Lydia Hamilton Smith lived a remarkable life as the confidante of Thaddeus Stevens, but also as an accomplished woman in the years following his death. While many know Smith in relation to Stevens, she carefully crafted a life shaped by hard work, dignity, and egalitarian values. An astute businesswoman and an important figure in social […]
Step back in time and immerse yourself in history with this interactive reenactment of the Underground Railroad. Experience the journey firsthand, meet passionate storytellers, and uncover stories that shaped a nation. This in-person event is perfect for history buffs and curious minds alike. Don’t miss out on a powerful, engaging way to connect with the […]
Living the Experience is a spiritual, interactive reenactment of the Underground railroad. Patrons get a chance to step inside the shoes of Africans seeking their freedom in the 1800's in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The production is the first Underground Railroad reenactment in Central Pennsylvania and has been sharing the story for 27 years. Each includes our […]
DR. LEROY HOPKINS, Facilitator COWITZ CHARLOT, Respondent WILLIAM WHIPPER 1834 - THE SLAVERY OF INTEMPERANCE Michelle Alexander - The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness Event is free but registration is required
Join us at St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Cemetery for LancasterHistory’s annual wreath-laying ceremony at the gravesite of Lydia Hamilton Smith. Smith was Thaddeus Stevens’ housekeeper, a businesswoman in her own right, and also a devout Roman Catholic who was buried at St. Mary’s upon her death in 1884. Taking place on Smith’s birthday, the ceremony […]
Initial announcement. The theme is "Courage and Perseverance on the Underground Railroad." The keynote speaker is Dr. Jordan Denson from Lincoln University. Dr. N. A. Okur Professor and Graduate Director Africology, Temple University More details to follow.
“Harriet Tubman: Tales from the Cape” Coming to Upper Shores Library LAVALLETTE – Did you know the Underground Railroad had station houses throughout South Jersey? Join Michelle Washington Wilson, Motivational Storyteller of more than 40 years, for the program “Harriet Tubman: Tales from the Cape” at the Upper Shores Branch of the Ocean County Library […]
Join us for an unforgettable evening with Butler Historian, Bill May. Board the Underground Railroad at Butler’s Penn Theater on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. Bill May will guide the audience on a journey to freedom through the towns and countrysides of Butler County and Western PA and onto Canada. We will listen […]
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 […]
In honor of the late Lenwood “Leni” Sloan of Lancaster, known and revered as an historian, cultural steward and self-described “catalytic agent,” the African American Historical Society of South Central Pennsylvania and the Lancaster Public Library will continue to host and support the series of free public events Sloan organized last year before his unexpected […]
