Wheatland are unique in that there are few room barriers, allowing visitors to stand in the spaces once frequented by a former president and his family.

Tour Length & Size

Since our tours are customizable, the tour length can vary depending on factors such as group size and time allotted. For example, if a group of 40 chooses to visit, we'd recommend their travel organizer to allow at minimum 3 hours. However, we recommend that travel organizers discuss this with a LancasterHistory staff member when inquiring for more information.

Add Ons

Groups may choose to add-on time in LancasterHistory's museum exhibitions for no extra cost. LancasterHistory's current, main exhibition is Thieves & Vagabonds: A History of Law and Justice in Lancaster County.

Health & Safety and Accessibility

LancasterHistory strives to maintain as safe an environment as possible so that tour attendees can enjoy their tour and get the most out of their experience.

  • COVID-19: The risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in every public space where people are present. COVID-19 is a serious, contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and even death. Senior citizens and those with underlying medical conditions are particular vulnerable. By attending a tour or program facilitated by LancasterHistory, you voluntarily assume all risks of exposure to COVID-19.

Tour attendees and their guide are required to follow LancasterHistory’s Health & Safety Policies for Visitors regarding COVID-19.

  • Accessibility: To tour Wheatland and access the upstairs, attendees will need to stand for a period of time, walk, and travel stairs. For more information on the accessibility of our facilities, including alternative accommodations available, please visit our Logistics & Accessibility FAQ at the bottom of our Visitor FAQ webpage.

Pricing

To inquire about pricing, please fill out our Group Tour Information Request form or contact groups@lancasterhistory.org.

A minimum notice of four weeks is required to book a tour. A deposit is required within 7 days of booking to secure a tour's date and time. More details are supplied in our booking contract.

Underground Railroad Sites Group Tours

Visit historic sites in Lancaster County to learn about some of the earliest episodes of anti-slavery resistance in America. These spontaneous uprisings against slavery evolved into organized efforts, daring escapes, and legal challenges, culminating into a movement known as “The Underground Railroad.” Today, the Underground Railroad is noted by historians as the first mass movement of civil disobedience since the Revolutionary War, and America’s first racially-integrated and religiously-inspired civil rights movement.

Learn more & View Tour Options

 

 


How To Book A Group Tour

If you are interested in booking a group tour with LancasterHistory or wish to inquire for more information, please fill out the below information request form. For Underground Railroad Site tours, you can also email ugrr@lancasterhistory.org, or call (717) 392-4633, ext. 131. For all other tour options, please contact groups@lancasterhistory.org, or call (717) 392-4633, ext. 135.

Please allow 2-3 business days for a LancasterHistory staff member to contact you. To avoid confusion, please do not submit multiple inquiry forms for the same request.

Submit An Information Request

The below form is an inquiry form to request more information about group/private tours with LancasterHistory. Please note: This inquiry form is not a book form or confirmation. 

UPDATE 3/25/2024 – Our online Group Tour Inquiry webform is down. If you’d like to request information from LancasterHistory about scheduling a tour for your group, please reach out to us directly at groups@lancasterhistory.org. Thank you!

Submit a Group Tour Inquiry