Yuletide at Wheatland
Yuletide at Wheatland
Tours November 23 – December 30, 2024
Join us for Yuletide at Wheatland, a festive, guided tour of President James Buchanan’s historic home! Explore Christmas as it was experienced in the late 1800s, and discover how Buchanan’s niece and nephew, Harriet Lane Johnston and James Buchanan Henry, celebrated the holiday season during the early years of the Second Industrial Revolution. Learn how the Christmas holiday became popular in American culture with the increased commercialization and elegant decorations of the late Victorian era.
Purchase Yuletide at Wheatland Tickets
Looking for more holiday merriment at LancasterHistory? Click here to view additional holiday events happening this season!
Hours & Admission
Yuletide at Wheatland tours are available beginning Saturday, November 23 through Monday, December 30, 2024.
Tours are offered Mondays – Saturdays, on the hour, from 10am through 3pm (last tour of the day).
There are no tours on Sundays, Thanksgiving (11/28), Christmas Eve (12/24), and Christmas Day (12/25). The last day of Yuletide at Wheatland is Monday, December 30.
Tickets
Tickets for Yuletide at Wheatland General Admission are now available!
| LancasterHistory Members ………………. | $15.00/person |
| Adults (14+) ………………………………………… | $20.00/person |
| Youth (6 – 13) …………………………………… | $10.00/person |
| Child (5 & Under) ……………………………….. | FREE* |
| Family Pass** …………………………………….. | $50.00 |
*Children are free with the admission of a paying Adult.
** A Family Pass admits two (2) Adults and two (2) Youths.
Purchase Yuletide at Wheatland Tickets
With the purchase of a ticket, ticketholders are entitled to a guided tour of Yuletide at Wheatland and admission to the self-guided museum exhibitions at LancasterHistory. Advance tickets strongly recommended as tours do sell out and walk-in ticket purchases are not guaranteed.
By purchasing your ticket to LancasterHistory, you are agreeing to our Admission & Programs Terms and Conditions policy.
For groups of 15 or more individuals, please contact (717) 392-4633, ext. 135 or email groups@lancasterhistory.org for Group Tour pricing, information, and scheduling.
Plan Your Visit
For assistance in planning your visit to LancasterHistory for Yuletide at Wheatland, we encourage visitors to review our Visitor FAQs and Accessibility webpages. We also have a Yuletide-specific FAQ below. If you have any additional questions that are unanswered after reviewing those resources, please do not hesitate to contact us at (717) 392-4633.
Please note that the Yuletide at Wheatland tour will involve travelling stairs and standing for up to an hour. We are happy to provide alternative accommodations upon request. If you require alternative accommodations, please notify our Visitor Services Department in advance of your visit at (717) 392-4633, ext. 100 or upon arrival.
Yuletide at Wheatland is an annual holiday and history-themed tour at President James Buchanan's Wheatland. This tour includes both floors. Yuletide at Wheatland ticketholders also receive admission to the self guided museum exhibitions in LancasterHistory's main building.
During your Yuletide tour, discover how James Buchanan's niece and nephew, Harriet Lane Johnston and James Buchanan Henry, celebrated the festive season during the early years of the Second Industrial Revolution. Learn how the Christmas holiday became popular in American culture from James Buchanan's time at Wheatland to the increased commercialization and extravagant decorations of the late Victorian era.
Yuletide at Wheatland tours begin Saturday, November 23. Tours are available Mondays - Saturdays, on the hour, from 10am (first tour of the day) to 3pm (last tour of the day).
There are no tours on Sundays, Thanksgiving (11/28), Christmas Eve (12/24), and Christmas Day (12/25). The last day of Yuletide at Wheatland is Monday, December 30.
Yuletide at Wheatland takes place within Wheatland, the home of President James Buchanan. Visitors will tour both floors of the mansion with a guide who will elaborate on the history of the home as well as holiday facts and celebrations. However, visitors need to check in or purchase their tickets in LancasterHistory's museum, located on the same property. (Look for the modern brick, sloped roof building!)
Directions
For in-car GPS and online mapping services such as Google Maps, please use the following address:
230 North President Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603
Please note that your GPS may wish to take you in through the Wheatland driveway at 1120 Marietta Avenue. This road is closed to vehicular traffic. Please use our entrance on North President Avenue.
From Harrisburg, PA
(Click here to open the map above in Google Maps.)
From Baltimore, MD
(Click here to open the map above in Google Maps.)
From Philadelphia, PA
Using I-76 W (toll road):
(Click here to open the map above in Google Maps.)
From New York, NY
Using various toll roads:
Visitors begin their Yuletide at Wheatland experience in LancasterHistory's museum by checking in or purchasing their tickets at Visitor Services. At their tour time, visitors take a short walk over to the Wheatland mansion where they will be greeted by their tour guide. The tour is approximately one-hour long and is history and holiday-themed in nature. The tour includes the main floor and second floor, and is led by a knowledgeable guide. Yuletide at Wheatland ticketholders also receive admission to the self guided museum exhibitions in LancasterHistory which can be viewed before or after the tour.
Altogether, we recommend visitors allow at least 2 hours for their entire visit to LancasterHistory and Yuletide at Wheatland.
Yes! We will be offering the following two extra programs during the holiday season:
Campus of History Cheer on Saturday, December 7 from 5-7pm
Get in the holiday spirit with Campus of History Cheer, a festive event filled with fun for the whole family! From twilight tours of Wheatland to live music and kids activities, there's something merry and bright for everyone.
Candy Canes & Cocoa on the Campus on Saturday, December 14 from 10-11am
Help us on our hunt for candy canes across the Campus of History! Children will listen to a story read aloud, complete a holiday craft to take home, and enjoy a hot cup of cocoa. All ages are welcome! Story, craft, and candy cane activity best suited for children under 12 years of age.
Cancellations for booked tickets require a 24-hour minimum notice to receive a 100% refund. Please call (717) 392-4633 should you need to cancel your tickets.
By purchasing your ticket to LancasterHistory, you are agreeing to our Admission & Programs Terms and Conditions policy. Please review the policy for more information, such as our cancellation policy.
Should your tour be cancelled due to inclement weather at LancasterHistory, we will do our best to reach out to you by telephone or email to advise you of this cancellation. We will work with you to reschedule your tour or issue a refund if your visit cannot be rescheduled.
During the holiday season, we do not offer any discounts for AAA card members, seniors, or military personnel. Our Museums for All rate is only available for exhibitions-only access during the holiday season.
We do offer a Family Pass discount. A Family Pass discount is for qualifying orders of two (2) Adult tickets and two (2) Youth tickets. (A savings of $10!) If you wish to purchase a Family Pass, please call (717) 392-4633 to book over the phone or use promo code 24YULEFAM online to receive the applicable discount.
Yes, we do! Guided group tours for organized groups of at least 15 individuals are available at a discounted rate.
Group tours must be scheduled at least 4 weeks ahead of your visit. (Groups inquiring less 4 weeks out are scheduled at LancasterHistory's discretion.) A deposit and contract are required to hold a tour date and time. Groups are also subject to LancasterHistory's Health & Safety Protocols for Visitors.
For more information or to schedule your group or student tour, please contact (717) 392-4633, ext. 135, email groups@lancasterhistory.org, or fill out our Group Tour Inquiry webform online.
LancasterHistory participates in the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association program. If you are a member of a participating museum or organization, you can order your tickets in advance by calling (717) 392-4633. Online ordering for NARM members is not available. NARM members receive the Member admission rate for Yuletide at Wheatland.
Upon arrival, please check in at Visitor Services to receive your timed admission ticket(s) and present a valid membership card to Visitor Services. The card must have the NARM logo pre-printed on the card or placed as a sticker.
During Yuletide, NARM members receive the member rate for General Admission tickets and 20% off in the Museum Store. NARM benefits are not extended to special events unless otherwise noted.
Lancaster County Family Museum passes may not be used to attend a Yuletide at Wheatland tour. However, passes may be used to visit the museum exhibitions during the holiday season.
LancasterHistory is committed to keeping our visitors, staff, and volunteers as safe as possible to the best of our ability. Visitors should consult our Health & Safety Protocols for Visitors policy prior to making a reservation and arriving.
LancasterHistory encourages visitors to wear face masks, but does not require them. We have a limited supply of complimentary surgical masks available by request at Visitor Services should visitors forget theirs or wish to wear one.
*Photos above from Yuletide at Wheatland in 2023. Photographed by Julie Liz Photography for LancasterHistory.