New campus for Lancaster County historical society

(Lancaster) -- A midstate historical society is hoping some major upgrades will help central Pennsylvanians find deeper connections to the region's past. 

Photo by LancasterHistory.org

LancasterHistory.org's new so-called "Campus of History" at North President and Marietta avenues in Lancaster features a new facility to help expand the county historical society's collections.

Tom Ryan, president and CEO of LancasterHistory.org, says the $13.5 million project has created a comprehensive way to delve into history. "It enables us to take on the remarkable collection at the Heritage Center, the Esprit quilt collection, [and] to consolidate the collections in storage at President Buchanan's home. We've got wonderful new lecture space for 250 people."

Ryan says visitors will also be able to find out more about the artifacts on display by scanning a code through their smart phones, and take a self-guided tour.

He imagines history buffs of all ages poring through the records at the new library to learn more about family and regional history as well.

Ryan says the group is $500,000 shy of paying for the project in full.