By Robin Sarratt, Vice President, LancasterHistory robin.sarratt@lancasterhistory.org
A feature piece from our Winter 2024 issue of the Lancaster Thriving Publication.
Lancaster has been a bustling place since its founding; a crossroads filled with energy and opportunity. Travelers and traders from cities on the eastern seaboard crossed paths with people and goods coming from the western frontier. New immigrant groups arrived every year, bringing their traditions, religious practices, and skills.
In the 1800s, Lancaster was on the front lines of the most important issue of the day: the debate about slavery and the fight for equality. Although Pennsylvania began to gradually end slavery in 1780, it took decades to become a truly “free” state. Nevertheless, Pennsylvania was a beacon for freedom seekers who made their way north on routes through the Chesapeake Bay and across the Susquehanna River, crossing the Mason-Dixon Line to relative safety in Lancaster County. Here, they found free Black communities, Quaker allies, and other anti-slavery activists willing to provide aid and sanctuary. Underground Railroad agents scattered throughout the county helped provide safe passage and hope.
In the South Queen Street home of Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith, strong forces were also at work. As a leader in the House of Representatives during and after the Civil War, Congressman Thaddeus Stevens’ visionary ideas helped shape the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendments to the U.S. Constitution. These amendments are the product of his fierce advocacy for both abolition and equality, ending slavery, ensuring birthright citizenship, and expanding voting rights. Stevens also fought for—and preserved—access to free public education throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, setting the course for access to free public education nationwide.
For twenty-four years, Lydia Hamilton Smith was at the center of Stevens’ sphere, running his household, managing his personal affairs in Lancaster and Washington, D.C., and caring for him as failing health threatened to cut his life and his political legacy short. While she achieved remarkable influence and wealth in her later years, she faced constant legal and social discrimination as a mixed-race woman in the 1800s. Independent of Stevens, Smith became a successful entrepreneur, running boardinghouses in Lancaster and Washington, D.C.
The stories of Stevens and Smith and their resilience, courage, and dedication can empower Lancastrians with the conviction that each of us has the power to make positive change in our community and our nation today. Visitors to the new Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith Center will enter a world-class museum, filled with 25,000 square feet of exhibition galleries, remarkable historic artifacts, and immersive media experiences. With tourism at the heart of Lancaster’s economy, the Stevens & Smith Center will be a powerful vehicle for generating revenue here in the community. And, as a hub for both education and conversation, the Center has an important role to play in demonstrating the power of community—a power that Lancaster has long utilized to make this an exceptional place to work and live.
LancasterHistory’s partners in this endeavor are strong Lancaster County businesses committed to excellence in their trades and fields. Leading the way is Benchmark Construction, who, as general contractor on the Stevens & Smith Center, has provided leadership, guidance, and exceptional support every step of the way. With them in the field are craftspeople from Witmer Masonry, GSM Roofing, Red Rose Interior, Long’s Welding, John H. Fullerton Electrical, and so many other remarkable members of the team.
As LancasterHistory works hard to finish the Center in the next 12 months, we hope you’ll join us in the endeavor, and make your mark on history. Support the creation of the Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy by visiting stevensandsmith.org!
A Gala Reimagined
Sneak Peek Soirée
The Stevens & Smith Center is coming in early 2026, but before we fill the space with priceless artifacts and beautiful displays, we want to welcome guests in for a sneak peek– and a once in a lifetime party! With lavish food stations, bars, and music throughout the Center, the Sneak Peek Soirée is a chance to preview the Center and get a first look at its beautifully renovated spaces while supporting LancasterHistory’s education and public programs.
Join us on Saturday, February 15, 2025 for the Sneak Peek Soirée!
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