LANCASTER, PA —LancasterHistory will celebrate the Grand Opening of the new Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy with two days of exciting community events on Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2, 2026.

The weekend begins with an official ribbon cutting ceremony at 9am on Friday, May 1, when community leaders and special guests will join LancasterHistory to commemorate the opening of this new, state-of-the-art museum located at the historic site of Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith’s former home at the corner of Queen and Vine Streets in downtown Lancaster. Attendees may arrive earlier for an opportunity to mingle and enjoy light refreshments. Doors open at 8 am. The ceremony is free and open to the public, but registrations are appreciated at stevensandsmithcenter.org/events.

Then, on Saturday, May 2, everyone is invited to the Grand Opening Community Block Party, a free, family-friendly block party right outside the Center on East Vine Street. Live music, entertainment, food trucks, vendors, and activities for all ages are planned, as well as an opportunity for attendees to register for a first walkthrough of the Stevens & Smith Center. No registration or tickets are needed to attend the Block Party. More information, including a listing of food trucks and vendors, will be available in late April at stevensandsmithcenter.org/events.

This celebration, and the broader impact it represents, would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. We are especially grateful to our Presenting Sponsors, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health, Willow Valley Communities, and LCM/Lancaster Subaru; our Legacy Builders, Fulton Bank and Benchmark Construction; and our Community Champions, Capital Blue Cross and Franklin & Marshall College, whose partnership helped bring this extraordinary weekend to life.

“As we planned this opening, it was incredibly important to us that this moment could be shared by the entire community,” said Erin Sell, Director of Development at LancasterHistory. “From a formal ribbon cutting ceremony to a joyful, welcoming block party, we intentionally designed a weekend to be one that encourages everyone to be part of this big moment, feel a sense of pride, and celebrate this new space together. This Center tells a powerful story about democracy, and it is only right to open it in a way that reflects those values: open, inclusive, and shared.”

General admission tickets will be available for reservation on Friday, April 24th, with doors open to the public beginning on May 5th. For details on hours, reserving admission tickets, and planning your visit, please visit our website at stevensandsmithcenter.org

About LancasterHistory
LancasterHistory is a community-based, not-for-profit organization established to educate the public on the history of Lancaster County and its place in the history of Pennsylvania and the United States, to advance the missions of regional historical organizations, and to promote the acquisition, preservation, and interpretation of resources representing the history of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania within the broader context of state and national history, including the homes of 15th US President James Buchanan and Congressman Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith.

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