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Your Connection to Lancaster County’s History!

LancasterHistory's museum building. Building is brick with a wave-like roofline.
The main museum building at LancasterHistory. From here, visitors can begin their history experience.

LancasterHistory, formerly known as Lancaster County’s Historical Society, is an award-winning, local history museum located at 230 North President Avenue, just outside of Lancaster City.

A registered 501(c)3 non-profit, LancasterHistory offers a variety of history-focused opportunities for visitors (and locals!) to learn about Lancaster County’s unique history. A visitor favorite is our guided, in-person tours of Wheatland, the beloved, 1828 home of 15th U.S. President James Buchanan. 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. (Visiting in November & December? Check out our special holiday tours called Yuletide at Wheatland!)

LancasterHistory also offers a changing series of museum exhibitions, featuring historic artifacts from its collections. Our major exhibition, Thieves & Vagabonds: A History of Law and Justice in Lancaster County, chronicles key moments in the history of law and justice in Lancaster County from the 18th century to the 20th century.

Image of President James Buchanan's Wheatland.
President James Buchanan’s Wheatland

Visitors interested in research or tracing their family’s roots to Lancaster County can purchase a pass to visit LancasterHistory’s Research Center. The Research Center contains more than 2 million historic documents, manuscripts, books, and maps. Plus there is access to the Library Edition of Ancestry.com and a variety of additional databases and resources. Need some assistance? LancasterHistory expert staff can help point researchers in the right direction on topics such as genealogy, Lancaster history, and scholarly research.

For those who wish to browse and stroll, LancasterHistory is also the home of the Louise Arnold Tanger Arboretum. Across our 11-acre property, visitors can experience the lush, green grounds filled with a variety of trees from across the globe. Visitors can also check out the Museum Store, filled with a variety of history books, local gifts, and souvenirs.

Got to have more history? LancasterHistory also offers a series of in-person and virtual events and tours throughout the year, many of which are low cost, free, and/or kid-friendly. Members also get more, including membership-only events, complimentary admissions, and discounts.

We hope to see you soon at the Campus of History! 

Get started with checking out these helpful links below.

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