Lancaster, PA has a long and colorful history extending back to colonial days.  Here are some of the museums that bring Lancaster's cultural and architectural history to life:

The Landis Valley Museum, 2451 Kissel Hill Road, is the largest Pennsylvania German folk museum.  There are exhibits of Pennsylvania German (also known as Pennsylvania Dutch) artifacts, and live demonstrations and interpretations of rural life in Pennsylvania from 1740 to 1940.  There are activities for the children, buildings, artifacts and crafts, and the Weathervane Museum Store.  The Landis Valley Museum is administered by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

 
James Buchanan's Wheatland is the beautiful Federal estate of our fifteenth president.  Located at 1120 Marietta  Avenue, the brick mansion, built in 1828, is situated on 4.25 acres of period-landscaped grounds and gardens.

There are tours of the grounds and the buildings, a museum gift store, and special events scheduled in different seasons.  For instance, during Christmas season, the mansion is beautifully decorated with authentic period Christmas decorations.  Staff is in Victorian costume, and a live choral group sings Christmas carols.  When I was there, the atmosphere was so peaceful and beautiful that I didn't want to leave!

Lancaster County Historical Society, 230 North President Avenue, is right next to Wheatland.  Exhibits on Lancaster County history make use of fine arts, crafts, documents and artifacts.  Special events include an annual Civil War enactment on the grounds!

The Heritage Center Museum, Penn Square,  is a decorative arts museum located in the wonderfully preserved 1798 former courthouse in the center of downtown Lancaster.  There are permanent collections, exhibits that change annually, and educational programs.  Also on the square is the Central Market, the historic farm market that has been in continuous operation since tha 1730's.

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