Plan Your Visit FAQ


Where is LancasterHistory located?

LancasterHistory is located at 230 North President Avenue, Lancaster, PA. An alternate entrance, located at 1120 Marietta Avenue, is currently unavailable. Please use the 230 North President Avenue entrance.

Notice About Google Maps: Visitors using Google Maps to navigate to LancasterHistory may notice that the app may route vehicles to our Wheatland driveway entrance at 1120 Marietta Avenue despite it being closed to vehicular traffic. Please use our entrance at 230 North President Avenue.

When is LancasterHistory, including President James Buchanan's Wheatland, open?

Our hours are Mondays - Saturdays from 9:30am to 5pm with Wheatland tours from 10am - 3pm.

The Research Center is open Wednesdays - Saturdays, 9:30am - 2pm.

We are closed Sundays and major holidays. We encourage visitors to check out our Exceptions to Hours page where we'll post any outlying closings or change in our normal operating schedule.

Closings due to unforeseen circumstances and inclement weather will be posted as soon as possible on our website, via our phone system, and often through WGAL local news station. We always encourage visitors to be cautious in their travel during inclement weather and be safe.

When are tours of President James Buchanan's Wheatland?

President James Buchanan's Wheatland is open for in-person tours Mondays - Saturdays from January 16 - November 9, 2024. Tours are available on the hour beginning with the first tour at 10am and concluding with the last tour at 3pm. Visitors should purchase tickets or check-in with pre-purchased tickets in LancasterHistory's museum building.

Looking to visit Wheatland after November 9? Please check back in September/October for more information and tickets for our holiday program and tour, Yuletide at Wheatland!

What can I expect on a tour of President James Buchanan's Wheatland? [Tour Length & Route]

When Are Tours Offered

President James Buchanan's Wheatland is open for in-person tours Mondays - Saturdays from tours on the hour from 10am (first tour of the day) until 3pm (last tour of the day). To tour Wheatland, visitors must purchase a General Admission or Yuletide at Wheatland General Admission ticket.

Tour Experience, Length, & Route

Regular Season (January - mid-November): A visitor's tour experience begins with the 24-minute film, Buchanan's America: A Nation Divided, in LancasterHistory's Buckwalter Theater. Following the film, visitors will travel a short walk over the mansion where they will be greeted by their tour guide. The group will proceed throughout both floors of the house, which does include traveling staircases with one to two flights. (If visitors have difficulty traversing stairs, please let Visitor Services or tour guides know so alternative accommodations can be provided.) After exiting the mansion, visitors may not re-enter.

Yuletide Season (Mid-November - December): Visitors will check in at the Museum before making a short walk over the the mansion where they will be greeted by their tour guide. The group will proceed throughout both floors of the house, which does include traveling staircases with one to two flights. (If visitors have difficulty traversing stairs, please let Visitor Services or tour guides know so alternative accommodations can be provided.) After exiting the mansion, visitors may not re-enter. The orientation film, Buchanan's America: A Nation Divided, which plays during our regular season will be available to watch if visitors wish to see it, but is not a requirement for the tour.

In total, we recommend guests allot 1.5 - 2 hours for their full Wheatland tour experience. General Admission and Yuletide at Wheatland General Admission includes self-guided access to the museum exhibitions. Including the exhibitions, we recommend allotting 2.5 - 2.75 hours for your full LancasterHistory experience.

All visitors should review our Health & Safety Protocols prior to visiting LancasterHistory.

Tour Guide

Tours are led by one of our knowledgeable volunteers, often in period costume, or a staff member. All staff and volunteers will also follow the instructions of the Health & Safety Protocols.

I've arrived! Where do I go to check-in or buy tickets?

Welcome! You and the members of your party will want to head to our museum building to purchase tickets or check-in with pre-purchased tickets. Even if you are visiting Wheatland, all visitors must check-in and depart for their tour from our museum building.

On this map of the property, the museum is the building in the black box. Entrances to the building are indicated with gold stars.

Is LancasterHistory, including Wheatland, part of the National Park Service?

No, LancasterHistory, including President James Buchanan's Wheatland, is not a part of the National Park Service. Therefore, we do not accept any National Park Service passes or memberships or have any National Park Service cancellation stamps. While President James Buchanan's Wheatland does appear on the National Park Service's listing of presidential homes, it denotes that it is not owned by the Park Service. The National Park Service promotes all presidents homes, whether they are operated by the Park Service or not.

What is the Tanger Arboretum?

The Louise Arnold Tanger Arboretum (pronounced "tan'-jer") is located on the grounds of LancasterHistory. The Arboretum features many local and international tree species, including an American Conifer Society (ACS) Reference Garden.

The Arboretum is open for visitation from dawn to dusk on the grounds of LancasterHistory. There is no cost or admission fee, but donations are accepted.

The Arboretum is maintained by the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum, a subsidiary organization of LancasterHistory. The members help care and conserve the Arboretum and enjoy a membership program that provides benefits for programs and garden admission reciprocity. To learn more about becoming involved or becoming a member of the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum, please visit their webpage.

The Friends of the Arboretum also hold a series of events each year for their membership and the public. These events, when available, will be posted on LancasterHistory's Events page.

Does LancasterHistory participate in the Public Libraries of Lancaster County Family Museum Pass Program?

LancasterHistory accepts Lancaster County Family Museum Passes for General Admission.

Family Museum Passes are available at all 17 public libraries in Lancaster County and the Bookmobile. Passes can be loaned to any Lancaster County adult with a valid public library card.

Passes for LancasterHistory may be redeemed for up to four (4) individuals for General Admission. General Admission includes a guided tour of President James Buchanan's Wheatland home and admission to museum exhibitions. One of your party of four (4) must be an adult (18+). Passes may only be redeemed for walk-in admission (no advance reservations). All visitors are subject to LancasterHistory's current Health & Safety Protocols.

Passes are not valid for a Yuletide at Wheatland tour. Additional guidelines and restrictions below.

Museum Pass Circulation Guidelines:

  • Adult check-out only
  • One week circulation (see our hours of operation)
  • Reserves allowed from any library including bookmobile
  • Overdue fines: $1.00 per day/up to $5.00 maximum
  • Replacement cost: $7.00 for lost or damaged case
  • Due to the popularity of this service, museum passes are not eligible for renewal.

Conditions of Use:

  • Valid during regular hours of operation for general admission (see our hours).
  • Not valid for Yuletide at Wheatland or other special events. Borrower may want to call ahead.
  • Does not apply to group rates.
  • Designated for a family of up to 4 people, one of which must be a supervising adult.
  • Passes cannot be used for facilitating a group tour (e.g. scouting group, school group, clubs, etc.). Multiple passes may not be used during the same visit. If you are interested in reserving a group tour, please call 717-392-4633 to make a reservation.
  • Pass can only be used once during the one week check out/circulation.
  • Museum pass may not be used for commercial or for-profit purposes.

Thanks to the Eiserer-Hickey Fund of the Lancaster County Community Foundation for making this program possible.

Does LancasterHistory give group tours or student tours?

Yes, we do! To view our multiple options, please visit our Group, Bus, & Private Tours webpage.

How can I become a member of LancasterHistory?

Members of LancasterHistory receive exciting benefits that range from free complimentary admission*, member discounts, special subscriptions, and more! Memberships are available for purchase online or over the phone by calling (717) 392-4633.

*Except for special programs and events such as Yuletide at Wheatland

Can I take pictures while I am at LancasterHistory?

Still photography is permitted for noncommercial use only at LancasterHistory, including President James Buchanan's Wheatland, unless otherwise posted. For the safety of our visitors and collections, the use of tripods, monopods, and selfie sticks is not permitted at any time. Flash photography and video recording is not permitted.

Are there benches or other places to rest during my visit?

In LancasterHistory's main building, there are multiple chairs where visitors can rest. In President James Buchanan's Wheatland, we encourage guests who may need to rest or sit down ask their guide for a chair. Folding or windsor chairs will be provided where asked by guests.

Can I check a coat, bag, or luggage?

LancasterHistory offers unsupervised self-check for coats. We do have small, free lockers where guests may lock up any valuables at their own liability. We cannot check any large bags or luggage. Large bags and luggage must remain in your vehicle. Small bags and purses are permitted in the exhibition galleries and in President James Buchanan's Wheatland. No bags are permitted in the Research Center.

Can I bring a stroller?

We love little History Explorers! However, due to the size of Wheatland and close proximity to historic artifacts, strollers are not permitted in President James Buchanan's Wheatland. Strollers, however, may be used to transport young ones down to the house, but must be left on the porch. This location is unsupervised, and LancasterHistory is not liable for lost, stolen, or damaged strollers left on the porch.

LancasterHistory does allow small or standard strollers in the museum exhibitions. Large strollers, such as double or jogging strollers, are not permitted.

Where can I park? Can we travel to LancasterHistory with our RV?

LancasterHistory has ample parking on-site in a parking lot for no cost. Visitors travelling with larger vehicles such as a RV are welcome, but space may be limited and is not guaranteed. There are two large spaces in the parking lot at the front of the main building along an edge that an RV can safely park in. RVs and other motor vehicles are not permitted to park at LancasterHistory overnight.

If you are traveling to Lancaster and are looking for a campground for your RV, Discover Lancaster has helpful information on available campgrounds in the county.