The history of Lancaster comes alive at the Heritage Center Museum in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The museum collects, preserves, and interprets Lancaster County's history and decorative arts through its permanent collection, educational programs, and annual exhibitions. It is located on Penn Square in downtown Lancaster, and holds historical pieces from the 18th century to the present. It is housed in the former City Hall of Lancaster, as well as the former Masonic Lodge number 43, both of which were built in the 1790's.
Some of the permanent exhibits at the museum include "Patchwork Politics: from George to George W.," a piece that shows off quilts and other items from the campaigns of George Washington George W. Bush; "Psychic Photography: Lancaster's Spriritualist Connection," which focuses on Spiritualism and Camp Silver Belle, a Spiritualist camp in Ephrata from the 1930's to 1980's; the Amish Arts of Lancaster County; and "The Print Shop," which shows and demonstrates the workings of a 1920's print shop, which includes interactive activities. The Heritage Center also operates the Lancaster Quilt and Textile Museum, which shows off the textile works of the Lancaster area's history. The Quilt and Textile Museum exhibits include Amish quilts, colorful handmade creations ranging in date from the 1870's to 1940's, as well as temporary exhibits. The temporary exhibits of the past have included hooked and handsewn rugs of Pennsylvania, as well as a Lancaster Christmas presented by the National Christmas Center.
The Heritage Center offers educational activities as well, with some supporting teachers and meeting the Pennsylvania Department of Education standards for students of all different grade levels, while others are designed for adults and families. Whether attending with a class or on your own, the Heritage Center has something to offer everyone. Make sure to visit while in Lancaster and see the history of the Southeastern Pennsylvania come alive.
