President James Buchanan's Wheatland
About the Business
President James Buchanan's Wheatland is a historic institution located at 1120 Marietta Avenue in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Originally built in 1828 for lawyer and bank president William Jenkins, Wheatland is a beautiful mansion in the Federal Style, featuring symmetry and Greek Revival architecture. The mansion includes two main floors, an attic, and a basement, which originally housed the kitchen and wine cellar. The property also includes two outbuildings, a privy, and a building housing the smokehouse and icehouse.
In 1848, Wheatland was purchased by James Buchanan, who later became the 15th President of the United States. Buchanan lived at Wheatland with his "little family" until his death in 1868. After his passing, the property was inherited by his niece, Harriet Lane Johnston, who used the home as a summer residence. Wheatland changed hands several times before being purchased by the Junior League of Lancaster in 1936 to establish the James Buchanan Foundation for the Preservation of Wheatland.
In 2009, the foundation merged with the Lancaster County Historical Society to form LancasterHistory, a non-profit historical and educational institution that continues to operate Wheatland as a historic site. The institution offers tours and educational programs to the public, allowing visitors to learn about the history of Wheatland and its distinguished residents, including James Buchanan, Harriet Lane Johnston, and James Buchanan Henry. The James Buchanan Presidential Library, launched in 2020, provides access to a digital repository of items associated with James Buchanan and his family, offering insight into one of the most tumultuous periods in American history. Visit Wheatland to explore the rich history and legacy of one of Pennsylvania's only Presidents.
Photos
Location & Phone number
1120 Marietta Ave, Lancaster, PA 17603, United States
Hours open
Monday:
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Tuesday:
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Wednesday:
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Thursday:
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Friday:
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Saturday:
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Sunday:
Closed
Reviews
"The 20 minute film shown prior to the tour gave context to both Buchanan’s presidency and Wheatland itself. I dreaded the fact that I was the only one on the 3 o’clock tour. The docents, however, made me feel welcome. Gerry, who has been leading tours for 10 years insisted on giving me the full tour. Gerry had an extensive knowledge of the house, its furnishings, along with the entire Buchanan family. Plan on spending 3 hours here if you want to see everything."
"I am a presidential history buff and have visited several of the presidential libraries. This particiular museum is not part of the National Archives & Records Admin. (NARA) but it is well worth the visit. I was very impressed by the house tour. The guide was excellent with a wealth of knowledge about the Buchanan family. And they have a huge number of original pieces of furniture and other items that were actually owned by the family. It was amazing to see such a collection. They have an extensive little film prior to the guided tour which talks about his life and his presidency. I would definitely recommend a visit. The area is surrounded by some incredible old homes too!"
"The tour video at the Visitor's Center was well done. The tour guide was engaging and extremely knowledgeable. The house holds some great national treasures."
"Such a great tour! James Buchanan is somewhat lost to history. So we found it very interesting. Highly recommend that you stop in and visit. The tour is well worth it."
"We had a wonderful tour. House has AC so it was a comfortable tour. Very informative. Museum starts with a film and the star in the film was one of the guides in costume. Tour allows you to walk into rooms without barriers. Very enjoyable tour."
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