Presidential Places: James Buchanan's Wheatland
James Buchanan was the 15th president of the United States, following a long and distinguished career as a senator, a diplomat and as secretary of state in the administration of James K. Polk. He had lost the nomination for president a number of times before being successful in 1856, one of the worst times in history for someone to be president. Buchanan won the presidential election of 1856, because voters hoped that maybe he could calm the bitter disputes between the North and South over the issue of slavery. His term began with the Dred Scott decision, probably the worst decision ever made by the United States Supreme Court. His term ended with southern States seceding from the Union after the election of Republican Abraham Lincoln in November 1860. Buchanan thought secession was unconstitutional, but believed that the government had no authority to stop it. He sat and watched as the Union fell apart.
When Buchanan left office, he is reported to have told Abraham Lincoln on March 4, 1861, "If you are as happy in entering the White House as I shall feel on returning to Wheatland, you are a happy man." Wheatland is the name of Buchanan's home, a home he purchased in 1848. It contains a large Federal style house and 22 acres of land and is located near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Buchanan died there in 1868 and lies buried in the local Woodward Hill Cemetery.
Wheatland is located just off of Pennsylvania Route 23 (Marietta Avenue) in Lancaster Township, about a mile and a half from the center of the city of Lancaster. It sits on 10 acres of land, which it shares with Lancaster County's historical society, at the intersection of Marietta Avenue and President Avenue. After Buchanan died in June of 1868, the estate was inherited by his niece Harriet Lane (who acted as first lady during Buchanan's presidency). She used it as a summer house. After both of Lane's sons died—one in 1881 and the other a year later—and a few weeks after her husband died, Lane sold Wheatland in 1884 to George Willson. Wheatland was inherited by Mary Willson Rettew, a cousin of George Willson, after he died of a heart attack in 1929. Rettew died in 1934 and her will requested that the building be occupied by the Lancaster County Historical Society, which had been founded in 1880. Wheatland, along with 4.25 acres of land, were put up for sale by the executors of the will. The Junior League of Lancaster founded the "James Buchanan Foundation for the Preservation of Wheatland" in 1935 with the purpose of raising funds to buy Wheatland. Wheatland was sold to the Foundation for $40,000 on February 27, 1936. It was opened to the public on May 5, 1936 and was dedicated "as a new presidential shrine, taking its place with Mount Vernon, Monticello and The Hermitage," in October 1937. Wheatland was designated a National Historic Landmark on July 4, 1961 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966.
Following is more information about Wheatland:
Website: http://www.lancasterhistory.org/
Location: 1120 Marietta Ave., Lancaster, PA
Hours of Operation: Closed January. Open February through December Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday – 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday – 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Years Day.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/James-Buchanans-Wheatland-Home/307887249284677
When Buchanan left office, he is reported to have told Abraham Lincoln on March 4, 1861, "If you are as happy in entering the White House as I shall feel on returning to Wheatland, you are a happy man." Wheatland is the name of Buchanan's home, a home he purchased in 1848. It contains a large Federal style house and 22 acres of land and is located near Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Buchanan died there in 1868 and lies buried in the local Woodward Hill Cemetery.
Wheatland is located just off of Pennsylvania Route 23 (Marietta Avenue) in Lancaster Township, about a mile and a half from the center of the city of Lancaster. It sits on 10 acres of land, which it shares with Lancaster County's historical society, at the intersection of Marietta Avenue and President Avenue. After Buchanan died in June of 1868, the estate was inherited by his niece Harriet Lane (who acted as first lady during Buchanan's presidency). She used it as a summer house. After both of Lane's sons died—one in 1881 and the other a year later—and a few weeks after her husband died, Lane sold Wheatland in 1884 to George Willson. Wheatland was inherited by Mary Willson Rettew, a cousin of George Willson, after he died of a heart attack in 1929. Rettew died in 1934 and her will requested that the building be occupied by the Lancaster County Historical Society, which had been founded in 1880. Wheatland, along with 4.25 acres of land, were put up for sale by the executors of the will. The Junior League of Lancaster founded the "James Buchanan Foundation for the Preservation of Wheatland" in 1935 with the purpose of raising funds to buy Wheatland. Wheatland was sold to the Foundation for $40,000 on February 27, 1936. It was opened to the public on May 5, 1936 and was dedicated "as a new presidential shrine, taking its place with Mount Vernon, Monticello and The Hermitage," in October 1937. Wheatland was designated a National Historic Landmark on July 4, 1961 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966.
Following is more information about Wheatland:
Website: http://www.lancasterhistory.org/
Location: 1120 Marietta Ave., Lancaster, PA
Hours of Operation: Closed January. Open February through December Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday – 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday – 9:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Years Day.
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/James-Buchanans-Wheatland-Home/307887249284677