Wheatland

As part of our recent Traveling Herb Seminar of Lancaster County, PA we visited this lovely Federal Home and grounds.  Wheatland is the home of the only president to come from Pennsylvania, James Buchanan.  While he does not hold a place in history as a particularly effective president, his home is still intact and does provide us a great glimpse into the time period.

James Buchanan never married. His sister died young and one of his nieces choose to live with her Uncle James. She came to live with him at age 10. This niece was quite poised and at age 26 she was the hostess of the White House during his term. This was Harriet Lane and she was the first person to be called "First Lady".

She also guided her bachelor Uncle through decorating decisions and china ware options.  Harriet Lane went on to help begin the Smithsonian American Art Museum, a home for invalid boys (now part of Johns Hopkins) and the St. Albins School for training choir boys.

Wheatland is a Federal Style home with 17 rooms many of them with original Buchanan pieces in them. The second owners made very few changes and then bequeathed the property to the Jr Civic League of Lancaster who later gave it to the Lancaster History Organization.