American History in Lancaster City Celebrate America's 250th

Celebrate America’s 250th in Lancaster City, PA!

Founded in 1729, Lancaster City has played a pivotal role in American history, including serving as the nation’s capital for one day when the Second Continental Congress met here on September 27, 1777.

Today, Lancaster City invites visitors to explore its rich history and heritage through the places, stories, and experiences that helped shape the nation.

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Celebrate With Us!

Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy

May 1-2, 2026 | Grand Opening Weekend

The Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy is an interpretive museum and education center being developed by LancasterHistory, a non-profit organization in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Set to open in early 2026, the Center will examine the long, arduous struggle for freedom and equality in America through exhibits, immersive media experiences, and educational programs.

Housed in the former law office and home of Congressman Thaddeus Stevens and his confidante Lydia Hamilton Smith, the Center will combine historic buildings with a state-of-the-art museum to examine the lives and legacies of Stevens and Smith, and their social networks of abolitionists.

Memorial Day at Historic Rock Ford

May 25, 2026 | 10AM-2PM | Historic Rock Ford

Enjoy family friendly patriotic activities, living historians, and self-guided tours of the Hand Mansion and Snyder Gallery, including the 2026 focus exhibit “Lancaster’s Revolutionaries.”

Advance Registration recommended, but tickets will also be available at the door.

America250 Family Day

June 7, 2026 | 10AM-4PM | Historic Rock Ford

Join us for family friendly America250 activities during this free event at Historic Rock Ford including:

-Crafts
-Themed activities in the General Edward Hand Mansion and “Lancaster’s Revolutionaries” Exhibit in the Snyder Gallery
-Interact with living historians including: 1st Rhode Island Regiment & Leslie Bramlett as Hannah Till

250th Independence Day Fireworks Celebration

July 3, 2026 | 5-10PM | Penn Medicine Park

Join the City of Lancaster and the Lancaster Stormers at Penn Medicine Park for a FREE Independence Day Fireworks Celebration.

Events and Activities include:
-Performance by Lancaster Symphony
-Bounce Houses
-Petting Zoo
-Three Legacies Wrestling
-Crazy on Clay Car Show
-Reenactments
-A variety of vendors
-Hot Dog Eating Contest
-Pie Eating Contest
-Pig Roast

Food and beverage will be available for purchase inside and outside the stadium!

The night will cap off with a performance by the Lancaster Symphony (starts at 8:45 PM) leading directly into Fireworks at 10 PM!

Celebrate America 250 at Historic Rock Ford

July 2-3, 2026 | 10AM-4PM | Historic Rock Ford

Celebrate America’s semiquincentennial (250th Birthday) at Historic Rock Ford! Our two-day celebration will offer various free, fun, and educational activities throughout the day, including:
-Live musicians
-Self-guided tours of the circa 1794 General Hand Mansion
-Living Historians and Sutlers, both military and civilian around the grounds
-Lancaster’s Revolutionaries exhibit in the Snyder Gallery
-Open Hearth Cooking Demonstrations
-Children’s scavenger hunt
-Period dance demonstrations

Capital Day Celebration

September 26, 2026

On September 27, 1777, Lancaster, PA served as the nation’s capital for a day when the Second Continental Congress fled British-occupied Philadelphia – a pivotal moment in America’s road to independence. Today, that brief yet powerful chapter of history is commemorated through our Capital Day celebrations, inviting visitors to explore Lancaster’s role in the founding story.

Stay tuned for event details.

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Free Family Movie Nights

Join us at Binns Park every 4th Friday of May through September for our America’s 250th Movie Night Series! All movies are family-friendly and related to American History.

Movies will begin at 6:30PM.

Food trucks will be on-site and snacks & beverages will be available for purchase. Bring your own chair or blanket.

May 22 – The Greatest Showman

Growing up in the early 1800s, P.T. Barnum displays a natural talent for publicity and promotion, selling lottery tickets by age 12. After trying his hands at various jobs, P.T. turns to show business to indulge his limitless imagination, rising from nothing to create the Barnum & Bailey circus. Featuring catchy musical numbers, exotic performers and daring acrobatic feats, Barnum’s mesmerizing spectacle soon takes the world by storm to become the greatest show on Earth.

June 26 – The Sandlot

When Scottie Smalls (Thomas Guiry) moves to a new neighborhood, he manages to make friends with a group of kids who play baseball at the sandlot. Together they go on a series of funny and touching adventures. The boys run into trouble when Smalls borrows a ball from his stepdad that gets hit over a fence.

July 24 – Hidden Figures

Three brilliant African-American women at NASA — Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan and Mary Jackson — serve as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, a stunning achievement that restored the nation’s confidence, turned around the Space Race and galvanized the world.

August 28 – Because of Winn-Dixie

Abandoned by her mother years ago, Opal, a 10-year-old girl, moves with her preacher father to a small town in Florida. Lonely and missing her old friends, Opal is ecstatic to find companionship with a rambunctious little dog she names Winn-Dixie, after the store where she found the pup. With Winn-Dixie’s help, Opal befriends several colorful townsfolk and even begins mending her relationship with her father.

September 25 – Night at the Museum

Dreamer Larry Daley thinks he’s destined for something big, but his imaginative ideas never pay off and in desperate need of a job, he accepts to be a security guard at the Natural History Museum. During his watch, Larry makes a startling discovery.

Tours & Shows

Historic Lancaster Walking Tour

April 1-October 31 | More Information Here

Marking its 50th anniversary in 2026, the Historic Lancaster Walking Tour invites you to explore the city’s vibrant past – where every step reveals a new story from America’s early days. No reservation needed for daily tours.

The Complete History of America (Abridged) at Prima Theatre

April 17-May 3 | Tickets

From the pilgrims to pop culture, this is American history like it’s never been told — fast, fearless, and hilarious. Three performers. Dozens of characters. A full-throttle joyride through the moments that made a nation and all the wild in between. Smart, ridiculous, and absurdly entertaining.

Special Events at Historic Rock Ford

April-December | Program and Events Guide

In 2026, the country is celebrating its Semiquincentennial! As the home of General Edward Hand, Adjutant General during the American Revolution, Historic Rock Ford will be Lancaster’s place to celebrate this significant milestone.

From a new exhibit, living history events, and multiple lecture series and educational events to community movie nights, family programming, live theater, and lawn concerts, however you want to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, you will find it this year at Historic Rock Ford.

Historic Lancaster City Walk-a-Bout

Saturdays | Tickets

Recognized as one of America’s Best Small Cities, praised for its balance of historic charm, cultural vibrancy, and, of course, craft beer, explore Downtown Lancaster, with us where you’ll visit 3 hand-picked breweries while soaking in the city’s colonial charm, street art, and food scene. Learn about the evolution of local beer, meet brewers, and enjoy a relaxed pace — no need to drive or rush.

Join our knowledgeable and experienced Beer Guides as we explore 3 Lancaster City craft breweries, experiencing exclusive facility tours and guided tastings of 12 different craft beers, with historical and local anecdotes, and more!

America250PA’s “Bells Across PA”

Historic Rock Ford | More Information

America250PA’s “Bells Across PA” initiative has launched in Lancaster County with the unveiling of a commemorative bell housed at Historic Rock Ford! Visitors can see the bell on display when visiting.

Sponsored by Discover Lancaster, this bell represents all that Lancaster County has to offer — rich history, diverse culture, and vibrant spirit. The artwork on the bell was created by Lancaster City native, Bob Wagner.

“Living the Experience”

Bethel AME | More Information

One of Lancaster County’s most moving and powerfully significant hidden gems, Living the Experience is a creative, spiritual, and interactive historical reenactment of the Underground Railroad, as it occurred on-site, at the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in the City of Lancaster.

Living The Experience (LTE) is the first Underground Railroad reenactment in Central Pennsylvania made available with a regular schedule of performances. It has been presented to groups from all over the nation, and as far away as Australia, Alaska, Africa, and Europe.

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