Thanks to donations of artifacts from the community, as well as purchases at auction, our collections continue to grow. These items are diverse in nature and donors recognize that they are a tangible connection to our past that provide a voice for our ancestors and a chance to view life at an earlier time.
Our current exhibition in the Willson Memorial Building highlights some of the many wonderful recent additions to our collections and examine the ways in which this material will be made available to the public.
Upcoming Events
Check here for events from across the various programming efforts of LancasterHistory.org, Lancaster County's Historical Society & President James Buchanan's Wheatland.
Saturday, September 11, 2010 @ 08:30AM - 12:00PM Tanger Arboretum
Fall Clean-up of Arboretum Grounds
Volunteers are invited to join current trustees of the arboretum in sprucing up the grounds around the trees of the arboretum. The work will involve such tasks as weeding, mulching, light pruning of ivy, cutting and hauling away dead branches, etc. Refreshments and some garden tools will be provided.Volunteers should wear clothing suitable for yard work and appropriate to the weather. Please bring gloves, long pants and long sleeves, due to the possible presence of poison ivy.
Saturday, September 11, 2010 @ 10:00AM - 04:00PM Wheatland Garden Club
Fall Plant Sale at Sweet Bay Farm
Fall is a great time for planting! If you look in your garden and see empty spaces or have plants that did not perform well, now is the time to purchase a plant to fill that space for next spring. We have a variety of late summer and fall blooming plants, and we offer excellent help to aid buyers in selecting the right plant.
The year 2011 will mark the beginning of the Civil War Sesquicentennial - 150 years since battle began between North and South. Groups throughout Pennsylvania have been preparing and planning for this 4 year tribute that will share the stories of the Keystone State's important role in this historic event. Here at LancasterHistory.org we are already sharing the story. One weekend each fall, the grounds of Lancaster County's Historical Society are transformed by the Civil War Living History Encampment. This fall is no exception. On Saturday and Sunday, September 11 & 12, 2010, over 100 Civil War re-enactors from across the region will set up camp, relive, and remember those turbulent years. More than a dozen military and civilian tents will dot the landscape as Union and Confederate soldiers and civilians display the equipment, the firearms, the ammunition and the accoutrements of war.
Experience military drills and artillery displays; chat with the soldiers; watch as surgeons and nurses care for the wounded in makeshift hospitals; capture the scent of cooking over open fires and the sounds of the Fife and Drum Corps. Early each afternoon enjoy a fashion show of period dress; a special program "A Day with Harriet Lane" will follow each performance at President James Buchanan's Wheatland. Another special guest this year is Pennsylvania Dutch musician and historian Keith Brintzenhoff who will share a variety of Civil War music through banjo, harmonica, fiddle and folklore. Be prepared to join in for a jig or two. And yes, the Civil War cannon will be there and will be fired! .Saturday evening experience the camp at dusk as you wind through the grounds lit by luminaries and listen to voices from the past capture life in the camps through story and song. There is no charge for the "Torchlight Tour."
The Civil War Encampment is free and open to the public. It's also a history lesson like no other. Don't miss this opportunity to share the Civil War with your children, your students, your friends. Join us and experience history firsthand. On the grounds of Lancaster County's Historical Society, 230 North President Avenue, Lancaster, PA. Hours: Saturday, 10 am - 9 pm, Torchlight Tour of the camp at dusk. Sunday, 10 am - 4 pm.
Saturday, September 11, 2010 @ 01:00PM - 03:00PM Wheatland
Harriet Lane, Democratic Queen
During your visit you will encounter Harriet, the precocious niece of President James Buchanan, at the age of 15. Teenager Harriet will share her experiences as one of James Buchanan's many nieces and about her yearning to travel and see the world.
But you will also meet Harriet Lane who tackled the diplomatic task as Hostess, or "Democratic Queen" of the White House at the age of 26. You will have the opportunity to chat with the First Lady as she describes her many social causes and diplomatic challenges
And in yet another room of Wheatland you will visit with Mrs. Harriet Lane Johnston in 1902 as she reminisces about her late husband and sons in the autumn of her own life.
The year 2011 will mark the beginning of the Civil War Sesquicentennial - 150 years since battle began between North and South. Groups throughout Pennsylvania have been preparing and planning for this 4 year tribute that will share the stories of the Keystone State's important role in this historic event. Here at LancasterHistory.org we are already sharing the story. One weekend each fall, the grounds of Lancaster County's Historical Society are transformed by the Civil War Living History Encampment. This fall is no exception. On Saturday and Sunday, September 11 & 12, 2010, over 100 Civil War re-enactors from across the region will set up camp, relive, and remember those turbulent years. More than a dozen military and civilian tents will dot the landscape as Union and Confederate soldiers and civilians display the equipment, the firearms, the ammunition and the accoutrements of war.
Experience military drills and artillery displays; chat with the soldiers; watch as surgeons and nurses care for the wounded in makeshift hospitals; capture the scent of cooking over open fires and the sounds of the Fife and Drum Corps. Early each afternoon enjoy a fashion show of period dress; a special program "A Day with Harriet Lane" will follow each performance at President James Buchanan's Wheatland. Another special guest this year is Pennsylvania Dutch musician and historian Keith Brintzenhoff who will share a variety of Civil War music through banjo, harmonica, fiddle and folklore. Be prepared to join in for a jig or two. And yes, the Civil War cannon will be there and will be fired! .Saturday evening experience the camp at dusk as you wind through the grounds lit by luminaries and listen to voices from the past capture life in the camps through story and song. There is no charge for the "Torchlight Tour."
The Civil War Encampment is free and open to the public. It's also a history lesson like no other. Don't miss this opportunity to share the Civil War with your children, your students, your friends. Join us and experience history firsthand. On the grounds of Lancaster County's Historical Society, 230 North President Avenue, Lancaster, PA. Hours: Saturday, 10 am - 9 pm, Torchlight Tour of the camp at dusk. Sunday, 10 am - 4 pm.
Sunday, September 12, 2010 @ 12:00PM - 04:00PM Wheatland Garden Club
Fall Plant Sale at Sweet Bay Farm
Fall is a great time for planting! If you look in your garden and see empty spaces or have plants that did not perform well, now is the time to purchase a plant to fill that space for next spring. We have a variety of late summer and fall blooming plants, and we offer excellent help to aid buyers in selecting the right plant.
All proceeds go to the restoration and maintanence of the gardens at President James Buchanan's Wheatland.
The Fall Plant Sale will be held at Sweet Bay Farm, 425 Shultz Road, Washington Boro, PA 17582.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 @ 07:30PM - 09:00PM Grave Concern
The Life of Abner Eyde and the Groff Funeral Home
Grave Concern Public Meeting, Wednesday September 15, 2010 7:30 PM
Program: "The Life of Abner Eyde and the Groff Funeral Home" Presenter: Richard Long will portray the life of Abner Eyde and his long career with the Fred F. Groff Funeral Home which dates back to 1899.
The meeting is free and the public is invited to attend.
Grave Concern is an organization dedicated to the preservation and restoration of historical burial places.
For questions re: this news release you may contact
James McMullin, Pres, Grave Concern, 717-569-6817
Thursday, September 16, 2010 @ 06:30PM - 09:00PM Thirsty for History, LancasterHistory.org Night at the Fulton
Monty Python's Spamalot
Call the Fulton Theatre at (717) 397-7425 to purchase your tickets. Be sure to mention that you are a member of LancasterHistory.org to receive a 10% discount.
Reception begins at 6:30 p.m., Presentation by Dr. Tom Ryan at 7:00 p.m., The show begins at 7:30 p. m.
Friday, September 17, 2010 @ 04:00PM - 05:30PM Presidential Lecture Series
John Quist Lecture at Manheim Township Public Library
Presidential Lecture Series with John Quist, historian from Shippensburg University, at the Manheim Township Public Library.
LancasterHistory.org, Lancaster County's Historical Society & President James Buchanan's Wheatland, will host three Pennsylvania scholars this fall for the annual Presidential Lecture Series. The 2010 Presidential Lectures will explore three topics associated with the presidency: religion's effects on the Office of the President, the powers of the President during times of war and the President's impact on the U.S. Constitution.
September's presentation will be held at the new Manheim Township Public Library, located in Overlook Park at 595 Granite Run Drive, Lancaster. Dr. John Quist, a professor of history at Shippensburg University, will explore "Religion in the Lives and Presidencies of James Buchanan and Abraham Lincoln." Why did President Lincoln quote the Bible so often? Did James Buchanan feel that the United States was a nation of only Christians? Join us for this fascinating talk as Dr. Quist examines the potent and complex interaction between religion and presidential decision-making. Social gathering with refreshments begins at 4 pm. Lecture to follow from 4:30 to 5:30.
Among the many debatable topics associated with President Buchanan's term are the perceived and the actual powers of the presidency. On October 22nd Dr. Matthew Pinsker, a professor of history at Dickinson College, will present a talk on "Abraham Lincoln and Presidential War Powers." Our third speaker is Dr. Richard A. Glenn, a professor and chair for the Department of Government at Millersville University. On Friday, November 12th Dr. Glenn will present "Presidential Power, President Lincoln & the Redefinition of the US Constitution." Lectures begin with a social gathering and refreshments at 4 pm; lecture to follow from 4:30 to 5:30. Presidential lectures are free and open to the public. Check www.lancasterhistory.org for locations of 2nd and 3rd lectures in the series.
Friday, September 24, 2010 @ 04:00PM - 05:30PM Colloquium
The Seagoing Cowboys of World War II
The Seagoing Cowboys of World War II Speaker: Peggy Reiff Miller
Please join us for the Regional History Colloquium beginning at 4 pm with a social gathering and refreshments in the gallery of Lancaster County's Historical Society, 230 North President Avenue in Lancaster. The talk follows from 4:30 to 5:30. All colloquia are free and open to the public.
Miller, a writer from Milford, Indiana, will bring to life the long-forgotten history of livestock shipments made following World War II to countries devastated by the war. “Over 7,000 men and boys, ages 16 to 72, signed on to serve as ‘seagoing cowboys,’ as the cattle tenders for these trips were called,” says Miller. “Several hundred of them came from Lancaster County. They tended animals sent by the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration and the Heifer Project between 1945 and 1947.
“Life aboard ship and in port was full of drama, humor, and danger,” Miller says. “The trips were a window to a hurting world, and they led many of the cowboys into service-oriented occupations and lifetimes of working for peace.” Miller’s presentation will include a portion of her documentary photo story, A Tribute to the Seagoing Cowboys.
The Heifer Project, which was the catalyst for the seagoing cowboy program, was started by the Church of the Brethren Men’s Work of Northern Indiana in 1942. Indiana church leader Dan West, on his return from distributing powdered milk to victims of the Spanish Civil War in 1938, sparked the interest of area farmers. West’s idea to send ‘a cow, not a cup’ caught on, and farmers began raising heifers for the cause.
With World War II raging, transporting heifers to Europe was impossible. The creation of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) by 44 countries at the close of the war provided the means for the Brethren to obtain free shipping for their heifers. In return, the Brethren agreed to provide all of the cattle attendants needed for UNRRA’s planned shipments of livestock to replenish Europe’s devastated herds.
When UNRRA disbanded in 1947 and the Heifer Project lost its ready transportation, the stories of the seagoing cowboys about the tremendous need overseas helped provide momentum to keep the Heifer Project going. The project has evolved into the award-winning Heifer International of today based in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Miller has spent the past eight years traveling around the country interviewing and documenting the stories of the seagoing cowboys. She is working on several books about this history. More information about the seagoing cowboys and the documentary DVD can be found at www.seagoingcowboys.com.
Friday, September 24, 2010 @ 05:30PM - 08:00PM Tanger Arboretum
Wine & Cheese Under the Beeches
Current and potential new Friends of the Tanger Arboretum are invited to spend an evening under the beech trees in the arboretum enjoying wine, cheese and conversation. This is an annual event that helps Friends of the Arboretum get to know each other and provides an opportunity to spend time together among the trees. There is no cost to attend.
A spooktacular evening on the grounds and in the Mansion of Wheatland. Jazz, catered cuisine, local brews, & more! Cost: $40 for members, $45 for non-members. RSVP to Erin Taylor at 717.392.4633 ext. 114
Saturday, October 16, 2010 @ 01:00PM - 03:00PM Wheatland
The War Years at Wheatland
James Buchanan, 1860
Visit with former United States President James Buchanan in the year 1863, soon after the burning of the Wrightsville Bridge. During your visit you will meet:
brothers from Buchanan's Lodge who will be guarding his farm
Dr. Carpenter, Old Buck's physician
his niece, Harriet Lane
as well as many others as they share their feelings about the Civil War and the fear that Lee's Army has caused among Pennsylvanians throughout the region!
Friday, October 22, 2010 @ 04:00PM - 05:30PM Presidential Lecture Series
Abraham Lincoln and Presidential War Powers
Dr. Matthew Pinsker, a professor of history at Dickinson College, will present a talk on "Abraham Lincoln and Presidential War Powers."
LancasterHistory.org, Lancaster County's Historical Society & President James Buchanan's Wheatland, will host three Pennsylvania scholars this fall for the annual Presidential Lecture Series. The 2010 Presidential Lectures will explore three topics associated with the presidency: religion's effects on the Office of the President, the powers of the President during times of war and the President's impact on the U.S. Constitution.
Among the many debatable topics associated with President Buchanan's term are the perceived and the actual powers of the presidency. On October 22nd Dr. Matthew Pinsker, a professor of history at Dickinson College, will present a talk on "Abraham Lincoln and Presidential War Powers." Our third speaker is Dr. Richard A. Glenn, a professor and chair for the Department of Government at Millersville University. On Friday, November 12th Dr. Glenn will present "Presidential Power, President Lincoln & the Redefinition of the US Constitution." Lectures begin with a social gathering and refreshments at 4 pm; lecture to follow from 4:30 to 5:30. Presidential lectures are free and open to the public. Check www.lancasterhistory.org for locations of 2nd and 3rd lectures in the series.
Thursday, October 28, 2010 @ 06:30PM - 09:00PM Thirsty for History, LancasterHistory.org Night at the Fulton
Deathtrap
Call the Fulton Theatre at (717) 397-7425 to purchase your tickets. Be sure to mention that you are a member of LancasterHistory.org to receive a 10% discount.
Reception begins at 6:30 p.m., Presentation by Dr. Tom Ryan at 7:00 p.m., The show begins at 7:30 p. m.
My name is Rebecca Macy and I am a rising sophomore at The George Washington University in Washington, DC. I am an American Studies major with a concentration in Cultural Politics. I have a great interest in civil rights, immigration, and the American Presidency. With a love of history, I am so excited to be working in my hometown this summer with LancasterHistory.org, Lancaster County's Historical Society & President James Buchanan's Wheatland!
That girl has Moxie!
My name is Julianne Petrillo. I am a freshman at LancasterCatholicHigh School. I enjoy learning about history, so I am volunteering this summer at LancasterHistory.org, Lancaster County’s Historical Society and President James Buchanan’s Wheatland. At the Historical Society I volunteer in the archives department. I studied receipts from a store in Lancaster during the 1920s. I learned so much about items being sold back then and was amazed at how old some of my favorite snacks were such as Life Savers, Oreos, taffy, saltines, and Moxie. At Wheatland I volunteer for special events giving tours as well as helping dust the antique furniture. I enjoy working at the Historical Society and Wheatland very much and hope to be back next summer!
Parks and Recreation
Amy Noll is a New Hampshire native who graduated with her B.A. in History and Management from Gettysburg College in 2007. She received her M.L.S. with a specialization in Archives, Records, and Information Management from the University of Maryland in 2009, and recently moved into the Lancaster area. She has past experience working at the National Archives and is also a Civil War Reenactor. In the Archives, Amy is working on the Lancaster Recreation Commission Records manuscript group. She has found many interesting records about past recreational programming for senior citizens as well as records detailing the creation and acquisition of some of Lancaster’s most well known public parks.
Living History
At the time of her internship Katelynn Stauffer will be a rising sophomore at Gettysburg College, where she will be majoring in History and Political Science with minors in Education and Civil War Era Studies. While interning at Wheatland she will be working on the creation of a new living history tour that will examine the war years at Wheatland. She will be organizing volunteers and setting up a test run of the program for the public.
Diplomacy
Alex Trimble is a senior at Elizabethtown Area High School. His primary focus of study has been in history and social sciences. During his internship at the James Buchanan Wheatland mansion he will be conducting research on James Buchanan's diplomatic mission to Russia.
We'd Love Your Help
Help us preserve and promote Lancaster's history. You, too, can play an important role in keeping Lancaster's past present!
Experience military drills and artillery displays; chat with the soldiers; watch as surgeons and nurses care for the wounded in makeshift hospitals; capture the scent of cooking over open fires and the sounds of the Fife and Drum Corps. Early each afternoon enjoy a fashion show of period dress; a special program "A Day with Harriet Lane" will follow each performance at President James Buchanan's Wheatland. Another special guest this year is Pennsylvania Dutch musician and historian Keith Brintzenhoff who will share a variety of Civil War music through banjo, harmonica, fiddle and folklore. Be prepared to join in for a jig or two. And yes, the Civil War cannon will be there and will be fired! .Saturday evening experience the camp at dusk as you wind through the grounds lit by luminaries and listen to voices from the past capture life in the camps through story and song. There is no charge for the "Torchlight Tour."
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