Centerbrook is implementing its Master Plan for the Lancaster Historical Society in Pennsylvania with a modern, sustainable addition to its library and the reorganization of a newly combined property that includes “Wheatland,” the historic mansion of U.S. President James L. Buchanan. The site features the graciously landscaped Tanger Arboretum, which is home to 104 varieties of trees from around the world.
Originally, the separate Historical Society and the Wheatland land parcels had been carved from Buchanan’s estate over a century ago. The organizations had grown independently with distinct charges: the Historical Society maintained a library, research archives, and lively education programs that cover all of Lancaster County’s history; while Wheatland’s mission was to preserve the house, focusing strictly on Buchanan and his era. Buchanan was the 15th President of the United States, 1857-1861, preceding Abraham Lincoln.
But both had growing needs. The Historical Society has robust programs that have it bursting at the seams. The Wheatland staff wanted to move out of the mansion to allow more of it to be preserved and shown. Both needed improved parking and access. Local supporters saw that uniting the properties, and perhaps some programs, might offer better preservation of their shared historic assets, more effective use of resources, a richer educational experience for visitors, and more space to expand programs.
The two properties host an eclectic mix of groups, such as scholars, local school groups, tourists, bus tours, and neighborhood walkers. Because Lancaster was a key starting point for western migration (nearby Conestoga was home to the makers of the “Prairie Schooner”), descendants from all over America visit to trace family histories in the archives. As the home of the state’s only president, Wheatland is a Pennsylvania treasure.
Centerbrook led a Campus of History planning workshop with community representatives from Wheatland, the Historical Society, the Arboretum, and nearby Franklin & Marshall College to understand the site’s attributes and use, to find a shared vision for the future, and to inspire “green” options to accommodate the three institutions in one place. From that interaction and other research, Centerbrook developed seven site plans that were refined in subsequent meetings to a single, preferred approach.
The plan created by this interactive process moves vehicular traffic and parking out of the center of the property and locates it along the edges to enhance pedestrian movement, appreciation of the landscape, and the unification of the properties. The sustainable library addition affords a brand new street presence around the corner from its original entry and away from Wheatland. This allows the great mansion to have its proper setting, but gives the Historic Society building more visibility as the public entry to the entire site.
After the master plan was complete, the properties joined to operate as one place, and, to everyone’s delight, the organizations followed suit to become a combined institution, LancasterHistory.org.
Renderings © Centerbrook