Wheatland

Wheatland was the home of James Buchanan, the fifteenth president of the United States and the only one from Pennsylvania. The house, a brick Federal-style mansion built in 1828 on the western edge of Lancaster, was bought by Buchanan in 1848 and served as his base during his political career and his retirement. Today it is a museum operated by a local historical organization, and guided tours take visitors through rooms furnished to reflect the period. Buchanan's presidency is usually ranked low, which gives the tour a particular interest: it is a chance to hear how a man who spent his career in politics came to preside over the lead-up to the Civil War.

The tour covers the main floors of the house and the grounds. Rooms include a parlor, dining room, library and bedrooms, decorated with period furniture, portraits and personal items, some of which belonged to Buchanan's family. Guides, often in period dress, describe the daily life of a mid-nineteenth-century household, including the servants and tradespeople whose work kept it running.

The grounds contain a carriage house, a garden and mature trees, giving the property a quiet, estate-like feel. A short walk takes you around the exterior, where you can see details of the architecture, including the portico and the proportions typical of the Federal style.

The interpretation tends to be balanced. Buchanan had a long career as a congressman, senator, diplomat and secretary of state, and he is remembered for his experience, his unmarried status and his unsuccessful efforts to prevent secession. His critics point to his handling of the crisis that led to the Civil War.

The tour presents the facts and context and lets visitors weigh them. For history lovers, the value lies in seeing how the national story intersected with a local home, and in hearing about Lancaster as a political and social center in the era before the war.

Plan around the season. Wheatland typically opens for guided tours in the warmer months, with limited or special programs in the off-season, so check dates and times before you travel. Tours are guided, which means arrival times matter, and group sizes are modest. The building is old and has stairs, so ask about accessibility. Photography rules vary, so ask your guide. The site is easy to reach from central Lancaster, with parking on the grounds, and the visit takes about an hour.

Wheatland pairs well with a walking tour of the city center, where several other historic buildings relate to Buchanan's era, and with the Central Market. It is also a quiet counterweight to the farm and food activities that dominate most visitors' plans, offering an hour of political history.

If you enjoy presidential sites, it makes a good addition to a trip that might also include Gettysburg and Hershey, both of which have their own markets here, and the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg. A visit in the holiday season often includes decorations and special programs.

Ask your guide about the house's contents and about the Buchanan family, including his niece, Harriet Lane, who served as White House hostess and became a notable figure in her own right. The tour also touches on the staff who worked at Wheatland and the city's society in the 1850s.

Take a moment on the lawn to look back at the house, as the grounds were designed to show it to advantage. If you enjoy historic houses, the combination of architecture, politics and personal stories makes this one of the most rewarding stops in the city.