President James Buchanan's Wheatland Reviews

The tickets to tour Wheatland are reasonable. The tour takes you all through the house. You are also able to tour the mini-museum that is housed next to Wheatland.

Lovely home and a nice tour. Great historic property and nice way to spend an afternoon. Lancaster is awesome.

My husband and I paid a total of $34 to visit this site. This cost included a short film, tour of the home, self-guided tour of grounds, and an exhibit indoors near the admission desk. The guided tour through the house was very thorough, and the guide took our numerous questions. Actually, we had the guide to ourselves since no one else was there. We were there at around 2:30pm, so perhaps this is typically a quiet time of day to visit. Anyways--well worth the money, and a nice way to spend a couple hours in Lancaster.

Wheatland, the home of James Buchanan, the 15th president of the United States is open to the public, has been restored to it's original splendor, most of the furnishings are authentic to Buchanan and his niece, Harriet Lane. A great example of antebellum architecture. Guides are costumed and knowledgable.

You've perhaps never heard of President James Buchanan and if you have, you're likely misinformed about him in some way - one hour at Wheatland will fix that and so much more. A lovely home chock full of original Buchanan furniture and artifacts, your entie family will enjoy the tour. If you can, go on the last weekend of the month when they have dosents in each room, allowing you to explore the home and Buchanan's history at your own pace. The dosents here not only share information about the home and President Buchanan, but they'll offer this history in an engaging way. Also take time to walk the lovely grounds and explore the museum. This is well worth your time!

This Federal style mansion just over a mile west of Lancaster was built in the early 1800's and was occupied by President Buchanan before and after his presidency. Knowledgeable tour guides dressed in the style of the 1800's take you through this spacious home complete with original furniture and refurbished with floor coverings and wallpaper as close as possible from the originals taken from drawings from the 1800's.

We've been to several different house tours and this was by far the best. The gentleman who played President Buchanan did a masterful job on our tour. His knowledge base was fantastic. A must see and do if you enjoy history. All of the staff was very pleasant.

My friends and I took the tour recently and enjoyed learning about Pres. Buchanan, his family and his home. The home is very well preserved and our tour guide was very knowledgeable. I especially enjoyed seeing all the china and furniture and hearing about the stories of President Buchanan's time in the white house.

We have started to visit the presidential libraries and this tour fit as we visited the area. Although not a presidential library and not a part of the National Parks System, this is sure worth a visit! Our tour guide was dressed in period clothing and we felt like we had already met him after watching him in the pre tour video. He shared so much information about President Buchanan, his family, and his time in office. We left feeling that we knew much more about this obscure president and wanted to do more personal research.

At this place you will get a mansion tour as well as a museum to visit. The staff were very knowledgeable and friendly. The place is kept well and managed well. We were there mid-week and it was not very crowded.

Have been living in the Lancaster area for 3 1/2 years and driven by Wheatland too many times to count. Finally made it there yesterday taking out of town friends. The museum was a pleasant surprise with a great variety of historical artifacts - learned a lot about the Lancaster area, especially during the period before and after the Civil War. Tour of Wheatland itself was outstanding as our Guide was very knowledgeable and obviously loved her work. We plan to go again once the home is decorated for the holiday season.

The beautifully preserved home of our 15th president helped us to understand more about this often neglected and sad figure in our history. The guide was very knowledgeable and helpful, and we compared notes with the site I work with in New York. Well worth the visit - and make time for the adjacent museum as well.

As a local to the area, we wanted to learn more about the history of Lancaster. We didn't know about James Buchanan and his presidency! A great tour guided by period dressed guide. A short video gives some background and then the tour of his home. The property surrounding the home has a few things to see. The museum in the information center was informative.
Having spent some time this summer touring the Civil War Museum in Harrisburg and then Gettysburg, this tour rounded out the history of the time period.

I did not know much about President Buchanan. This was a great intro to his history and home. Enjoyed this trip.

We drove here on a very cold January day for the morning tour. There is a nice wooded lot to park in and the tickets are reasonable. We and another couple were the only ones and the tour guide was very friendly and knowledgeable. A very good day!

As an individual who enjoys touring historical landmarks I found Wheatland was enjoyable. The museum was pristine and educational.

Our personal tour and tour guide was a wonderful and delightful experience, James Buchanan's home was beautiful. All furnishings and accessories were original and
are still being donated by family members who no longer wants them.

Everyone visiting the area should visit this home.

A great visit, Wheatland is staffed by a dedicated band of volunteers dressed in period costume, they bring what is a fascinating period home to life.
The house itself is supported by a visitor centre with a range of gifts as well as drinks and snacks.
The home of USA President James Buchanan, the guides tell the story of Buchanan and his extended family. The house contains many original features and items associated with the Presidend. The visitor centre is wheelchair accessible, the house being reached by a brick path with a set of steps but the house ground floor is also wheel chair accessible.

We occasionally like to take a day to visit some new place within a day's travel of our home in Bucks County, PA. we've done Gettysburg; New Castle, DE; Pine Creek Gorge, the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania; and the Lakota Wolf Preserve in Columbia, NJ. Our most recent trip was to Lancaster , PA to the Lancaster History Museum and Wheatland, the home of James Buchanan. The home is beautifully preserved and filled with many of the actual furnishings, tableware, and other artifacts of the Buchanan family. We did a self-tour which turned out to be guided by extremely knowledgeable and articulate guides stationed in all of the rooms and appropriately costumed in the garb of the era. The visit was interesting and informative, providing this life-long PA resident with new insights about PA's only president. I also learned, to my surprise, that Lancaster was the original capital of PA and was the Nation's capital for a single day. Learn more by visiting this very interesting venue!

We had a lovely tour of the mansion. Our guide told us lots of interesting historical stories about James Buchanan and the house which has many original artifacts. For those of us who need to rest, there are chairs in each room where you may sit. There are chairs where you may not sit, as well. But for someone who cannot stand for any period of time, the chairs are in almost every room. At Christmas, they have a Holiday tour: we missed that but I want to go back next Christmas because it sounds interesting.

I didn't know much about Buchanan prior to this tour, but discovered he was a complex man and that likely anyone in the office at that time would have struggled. They have done an amazing job preserving his house, with many original items. Unlike other presidential houses, it was surprising how close you could get to the items in the house - very few ropes off areas. There are a few other buildings on the property including an 8 seat outhouse!

I always enjoy tours of the presidents homes. The guides always have the most interesting information and you are more likely to retain it when you are in the environment and not just reading it from a book. I would highly recommend a stop here.

We enjoyed our tour with a very nice, humorous lady in a very large hooped dress! Learned some very interesting facts about President Buchanan who we previously knew nothing about. The house was lovely, very liveable and well worth seeing. The grounds are not large but very nice nevertheless. Recommended.

We had nothing to do on a Saturday and decided to visit the President Buchanon home of Wheatland. It was a awesome experience. We were able to take photos of the inside, outside, and watch a reinactment. The fee to tour was $15 a person but with AAA u get discount. There is a museum, bathrooms and store on premises. A must see.

My self my Mom and my cousin were on a girls Getaway and went to visit this house the staff were very friendly and the lady who was our guide through the house was wonderful and very knowledgeable . Would recommend this tour to everyone

Great tour myself and 17 year old went to. Tim was a excellent tour guide and really knowledgeable! Would recommend for anyone who has never visited. Thanks.

I toured Wheatland on a hot summer day in June. The location was easy to find in downtown Lancaster in a beautiful tree lined area of gorgeous homes. The parking lot was large and had many empty spaces. We called beforehand to make a reservation for a time in the early afternoon although it was not required. There is a large, clean, air conditioned and modern Visitors Center with an information booth in the center staffed with a courteous and efficient staff member. There is a short video in a side room on the life and times of President James Buchanan which can be viewed before or after the house tour. This building houses a gift shop and museum with displays of the various objects from the time period along with a figure of President Buchanan. The house tour was given by a costumed guide who was very informative and friendly. He was very experienced and had been conducting tours for many years. He spoke clearly and loud enough to hear and also welcomed any questions. The house was also air conditioned which was nice. The entire house was fully furnished and decorated with authentic pieces from James Buchanan and the time period. The bathroom with deep tub was very interesting to see. There were a couple staircases to navigate. Information was given on the type of house, it's wallpaper restoration, flooring, paintings, etc. along with personal information of James Buchanan, his campaign, time in office and his interaction and help of many family members during his lifetime. The guided tour took about an hour. There are very well maintained beautiful tree filled grounds to walk around outdoors. This tour of a presidential home was very enjoyable and educational and I would recommend to any adults or families with middle age - teen children.

A nice surprise in Lancaster. It was great to learn more about a President that is little known. The guides were attentive and knowledgeable.

Enjoyed my visit at Wheatland! Started with an informative video on President Buchanan. Learned so much history about President Buchanan and his house. Jerry, our tour guide was amazing, interactive, and shared many historical facts. Absolutely recommend stopping by for a tour.

Bruchanan was the president before Lincoln. A very important part of our history. The fee includes a guided tour. Everything is very well preserved.

We took a tour of Wheatland, home of President James Buchanan, 15th President of the US. It is administered by Lancasterhistory.org.
It was wonderful. Our docent Doug was so engaging and knowledgeable.
Also spent time at the beautiful Lancaster History museum.
Will return to see the LouiseTanger Arboretum in the spring. It is on the grounds of lancasterhistory.org

The tour guides are in period clothing. They are very knowledgeable and tell the story of our only bachelor president and his family. The short film in the historical society building before the tour is also very good. Well worth your time to visit if you are anywhere close to this area.

A surprisingly well preserved historic mansion with all the bells & whistles you'd expect from going to learn about history. The historians who care for Wheatland are awesome!

My husband and I had a few hours to entertain ourselves in Lancaster while waiting to pick up a relative. We were very glad that we settled on a visit to Wheatland. Our costumed docent (Nancy) was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. The house is furnished mostly with original pieces. While Buchanan was one of our nation's worst presidents, his home is beautifully maintained. The small attached museum is nicely curated. Would recommend for a 1-2 hour visit.

There is a pretty good video that is presented at the beginning of the tour on James Buchanan. The tour guide was excellent and knowledgeable. The problem with this tour is that once you get past the video, the actual house has little information about Buchanan, and instead lots of info. (with a good portion unnecessary) about his family, especially his niece, Harriet. When I asked a couple of questions about James (like his thoughts concerning what happened up the road at Gettysburg), the same answer was returned: he was a private man. Even though he wrote a lengthy memoir justifying his actions, he was a private man. There has to be letters somewhere that explain his mental outlook upon the Civil War and its carnage.--With that mentioned, Wheatland is a good place to see a 19th century home and its infamous privy. However, if you are looking for an actual information about Buchanan besides what's in a textbook, you will be sadly disappointed.

The tour was easy to book online. We booked it for late in the day to avoid school groups. We went on the guided tour given by a very knowledgeable woman in period costume. We learned about James Buchanan and his family and lovely home. The galleries have beautiful one-of-a kind grandfather clocks and large pieces of furniture. The place is well maintained, fascinating, and we learned many new things. We recommend it.

Great small town to visit on a weekend. On Saturday, we went to the James Buchanan's Wheatland. In preparation, I read a book about James Buchanan life. It was an excellent to opportunity to learn about this president. On Sunday, we walked around downtown. There are some very nice buildings in downtown. I was impressed with the number of building in this small town.

With a day to fill in Lancaster, we decided to visit Wheatland - the home of President James Buchanan. My husband doesn't really enjoy house tours (you must take a guided tour - every hour on the hour), but as we left he said, "I really enjoyed that". We arrived early and were able to have coffee/tea in the visitor's center and peruse the small gift shop and extra exhibits. The docent, in period attire, was knowledgeable and friendly and happy to answer questions. The house while large, felt intimate and inviting. Much of the furniture is original to the house when Buchanan owned it. The tour provides information about Buchanan and his political career, the house itself, and Buchanan's niece and nephew (he never married),

Very interesting. If you have kids they will need to be alert and very well behaved on the tour. No touching or leaning against anything. I recommend 8+ for the tour. 8 only if they are very well behaved. We went to the Christmas display and loved the Victorian trees. I missed part of the tour due to my child needing a diaper change and being too loud. Not their fault but most historic tours are not great for 2 years olds so we waited outside but had a good time exploring the trees in the grounds and the museum. The kids actually liked this stop. Nice little gift shop too. Buchanan was more interesting than we had expected.

Beautifully preserved home of James Buchanan. 80% of the furnishings are those used by him. Wonderful tour and beautiful grounds.

Had a guided tour with a party. Very nice interior and knowledgeable guide. Would recommend a visit
To see inside this lovely hone

Fascinating tour of the house and it's air conditioned ( we went in July).Our docet (Ardith) was amazing. The house and grounds are beautiful. Well worth the price. Give it at least an hour. Right in downtown Lancaster.

This is a great value. The people that are involved are wonderful, kind and well informed. It was great.

We had our 15 year old grandson with us and we all enjoyed the tour. Beautiful old home full of interesting furniture and pictures.

We knew little about James Buchanan and decided to visit Wheatland on our family vacation. The house tour was informative, while the house itself was nicely restored. The tour guide shared interesting facts about Buchanan and overall we were happy to have learned more about this president.

Very good tour with a tour guide dressed in period costume. This home has been restored to very good condition. Interesting history. Now appears to be part of the NPS.

It was so interesting to tour the former presidents house....the tour guide was wonderful...she brought the history and people alive to us. They had a short movie about the President Buchanon, a small museum and gift shop. The grounds are beautiful.

What a wonderful surprise .An Exceptional guide in period costume made this home come alive .How progressive it was to recognize the importance of this period of history and acquire & maintain this house from the early 1940s . Well worth a visit to see the house & learn more about the Buchanan's

Currently, the house is closed, but the grounds are open and you can wander about. I've never been there before and may never be back, so I was glad we took the time to stop.

Something I liked very much was that the front lawn is maintained much as it would have been when Buchanan lived there... Not the closely cropped manicured lawns we have today. Much more authentic.

We had to check into the LancasterHistory Museum to meet for our tour. This gave us time to enjoy the well-curated museum, view the film and meet our tour guide for the home tour. Jerry was full of interesting information, in a well- organized presentation of this unique home. It was early in the morning, so the home was still cool. We were fascinated!

It has been fairly recent that I realized this house was less than an hour from where I was raised. Decided to go with a friend to tour on a Saturday morning since we both really enjoy history. For $13 (used AAA discount) I found it quite enjoyable and highly informative to tour where the 15th President resided since I knew so little about him. I do recommend this tour, it took about an hour and then find a bite to eat at the many surrounding restaurants. The explanation of the views from either side of the federal style was interesting and Tom the tour guide made it a delightful time!

The home of the 15th US president James Buccanon . Excellent tour very knowledgeable tour guide period clothing. Beautiful house and location. Museum also on location plenty of parking

It was worth the time. Tour guide was very knowledgeable, he made it very interesting.
It is one hour tour. Place is kept very clean

Wonderful tour of Wheatland home of President Buchanan. He was president before Lincoln and made a lot of mistakes but this museum gives a very honest overview of his life and presidency. Docent was dressed in period costume which helped in setting tone of tour. tour was not rushed and we had time to examine the rooms after docent gave her information. Place easy to find and parking onsite. Lovely grounds.

Learn facts about our 15th President. Very interesting and informative and worth the time and money. Buy tickets in advance and plan out your time.

Such a fun day. The home is filled with a lot of history. It’s a great way to learn a lot about one of our lesser known Presidents.

Nicely preserved home that is worth your time while visiting the area. The tour guide was excellent and insightful. The home and furnishings of the President were all well done. Overall enjoyable way to spend a few hours and learn the history of the 15th President.

A very interesting tour of our 15th President's James Buchanan's home in Lancaster, PA
It was an educational tour of the 1st and 2nd floors with great attention to detail. I especially enjoyed the period dressed tour guide which helped to give it a more authentic experience. It was wintertime, however a very spacious and relaxing Visitor/Gift shop area which had a great coffee/snack area to enjoy before or after tours. Great views of the grounds and architecture from the Visitor Center as well. Probably allowing 2-3 hours

What a find! It was fascinating hearing about a lesser known president and his niece, who acted as his "First Lady" - the first time that phrase had been used. I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and the docent, Ardis, was so informed both about Buchanan and his niece and the times and politics of the times. A surprising delightful find.

Combining presidential history with an historic house tour, Wheatland provides insight into the life of James Buchanan. Enter (and buy tickets) at the Visitor’s Center. Watch the video. See the exhibitions in the museum. Browse the gift shop. Walk the grounds. Take the guided tour of Wheatland.

An impression, for James Buchanan, arguably the most qualified person to be elected President, and maybe the lowest rated President, lived here before his presidency and after the White House, until his death in 1868. Our docent was knowledgeable and very informative. This well preserved and well furnished house was a delight to walk around. My anti-Buchanan perspective was altered.

I took a date to this fine site a few weeks ago. As a Pennsylvania native, there are not a lot of United States Presidents that we can fully claim as our own. Ben Franklin was not a President, Dwight Eisenhower WAS a President and descended from PA Dutch stock, but was a native of Kansas, and, for some reason, we have simply not had our great men and women rise to the highest office in the land very often. President James Buchanan is our singular exception. Born near Greencastle, PA, near the MD border, he rose through the ranks of our political system, eventually rising to President of the United States following the Election of 1856. He was our 15th President, ran as a Democrat, and the last one prior to the American Civil War. Due to this last fact, he is often criticized for his alleged inability to prevent the War. However, in reality, there was very little that he could have done to stave it off. He was known, during the War and after he had retired to his home at Wheatland in Lancaster, PA, to buy slaves during his trips to the South and then set them free in the North. Although his own Democratic Party had many pro-slavery advocates, as the South had tended to vote Democrat since the Age of Jackson, he, personally, found the institution deplorable. He also donated a lot of money to the homeless and the City and County of Lancaster. Wheatland is a stately home and very impressive inside and out. They have a great many of the President's original possessions, including his desk that he used in the White House, White House china, and collection of law books, as he was a lawyer by trade. In addition to the home, they also have a handful of out buildings, a visitor center, museum, gift shop, and LancasterHistory.Org to explore too. A nice day trip. Worth your time if you love American history! :)

My wife and I enjoy visiting Presidents houses. Wheatland is a great place to learn about the life of President Buchanan. Our tour guide Patricia was great and dressed in period outfit. Very knowledgeable. It was great to see lots of actual furniture used by the President. His actual desk that he used at the White House. Tour lasted about 1hour. We had a 10:30 am tour. 6 People in group. Don’t forget to get pictures out front. Very steps he gave Acceptance speech from. Original door knocker on front door. Imagine all the visitors who used it. After the tour visited his gravesite about 10 minutes away.

James Buchanan, considered one of the worst, if not the worst president, had a lovely home, well worth a look. Our guide wore period clothes and was a dead ringer for Buchanan. He was charming, and frank about Buchanan's deficits. This tour exceeded my expectations and revised my opinion slightly upward about our fifteenth president. If you need a break from all things Amish in Lancaster, do go.

A wonderful site to visit all around. Free parking, a friendly staff, and ample-sized gift shop...all this before the tour even started. There is a film about President Buchanan which I highly recommend, as he is one of the lesser known and misunderstood presidents for sure. The house tour was led by a docent dressed in period clothing. It was well worth the marginal fee. So many of the family and period artifacts.

Great docent but a little slanted (naturally) toward the good points of James Buchanan. A very fun tour. Don't miss the little koi pond at the end of the driveway.

Special tour of home with very authentic furnishings. Guide was knowledgeable and entertaining. Grounds are attractive and museum small but interesting.

Got a chance to explore the inside of Wheatland this week. It was a lovely tour with much history imparted to us. The only thin we knew going in was the James Buchanan was considered the worst president in America. After hearing the history and exploring the house and learning of his intelligence, the fact he took in a niece and nephew to raise and educate and his kindness toward others I can away with a completely different outlook. It was a GREAT tour. So glad I got to experience it.

Not just an historic house tour, but an interactive experience, this was one of the most interesting tours of the many that I have been on. A special presentation during the month of December has the house beautifully decorated for Christmas including a gorgeous tall tree in the parlor. Make reservations in advance for a set time, and get there early to allow time go through a lovely gift shop and very interesting museum and library. Walk from the visitors center through pretty grounds to the main house. Costumed guides lead the tour. Each visitor is given a wrapped small package, as we are supposed to be guests visiting the home at Christmas time. The several costumed docents stay in character as they guide you through the main floor and the upstairs bedrooms, and reveal the Christmas customs of the period. When you tour the parlor, you play several parlor games, as they did in those days, and there is a poetry reading as well. Probably the most creative and interesting house tour in my experience. Highly recommend!

The last tour of the day is at 3pm, so you don't want to get there too late. The tour of the 15th President's house is more than an hour in length, and there are only a couple chairs per room for people who need to sit. The only way to see the house interior is on a guided tour. You pay for your tour in another building, which has a short film on Buchanan's presidency and a small museum collection of Lancaster memorabilia. There is also a small gift shop.

The admission fee includes a short movie about Pres Buchanan, about 20 min, and then the house tour was over an hour. All together, we spent about 2 hours there. The period dressed docent was very knowledgeable about Buchanan and the house and encouraged questions. I would recommend.

The tour guide who took us through the house seemed to know everything about the house and it's former residents. He told us about the residents, the furniture, political life in the mid-1860s and the extended Buchanan family. The guide had lots of stories and anecdotes. Either before or after the tour, take a look through the museum exhibits.

There's parking in front of the museum and the house is a short walk away from the museum/

The house is located behind Lancaster History Museum, which has its own exhibits. The tour is led by a guide in period dress, who was quite knowledgeable and informative. We didn't know much about President Buchanan, so we learned a lot today. The house is located on a beautiful bit of property, which we walked about after the tour.

If you are in the area, this is an interesting site to see. The museum entry is very nice, clean, well maintained.
The tour of the house was very informative and we had a very knowledgeable guide (Jerry). If you are at all interested in history and presidents, you can't go wrong here. Enjoy

Really enjoyed my recent tour of Wheatland, especially since it was a short 1 1/2 hour day trip! Easy to find and full of a lot of interesting facts and mostly original furnishings. Tours are 1 hour In length and are every hour on the hour. Guide was informative but seemed a little irritated - maybe he was having a bad day? Otherwise the grounds and home are something to see if you're in the area.

This was our first visit to Wheatland (besides a field trip there when I was 8 or 9 (nearly 30 years ago). We bought our tickets on line. First, we had our hour long house tour. It was a very informative and interesting tour. Our tour guide, was very knowledgeable and willing to answer our questions. In fact, our tour ran late because she told us so much and answered so many questions :) Our guide wasn't in costume, but we saw some who were. She explained that with the Yuletide program, things were a little mixed up so she was giving us our tour. I'm glad we had her, because I learned a lot and enjoyed the tour. The tour is well worth the money.

Next, we attended the Yuletide program. We weren't quite sure what to expect. We sort of thought it was a play. It wasn't. You literally step back into Christmas 1867 and attend a Christmas party with President Buchanan. There were several folks in costumes who each played a part. We visited 3 different rooms in the house, participating in Christmas traditions of the time. You definitely need to be willing to participate if you want to enjoy it. It was enjoyable, but not quite sure it was worth an additional $12. Also, with the exception of the actor who played President Buchanan, they didn't appear to be actors. They either needed to practice a little more or be better at ad-libbing. I'm glad we did it, but it wasn't as good as the tour.

Third, we went through the exhibits. The exhibits are pieces collected by the Lancaster Historical organization. There were definitely some neat things to see, but it really didn't take more than 10 or 15 minutes to look over everything.

Overall, it was a fun and informational day and highly recommend it for those who enjoy history.

You can stroll the grounds of the only president from Pennsylvania rated the country's worst ever for failing to stop the Civil War for free. It's a nominal fee to see the house and museum and worth it. But, it's still one hour max. They tried their best. If you're into presidents or simply near by, stop in.

this place needs signs
had difficulty finding entrance and im handicaped
cab git lost
cabs need to be given directions to this mansion
elegant place but marred by crabby women doing tours in house
made mistake of knocking on door
no signs
door slammed in my face
woman at gift shop delightful and helpful
ticket selling girl crabby

OK I never really knew anything about James Buchanan, the 15th president of the USA, and really only visited because we were looking for something to do when we were in Lankaster. But I'm glad we did. Not only was it fascinating to find out about the man who is quite regularly placed at the bottom of the list of America's worst presidents (obviously that list may have to be revised quite soon!) it was great to get a glimpse of how a Victorian wealthy family lived.
As well as the house there is a fascinating museum with temporary as well as permanent collections. On show when we visited was a display commentating the career of Barney Ewell, an Olympic gold medalist. I was fascinated to see that after competing in the London Olympics after WW2 he competed on the professional sprinting circuit in Scotland living in Bathgate.
The whole place was charming and beautifully curated. Well worth a visit.

We refer to ourselves as "history geeks!" So when I was planning our second trip to Gettysburg, I came across this attraction while browsing Trip Advisor. We stopped here on our way home and so glad we did. Our tour guide was dressed in period garb and was just a FONT of information. We were the only people there for the 10 a.m. tour, so we had her all to ourselves. The house is very well preserved and the grounds are beautiful. There is a great visitors center and small museum and gift shop as well. Worth the stop.

We did the Yuletide in Wheatland tour. It was fun and different. The small museum was not that informative, but it was nice. We enjoyed the interactive presentation!

We have been through Lancaster several times, but could not find Wheatland. We finally did get there. Wheatland is the only home of a President from Pennsylvania. He tried to keep the country together prior to Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War, but was unsuccessful. We has a very good tour of the house and its history.

It's always interesting to get a glimpse into the lifestyles of the rich and famous, particularly former presidents from the past. Wheatland does not disappoint. The tour of the home lasts around an hour and the guides are well informed. While the focus is on the home and interesting aspects of it, the guides provide some insights into the personality and motivations of Buchanan, the only president from Pennsylvania. What I appreciated is that the guide (and the Lancaster History museum on the same grounds) did not try to glorify Buchanan. He was a lackluster fence sitter but a visit to the museum does give you some perspective into the political motivations that informed his thinking. The museum is in a beautiful, modern facility that rivals the infrastructure of the finest museums in the country. It houses an interesting array of pieces from Thaddeus Steven's wig to old clocks to a wax figure of Buchanan. Between the two, you can easily spend a morning here.

I've visited as many presidents' homes on the East Coast as I have been able to. I have yet to find one that is as attractive and as livable as this one. The grounds are just gorgeous, the first floor has a lovely symmetry, and the whole house has an open and airy feel. I just love this house.

We basically ended up getting a private tour as my family was the only ones there at the time. My six year old started off very bored (we just got back from Dutch Wonderland) but was eventually drawn in by the tour guide and ended up enjoying it and learned a lot. The house itself is really pleasant and the guide did a great job at showing it off.

Toured our 15th president's home during the Christmas holiday! It was decorated beautifully! Each room was decorated for a different decade. Tour guide was great. He answered any and all questions that were asked.

We hoped to learn about the President and his life and his time in the White House with his achievements/lack of them. Instead all you have is a tour of the house he lived in before and after his presidency which is not what we hoped for. At $15 each the short tour is expensive. So if you are interested in architecture go there, but it is probably not all that great for history enthusiasts.

We had a wonderful tour from our very knowledgeable and enthusiastic guide, Tom. He covered the details of the lovely residence owned by our 15th President, James Buchanan but also gave us details about his political career and his extended family. Buchanan is our only bachelor president and the first lady role was filled by his niece, whom he helped to raise. Many of his nephews bear his name. James Buchanan was president just prior to the outbreak of the Civil War and his handling of the crisis has been severely criticized by historians. Tom pointed out that he is being judged according to 21st century ideas and practices.

We visited her in June 2017 and did not know what to expect. The galleries are framed with Lancaster county history and facts. After perusing the galleries for a few minutes while waiting for the guide we decided that we would explore them more fully after the tour. The tour started at the back door of James Buchannon's House where we were met by period dressed guide who we learned later was extremely knowledgeable. His description of the house and contents was excellent. The collection of furniture, which is almost all original to the house, is fascinating. The guide's knowledge of Buchannon, the house and it's content was outstanding. he fielded numerous question wit ease and answered all superbly. Almost all of the rooms are open to view except the third floor and the basement. Pictures are allowed without flash. The tour was leisurely and we did not seemed to be hurried along because of the next tour. All of the visitor were amazed at the quality and quantity of original items that belonged to James Buchannon.

If you are looking to spend a day in history I would strongly recommend visiting the Lancaster History/James Buchannon location. It's a day well spent.

Very interesting place to visit this home of the 15th President. It starts with a short film in the Visitors Center, followed by a tour led by a knowledgeable docent. It gave us a glimpse of the life of President Buchanan and his era.

I have been here at least three times over my lifetime, but my Husband is from another County and had never been there before. We both really enjoyed the tour this time, they have made several changes to the tour over the years and it is really nice now. My Husband found it very interesting.

My husband and I have been trying to visit various historic Presidential houses in our travels. We visited President Eisenhower's mansion near Gettysburg, PA on an earlier trip, but on this trip we visited President James Buchanan's historical home (15th President of the US). It did not disappoint. Our tour guide was dressed in pre-civil war dress and told the story of the bachelor president and his First Lady niece (and nephew) who lived with him at the estate. You can take photos, but no flash. I was an interesting tale of a president who is touted as int eh bottom 3 worse presidents and worse meaning there was no legislation passed during his tenure. He was friends with our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln, and succeeded to him. The estate had a lot of original pieces of furniture and china. I was interesting to see how the other half lived during the 1850s. The bathroom was of particular interest as was the dumb-waiter in the kitchen. The piano and the marble fireplaces were pretty where the stone was honed from nearby. The docents are intelligent and serious and made the tour interesting. You can view the out-building yourself, such as the spring house and privy.
Also you can tour the visitor center and it's galleries and gift shop. Watch the little free movie first before going on tour.
Would return when in the area. The staff were friendly too. Free parking.

Since I'm local I figured it would be nice to learn about President James Buchanan and his estate Wheatland. The tour starts with a video telling a little about his life. I found it interesting but slanted negatively. My takeaway from the video was President Buchanan wasn't much of a President or leader. Since I'm not a historian, I assume it is true? I did find the tour itself interesting and enjoyable. I learned more about the past than I have known before along with certain items that were used back then that I had never seen before on any tour I've been on.
A Helpful Key: When you purchase your tickets be sure to take a map of the grounds (they are on the same desk as the tickets in the center) because on that map they have all the trees labeled and you'll want to know what they are when you start walking the grounds.
They also have a nice gift store and other historical information in the halls where you purchase your tickets.

Incredibly preserved home with original to the house or period furnishings, all placed within the context of Buchanan's entire life, not just his presidency. My wife and I greatly enjoyed the tour, which starts at the Lancaster History center. Admission to the small but nice history center and the mansion tour is $15 per adult, a bargain for the experience. Would love to do this again in a few years.

I always wanted to visit because Buchanan was our only President from PA and this is his home. We visited in December. The staff wore clothing from the period. They were very knowledgeable about the life and times of James Buchanan. they described the process of becoming President back then; much different than now. They also descr4ibed the history of the estate itself. If you're a history buff stop by for a visit. great visitor center with a short movie to enjoy.

This Estate is just beautiful. The house is beautifully furnished and the guides give you a true sense of the history and time period. Buchanan was our 15th president and his home is beauriful. One thing is it is not well marked and a bit difficult to get to because of all the one way streets. hang in there and you will enjoy your visit.

After seeing many historic homes, my son coined the phrase "Dead President's Tour." This is a must see on that list. Loved all the original items in the house and the tour guide was very knowledgeable.

We enjoy homes of Presidents. This one has a sad personal story of President Buchanan which I did not know. My goal in travel is to see all of the USAPresidential Libraries and homes.

I was hesitant about investing time & money learning about a President who is not well-regarded, but I decided to take a chance based on so many positive reviews. I’m glad I did. The video offered a good introduction of President Buchanan, and our tour guide, dressed in period costume, did a phenomenal job in telling us about Buchanan’s presidency, his family, and the house.

We saw Wheatland on the last day of their Yuletide tour. In the future, I would go at another time of year. No discounts for the Yuletide tour and there were lots of people, so our tour was a bit rushed. The holiday decorations, while nice, were not worth the crowds, and I was a bit disappointed that there was not more talk about the servants' lives, as the description promised. I have a much better understanding of why Buchanan is considered our worst president, and how the Civil War started. Most of the furnishings are original-really well-preserved. The tour guide was friendly and very knowledgeable. I do want to go back, perhaps in the summer.

Wheatland is only a short drive from my home and I didn't rank it very high originally. My 7 year old did fine and listened to our tour guide, which is a difficult task. The place is well maintained and has many of his belongings, 60-75% according to the guide. If I walk away from any tour with a different view because of something I learned on tour, it's a win. Wheatland is a win. Buchanan was a admirable philanthropist. History doesn't remember that part of the man.

This was particularly interesting to me cuz I knew nothing about James Buchanan...or his niece Harriet Lane...the latter I will do some more research on. Tour was very good and led by a very knowledgeable docent in period costume...one hour full of great information!

Let me preface this with the knowledge and competence of the museum's tour guide, whose stories were both interesting and informative, making this a good experience. The house contains many artifacts that traveled from Buchanan's home to the White House and back. The grounds look beautiful, but we were there during in climate weather and really spent little time walking around. I strongly recommend this as a stop during a visit to Lancaster.

This well-preserved historic home of James Buchanan, his niece, and his nephew, creates a presentation of daily life for those who lived there. The tour guide was knowledgeable about the topics surrounding Buchanan and his family. It was nice to be able to walk into the rooms instead of being roped off into a little corner to view them. The first floor of the mansion was wheelchair accessible with a tablet being provided for those who cannot go to the second floor. The mansion tour took about an hour, so it was quite extensive.

Lovely home, fantastic, fun guide. knew his stuff & admitted when he didn't know something.Learned a lot about the only President from PA. Truly came to admire his Niece Harriet Lane the original 1st Lady. Shop should get magnets of the house for souvenirs not just the President. Museum also very interesting.

Well preserved home of lesser known President James Buchanan Jr, America’s confirmed Bachelor President. Guide in period costume provides a tour of the home, Wheatland and explanation of the Buchanan family and history of the house thru the years. Home itself is filled with authentic period furniture and items owned by President Buchanan or his niece who served as First Lady, Harriett Lane. No mention of his frequent companion, Senator Rufus King but that is another story. Close to Christmas time the house was decorated and tour conducted to explain Christmas Season practices of his day. A nearby Visitor’s Center and Library has rotating exhibits, the current one is an informative “Lancaster in the 60’s” and while your go to is the 1960’s is is actually a collection of multiple 60’s from the 1660’s onward. Great value for the admission charged. The museum is more child friendly than the period home of course. Worth the visit if in the Lancaster PA area.

This is a must see if you are visiting Lancaster! The price of admission includes a tour of the museum as well as guided tour of the Presidential home of James Buchanan. The tour guide was fantastic! The history of this often overlooked president was very interesting.

This site has just reopened and we were able to enjoy it. After purchasing your tour ticket, you are given a start time for the next available tour. While you are waiting, there is a very informative museum with much to learn about President James Buchanan, and the time period of his presidency. The museum highlights the “60’s” of the past 400 centuries which were all tumultuous times. There is an additional room with history about President Lincoln who won the presidency from Buchanan after 4 years in office. It was very educational. The tour begins with a short film which sets the stage for the time period. Next, you walk over to Wheatland and tour the home. Our guide was very knowledgeable and pleasant. You exit the tour through the kitchen and can walk the grounds. I highly recommend this tour for history enthusiasts.

It is such an upscale visitor's center in the midst of historic Lancaster. The tour was really impressive. The volunteer tour guide dressed in period clothes and gave us an interesting tour that both the kids and the adults enjoyed.
Helpful tip - If you are local, borrow your a family pass from your library. :)

This home of President James Buchannon is quite a nice and I am sure forgotten place to visit in Lancaster, Pa. We visited there nearly 20 years ago and went this time with a friend. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and wore clothing of the era. The visitors center is combined with the Lancaster Historic Society Museum. The home is beautiful on lovely grounds. There is a nice gift shop. Buchanon the only bachelor President does not receive good reviews in American history books which is unfortunate. However if you enjoy history and touring Presidential homes , I would highly recommend a visit to Wheatland!

This (Wheatland) is President Buchanan's house. You buy your ticket across the parking lot in the Lancaster History building. Admission to Wheatland is only with an accompanying tour guide. The tour is 45 minutes. Neither Wheatland or the Lancaster History building has much information about Buchanan. We expected storyboards about his successful career as a State Legislator, US House Member, US Senator, Ambassador, and his less successful one term as President, there were none. There is a 15 minute film.

The last time I came thru Lancaster it was on a Sunday and while I was able to see the house, I was not able to tour it. Luckily this time I was in the area for more than a day and was able to visit. Showed up as the place opened and spent about a half an hour checking out the Lancaster Historical Society exhibits about the history of the County. We then go in and watch a short movie about the life of James Buchanan and the history of Wheatlands. You then go down to the house for the tour and the person who played James Buchanan in the movie was our guide. A very nice tour of the house which has mainly original furnishings from the time Buchanan lived here as they talk about his life in government service, he served in many positions before being elected President. After we finished the tour, you are able to walk around the property and see the outhouse, icehouse and the frog pond out front which was Buchanan's favorite place to sit.

Great Tour

The film that is shown first is very informative- about 25 min. Then there is a short walk to the house. We were greeted by the tour guide who was dressed in period clothes. It was supposed to be a 45 min to 1 hr tour. This tour was about 1.25+ hrs. We had to sneak out before the end of the tour because we had to be at our next stop! The guide was very knowledgeable and entertaining.

If you like history, or visiting historic homes, this tour is great. Our guide ,Nancy, was very informative and interesting. A lot of the furnishings are original and they did an excellent job presenting the house as it looked when James Buchanan lived here. Not the most well known of presidents, but it was very interesting to view his life and home. The 1 hour tour went quickly, my husband couldn't believe we went through the house in an hour, Nancy kept everything moving but was more than willing to answer all our questions. The grounds are beautiful and the display inside was interesting too. When we were there, they had a visiting exhibit about Amending America, the Bill of Rights, which runs through August 11. Even if you are not into history, stop by, it really is a beautiful house, it is not run by the NPS but by the Lancaster History, but they did an excellent job.

This was one of the best historical house tours I've ever been on. Our guide attired in period dress was so informative and delightful in discussing the history of President Buchanan's home. Loved the fact that you could walk through the rooms with no ropes or barriers and I learned so much about this man's life and his family as we toured the building. It was enlightening and informative and so very enjoyable. The museum and grounds were equally delightful and we enjoyed several hours at the site. Our party of 4 would highly recommend a visit to Wheatland and this tour.

What a treat it was to tour this wonderful old historic home. Our tour guide took us through every room describing the furnishing and also family history along the way. You felt like you were there all those years ago.

You don't hear much about President Buchanan these days, so it was nice to learn about him and his administration. Start out with a short movie. Nice tour of the house, given by Nancy. She really played the part from that era by wearing a hoop skirt. You can expect to spend about 1 1/2 hours here. They accept NARM passes (North American Reciprocal Museums) so you can get in for free if you have one. Definitely worth the trip if you are a history buff.

While he's gotten a bad rap as a president, James Buchanan was a very accomplished person, as we learned during our tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable and took the time to give details about each room and answer questions. The house is lovely, with 80% of furnishing from Buchanan's days as the owner. The house and grounds are nicely maintained. The Lancaster History museum, which is included with the ticket, is a very nice, small museum with mostly Lancaster County history. The gift shop have a large book selection and very nice gifts. My group was impressed with the whole experience. A parking lot, with ample parking, is located beside and behind the house/museum.

Nice tour.....we have 4 small kids so my hubby and I took turns going on the tour.....different tour guides so different tours. My husband and oldest 2 took the first tour and it was under an hour. My tour was over an hour, but enjoyable. I really knew nothing about this president so it was a nice way to learn about him. The gardener/lawn care technician was super friendly and answered our questions about the trees. (Most of the trees are labeled which was fun for the youngest 2 kids.)

Me and my sister toured Wheatland yesterday and we loved it! Our guide Tim was amazing.I learned a lot about a president I knew very little about from a guide who was very learned and passionate about President Buchanan. Tim provided an excellent historical narrative along with a lot of interesting family history and anecdotes.
Thanks Tim,
Nancy and Ann

We toured Wheatland while in Lancaster, PA. The tour was very good and the tour guide was excellent. I didn't know a lot about President Buchanan and the tour guide was very informative. House and grounds were beautiful and I really enjoyed learning about this President!

We stopped here during our trip to visit the Gettysburg National Battlefield. We were interested in seeing this as James Buchanan was the only President from PA and the only unmarried president. It was very interesting to see how he lived both before and after his time in the White House. I guess his home was opulent for the times but I was struck with how modest the home was in comparison to the homes of wealthy people today. There were lots of original and restored furnishings in the home and the costumed guide was very informative.This was well worth our time. Oh, and one more thing. The home is on the grounds of the Lancaster Historical Society, which has its own modern building on the grounds. That was worth looking through also. They had an exhibit on the Underground Railroad and another on the contributions of women to the county of Lancaster and we enjoyed learning about both of these.

The tour of Wheatland was really interesting. The tour guide was excellent and dressed like Buchanan. He had extensive knowledge of Wheatland and Buchanan. The tour was well worth it. The movie in the visitor center was not so great. It brought up Buchanan's sexuality several times which we did not feel was necessary. More information on his early life would be an improvement.

The name is a little misleading, this is the former President Buchanan's home. He is the only President from PA. Tour guides are excellent and knowledgeable. Do put this on your list if you are in the area. Almost all the furniture is original. I won't spoil the surprise.
Enjoy

Wheatland was the home of James Buchanan, the U.S.A.'s 15th president. He isn't exactly the most well known leader we've had, and I braced myself for a disappointing visit. I was wrong!

The tour guide was well informed and mostly unbiased. Information about Buchanan was presented in an even-keeled manner, and reasons for why he did what he did were stated without apology or boast.

Considering most visitors need an overview of who Buchanan was, the tour guide did a good job of presenting the overall picture along with some details without exhausting us with too much information.

Being in this home reminded me of how much I love the style of the mid 1800s. Most of the pieces are original to the home (as opposed to places which feature reproductions or period pieces) and the house is really, really beautiful.

Included in the price of the ticket is a self-guided tour of the visitor's center. When I was there they had a display of WWI motivational posters, which ended up being one of my favorite parts. Another more permanent section of the museum featured a wealth of knowledge about Lancaster locals and panders to the information overload some of us crave from a museum day.

I would highly recommend a visit here!

an enjoyable tour...beautiful house with lots of the original furnishings, tour guides very knowledgable and in appropriate costume to set the tone....a very enjoyable afternoon of history

I've enjoyed Wheatland many times, and I especially admire the docents, who are locals and really are passionate about representing James Buchanan and his legacy. The house is lovely and beautifully preserved. The tours are informative, and I always enjoy the information. President Buchanan was an interesting person, and I particularly admire his friendship with and devotion to President Lincoln.

If you like history, you just have to see the place at some point. Read up a liitle bit about Jame B. first and then go the Wheatland and see for yourself where some of the most lamebrained things and person could do as president took root.

Enjoyed this tour and visiting the museum . We each paid $17.00. Our tour guide at the house was very knowledgeable and answered all questions. She welcomed questions and we were able to take pictures and we didn't feel rushed. The house is worth seeing. The tour inside the museum is a self tour. Don't miss going to the basement to see what is stored there.

My wife and I were on a day trip and we thought we would try this venue. It was a great trip. For one price you get a guided tour of the mansion and admittance to the small museum. The tour guides are very good. They are very anxious to answer questions. They are dressed in period outfits. One thing about Wheatland as opposed to other such venues, is that 85% of the furnishings are original to the President. The rest is period but not his. That in itself is quite something. I highly recommend a visit.

Fascinating tour of Buchanan's house with a costumed interpreter. I like that they provide a lot of historical background, with insight into Buchanan's presidency and why he failed to stave off the Civil War. Also a lot of interesting information about other family members who lived there.

The tour takes an hour. Our tour guide was great. He had a voice that could be heard by all and he wanted for all of the visitors to collect around him before speaking. He was very knowledgeable about James Buchanan and it was a very informative history lesson.

We finally visited Wheatland after planning to do so for a long time. First the movie and museum were really nice. We went at 9:30 so went into the museum after the 10 am house tour. We bought tickets there and not online. Our tour guide was great and dressed in period costume. And since only 2 of us, was able to give more time to our questions and share more details. It's "tour only" for the house. There are steps to climb and some walking if an issue.. What a nice house and grounds. If in the area, try to see this house. All total we were there about 2 hours plus. Highly recommend!!

President Buchanan relied on family members to run the White House, had a crazy pompadour hairdo, and believed in a small role for the federal government. He was a man of his times, not highly regarded by history since the Civil War began on his watch. 80% of the furnishings in this house are original.

Tour of President Buchanan's home was interesting. Tour takes about an hour and our tour guide was knowledgeable.

Wheatland was very educational. I learned information that I never knew! Very interesting. We know so little about American Presidents and their families. On this tour you will learn all about James Buchanan and his family! The property was very nice to walk around!

The tour starts with a 20 minute short film about President Buchanan's early days. The film eludes on his sexuality which is not supported by factual events. And why is this important? The tour lasts about 1 hour. The gentleman had great familiarity with the house, artifacts, President Buchanan and family members in the household. We found it interesting about the outbreak of dysentery at the National Hotel on the eve of his inauguration. We didn't know much about President Buchanan prior to visit but left having some knowledge. Ample parking. Restrooms located at the Lancaster Historical Center. Be sure to walk through the exhibits at the Historical Center where your tour begins.

We were treated to a step back in time. Our tour guide, President Buchanan was wonderful. His knowledge of the history of the home and the administration was so informative. We were so captivated we almost missed our train home!
Well worth the visit to this beautiful place.

It is true Buchanan was a poor President but his home is lovely and is in nearly original condition. The museum on the property was small but charming. The tour guide was wonderful, very knowledgeable and efficient. This was an enjoyable experience for people interested in presidential history, PA history Lancaster history and/or Federal architecture.

The only time I've visited Wheatland was when it's decorated for Christmas, and the tour is holiday-centric. The mansion was gorgeous with all the Christmas decorations and several trees. The actors did a commendable job portraying the time period.

This is a lovely tour and very interesting. Mr Buchanan was the president before Lincoln and did not know much about him. Our guide, Kay was very knowledgeable and full of information. The house tour was complete and furnishings on period. You can see that a lot of care has been taken with this historical site. Young children seemed bored.

The house is well maintained and our (recently hired) tour guide was already very dedicated, enthusiastic, and informed. If you have the time, I recommend popping over.

A must when visiting Lancaster!
An excellent tour with a lot of original furnishings. We were lucky enough to visit Thanksgiving weekend. House was decorated as it would have been during Victorian times. Our tour guide was very good and gave us insight on how President Buchanan and his family celebrated the holiday season.

I have visited a number of times with visiting family members, the docents are knowledgeable and personable they make history come alive

Beautiful home of President Buchanan. Also museum with pieces to see along with a short film. There is also a gift shop with books and items made by local artists.

I came across this on brochures, Bought tickets and was on my way. I enjoyed seeing the house of a president I did not know. The house was so interesting, the items collected are great peices, the grounds inside and out are cool to visit. Our tour guide was adorable very smart and knew a lot. It a way to learn a bit more history. A way to spend some time out of the sun and learn of one our our president. He must not have done much because he is not talked about so much.
thanks to our elderly guide. He is good.

The tour was short but sweet. The grounds are lovely and to be appreciated also. They start you off with a film in a room in the gallery center; (which i missed because of traffic and my GPS goofing up). There is also a museum-like room and gift shop and artifacts. From there, you head out to the grounds, follow a brick walk to James Buchannan's home, named Wheatland. They have done a terrific preservation of it and acquired; even recently from the ancestory, actual furniture pieces and art. The guide will nicely inform you of the history of the man and his home. Ask questions along the way and he will respond with the facts. We walked out after the tour and revisited the gift shop and gallery and then walked along the brick path again; amongst the trees and plants, and took some nice photos of the house and landscape which includes a carriage house, preserved outhouse and fragrances of the plants around you - with purpose i am sure. Count on a 2 to 2 and half hour minimum to enjoy it.

Really a great historical stop. First off the mansion is amazing and the preservation even allows non flash photos which is really nice! The guide we had was knowledgeable and fun. Many interesting original items in the ho,e. Not only is the home included in admission but a beautiful museum of special exhibits. Really a beautiful place to visit!

We were greeted by a gentleman in full 18th century dress. Very smart. His knowledge of the history and the Buchanan personality gave one a deeper insight as to what went on at this period prior to the Civil war. He noted that Buchanan was perhaps "harshly " critized as anyone one who was President at this period had the potential of a Loose-loose as there were many opposing factions and it was hard to achieve consensus.
The house itself was well kept and reflected the genre of the period. Interesting was the layout of the dining table and the water bowl which one washed your wine glass in before enjoying a different wine. About one hour for the house tour.

The tour guide brought out unknown facts about Pres.James Buchanan. It made history come alive for me. If you like history, this is a good place to visit.

You enter the world of colonial times and see how President Buchanan lived. Although he was better off than most in the area, it was still a simple life compared to today.

It was closed but we drove up to the driveway so we could see the outside. We had a little hard time finding but worth it!

We stopped by at the last minute and really enjoyed our visit. Unlike so many historic homes, the rooms weren't cordoned off - you could walk through the rooms and really get a feel for them. There was also a cute scavenger hunt for the kids, which kept them engaged during the tour of the home. Our guide was very knowledgeable and took the time to answer questions. We are glad we stopped!

We watched a short video about James Buchanan before our tour of his home in Lancaster, PA. Our guide was dressed in period clothing and was extremely l knowledgeable. I didn’t realize that he was our only unmarried President and his niece was the first “First Lady”. She took care of many duties of modern First Ladies-greeting guests, making seating arrangements at formal dinners, etc. The home is gorgeous and well maintained. Things sure were different in the 1800’s!

Nice venue to spend a few hours. Facility is well maintained, staff and volunteers were very knowledgeable and friendly. A great job has been done on the Buchanan house and the guide was exceptionally informative. The Christmas skit was entertaining for guests and enjoyed by all. If you enjoy history and architecture you should stop by when in the area.

We had a large group so the tour took about 1 1/2 hours. There were lots of questions and the guide was very knowledgeable. I could have stayed all day to listen to the stories. Unlike many historic homes that limit you to a rope line to view the rooms, we were actually allowed in the rooms provided we didn't touch anything, and there is a lot of china and other delicate items, so something to keep in mind if you have little ones. Also, there are stairs on this tour. The first set up was like regular stairs, but the stairs going down are the servant stairs, very narrow, and winding. There are hand rails but if you have trouble with stairs, you may ask the guide to let you go down the way you came up. In each room, there are a few chairs that you are allowed to sit in if you are not used to standing for an extended period. We had a number of elderly folks in our tour, and the guides were very accommodating about bringing out additional chairs. We also enjoyed the museum before the tour.

My husband and I visited Wheatland this week. It was a lovely experience! We started by watching the movie at the Visitor Center, then we began our tour. When we approached the house we were greeted by Mr. Buchanan himself! (It was the same actor who appeared in the movie!) He then took us around each room, telling us about why that room was significant and more about James Buchanan. The house contained many authentic items, making this one of our better tours.

We decided to tour Wheatland and really enjoyed learning about where our 15th President, James Buchanan, lived. I would highly suggest that a tour of Wheatland be on the top of one's list when visiting Lancaster. You will enjoy both the home tour as well as the museum and gift shop!

Last minute addition to our travel plan and so glad we added it. Great tour with tour guide Ardith (loved her!) who was portraying Buchanan's niece Harriet Lane. Learned and saw so much, definitely worth a stop.

We found the Lancaster History site to be very well organized. The video at the visitor center was a great way to start. After a short ranger talk to the group, we were sent to the house where we were met by a very knowledgeable tour guide who led us expertly through the house while telling us about various aspects of President Buchanan's life and presidency. After touring the house, we took our time walking the grounds. Parking in front of the visitor center/museum is easy.

Beautiful home and property accompanied by the near by (short walk) historical museum, introduction video and gift shop. The home is very maintained containing most original furniture that was owned and used Buchanan and his family. There are frequent guided tours thought the home. I suggest leaving 1-2 hours to got through the home, museum and walk the property.

Wheatland is a not-too-well-known attraction that combines accurate history of our 15th president's time with an interactive experience that will not soon be forgotten.
From the time we were greeted at the door until we were bid farewell, we were treated as honored guests of Mr. Buchanan, and Mr. Johnson. The docents (a cast of at least six) took on different roles, and presented their information skillfully, while remaining completely in character at all times.
We sang, listened to poetry, and played parlor games of the era. A real treat! Interactive and creatively done. Highly recommended regardless of your age.

Did not know much about president Buchanan before visiting here. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable about all things Buchanan. Many items in this spacious home are original with pictures from when he occupied the house. The museum on the grounds has more history and lots of good information. The actual property is peaceful and serene. Ample free parking.

This sight is well worth a morning or afternoon for any history buff. Give yourself an hour+ for the house tour and an hour or more in the museum and gift shop, which features good books and many gift-worthy, handcrafted Lancaster County items- not cheap souvenirs.
The newly- filmed documentary is expertly filmed with fine actors and authentic clothing and hairstyles. It must be experienced.
One surprise - in the mid 1800's the Republicans were the liberals and Democrats the conservatives !!!
We were so fortunate to get actor Douglas O'Brien (President Buchanan) as our tour guide.
The home, Wheatland, is amazing. Almost all the furniture is original to the home when Buchanan was there, thanks to gifts made by the descendants of his orphaned niece and nephew who Buchanan raised, and who inherited his furniture.
Coming away, we learned Buchanan was a victim of being president at the wrong time. He was a fine, intelligent man. Yes, he made some administrative errors, but the looming Civil War was a force no one could have turned around.
And the latest research about Buchanan and friend Rufus King was eye-opening.
Looked at through mid 19th c. accepted mores and customs, it was a modern day Bromance - nothing more, nothing less.
But the person I came away most impressed with was his niece and First Lady, Harriet Lane - a favorite of Queen Victoria!
An un-sung lady of enormous knowledge and power.
The only negative was getting there.
Although it's located in a beautiful, quiet, upscale neighborhood south of Lancaster, GPS maps tend to route you all the place. After we got there, we found a faster way. If you're taking the Rte 30 ByPass, exit at 741 / Rohrerstown. If you're in-town, stay there and follow.

I recently brought a group of ladies to YULETIDE at WHEATLAND. We were treated to an incredible tour by a man dressed in period clothing, who was so knowledgeable about the house, the furnishings, and President Buchanan and his family. We were absolutely spell bound.

We went to Wheatland to learn some history. President James Buchanan's house was very nice. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and items seemed to be right where you could really see them and touch them if you wanted (which a lot of people did, I don't like to do that due to possibly damaging such old items, but everyone is different). This tour took about an hours and was very interesting. I would suggest it to anyone that likes history.

The tour was just awesome! Tim was our guide and was so informative. We learned so much about James Buchanan, his career, and his family! We were divided into very small groups so that we could see and hear everything. We were also able to ask questions. The mansion is filled with articles from his presidency and his life. A great tour!!

Took the tour over Christmas 2016. Great detail of a Christmas celebration during his presidency years

Home of U.S. President, before the time of Presidential Libraries. Gives a very good review of his personal life and government service.

We visited Wheatland this week on our vacation and we're so glad we did. The home is lovely and has so many pieces that were actually used by President Buchanan. We especially enjoyed seeing his china and the ornate desk that he used while in the Whitehouse. It is amazing that very few modifications have been done to the Buchanan home over the years. It was a real treat to see it. If you have time, head on over to the cemetery on Queen Street to see his grave.

Very interesting stop with a decent museum, small but good bookstore. The guided tour is however the reason to visit. The film preceding the tour very good and nicely sets the stage for the house tour. Tour guide was dressed in period attire and was VERY informative and knowledgeable. Definitely recommend this for anyone with any interest in history.

Alsome place good for kids fun enjoy every moment of it there is a lot of great stuff to do and explore

Loved the architecture, grounds, location of this house, tour was wonderful, worth the visit. The story of the niece is far more interesting, the design authentic, often go when I have guests visiting....

The house is for the only bachelor president. He never married. The piano is the mainstay of the living room. Tour guides were very informative

When traveling through Lancaster, we found that our travels took us by here quite unexpectedly. We were glad as this was a very nice place to visit. Worth the stop. Friendly folks to greet you and answer your questions.

Most people have no idea that this experience exists! I have visited numerous times and learn something new every time I go! Well worth the high admission price.

We visited on the afternoon of the first Saturday of the month so were able to take advantage of the 'enactment' tour at no extra cost.

Our tour started with a 20 min introductory movie before proceeding to the house where we were greeted by our guide in period costume. We then watched two short enactments between Buchanan and Washington and their respective First Ladies. These two different time periods were a good illustration of the divisions between the North and South states, eventually leading to the Civil War.

Afterwards, we were taken through the rooms in the house with our excellent, knowledgeable guide. Our only criticism is that we werent taken back into the living rooms where the enactments took place. We had assumed we would be and as we were focused on the enactments didn't really get a chance to look around them.

We really enjoyed the tour but it lasts around 1.5 hour including the movie and was quite detailed so perhaps wouldn't appeal too much to children.

Although the grounds are advertised as an Arboretum they are very small so there wasn't an opportunity for a decent walk after the tour, unfortunately.

Tickets for the tour cost $15 for adults.

Interesting tour lead by the actor who played the president in the History Channel episode. He was very informative. Of course, they are very loyal to the president and have their own interpretation of his involvement or lack thereof, regarding the slavery hotbed. There seems to be several interpretations through Lancaster County. The tour is enjoyable for a bit of history.

We visited the house and the museum with our grandchildren. They found it to be as interesting as we did. I really enjoyed my visit there.

Even the kids will enjoy a tour of this beautiful historical house of President James Buchanan. The tour guide was excellent and provided fun facts throughout the tour.

The visitors center provides a good introduction to this president. It's hard to present this president in a favorable light, but the movie, tour, and docents don't sugar coat Buchanan's life and his failures as president. The house itself is in very good condition with some nice furniture and items from Buchanan's life. Worth the effort to go.

great home to visit and tour. Everyone we were in contact with were quite knowledgeable and very friendly. make sure to look around the museum also.

The tour could have included more history about the property, not just the house. Beautiful country. The tour guide did her best and was knowledgeable.

I have a "thing" for Presidential homes and this didn't disappoint. The guide was well informed and answered my 2.7 billion questions. We were the only two on the tour, so we had plenty of time to look at everything.

A very cold day and with some spare while visiting family nearby, we saw an article in the Reading Eagle about guided tours at President Buchanan’s home. If we ever knew about this President it was long forgotten A fascinating one term President who was just prior to Lincoln and the Civil War. You must take the tour with Doug if possible. A handsome period perfectly dressed gentleman who presented the story with passion, wit, and interesting antidotes. He has in depth knowledge of Mr. Buchanan as Doug addresses him which is a nice touch and is able to answer all our many questions. We really liked this stop and it’s worth including to your itinerary.

I wish I could leave two separate reviews, one for the short movie (which would be rated a 1) and the tour (which would be rated a 5). The most disappointing thing about the movie was that it spent a long time speculating about why President Buchanan was a bachelor and questioning his private life, but finally admitting that there is no evidence that he was anything but just a bachelor after we had just wasted 5 minutes that could have been better used to describe the difficult times he faced and his presidential decisions. However the tour was very interesting with a tour guide in period dress. We learned about how President Buchanan helped raise his niece and nephew, and how he enjoyed and mastered the art of hosting parties. The house and property are well preserved and beautiful. Check out the massively deep tub that was added later and the original grand piano, purchased brand new for the Buchanan mansion.

While in Lancaster we visited the home of former president James Buchanan. The building is very well preserved. You get the opportunity to view every room while in some historic tours only select rooms are available. The male guide was dressed in 1800's gentlemen garb. He looked right at home and led an excellent tour. He provided enough information to make the visit interesting and enjoyable, but didn't try to overwhelm everyone with his knowledge. President Buchanan is not rated very highly by many historians because he was not able to prevent the Civil War, but this was probably an impossible task as Lincoln found out. I was impressed to learn the extensive government service of James Buchanan in addition to President. He was by profession a lawyer, but also served as a congressman, senator, minister to Russia, secretary of state, and ambassador to England. He also had military service in the War of 1812. I was glad we decided to visit and learn more about a somewhat obscure president - well worth the time. Admission was also reasonable.

We weren't sure if we wanted to take this tour, but we're really glad we did. No matter what one might think of this president, we found the home and the guide to be very educational and interesting. The home is beautiful, huge, and obviously historic. We learned a great deal about President Buchanan (never married; a one-term guy just as the southern states were seceding from the Union). The tour is supposed to be about an hour, but our guide went well over that. The cost is reasonable, and they do take discounts for seniors or for AAA. Adjacent to the house and grounds is a museum with wonderful regional history and a nice gift shop.
If you have any interest in this sort of thing, go; if you don't, go anyway. You might become interested!

My wife and I visited James Buchanan’s Wheatland between Christmas and New Year’s 2018.

The home was decorated for Christmas and the special feature was “Yuletide at Wheatland.” The tour was GREAT and our guide was very knowledgeable and engaging. But the price was a premium at $17/person.

The museum gallery was well displayed and curated with a focus on Freedom in Lancaster County across time.

We spent about 1.5 hours total. Wouldn’t budget more than 2.5 if you read everything.

Be sure to take the tour which takes about an hour. Fascinating old home of President Buchanan and almost everything you see is original. Learn some history at the same time. Great museum as well. Worth seeing if you are in the area.

My husband and I visited this past Wednesday and we were so impressed! My husband had been to Wheatland about 35-40 years ago and he said “what a difference!” There is a welcome center with an informative video on President Buchanan which gives you a better understanding of both him as a man and as a president. Tours run on the hour, so while we waited we went into their small ‘museum’. They also have a gift shop. Our tour was given by the most informative guide, in costume...she made history in the beautiful historic home come alive! We were definitely blown away at her knowledge of the house, the politics, the people that lived there though the years, etc. When my husband visited all those years ago, there was no furniture and it was a ‘self-guided’ tour. When they obtain pieces (or brought in the pieces that were there) it was/is very expensive. All of the tour guides, we learned are volunteers and they receive NO federal money, even though Buchanan was a president! Wheatland is all run on donations. That being said, we definitely gave at the end of the tour! This is a most do in Lancaster.

We visited this historical home of James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States and would recommend it to anyone interested in the past.

Our tour guide was in formal period costume and extremely knowledgeable about this president and the home’s residents. He made this one of the best tours we’ve encountered.

Knowledgeable tour guide made the visit even more enjoyable. She was well organized and thoroughly comfortable with the presentation of information about the family, house and time. Definitely well worth the visit and if you are in the area make sure to include it.

With myself and some others in our party being history geeks, this was on our list.
OK, so Buchanan was not one of my top ten favorite presidents - not even close - but this needs to be on your list. Surprised by what a great visit this was overall.
The house itself is nicely restored and has some interesting features. The docent was delightful (wish I remembered her name). OK - ALL the staff on site are wonderful!
In the visitor center there is a very nice and informative display of the issues of the time such, including rights for women, slaves, and freed slaves.
My degree is in Landscape Architecture, so any time the grounds are interesting, I'm extra happy. I was thrilled - amazing collection of mature trees and most labeled with common and botanical names. Commented to one of the staff this place could be an arboretum. She mentioned that it actually was - the Tanger Arboretum! Unlisted bonus!! History and plant geeks - this is a must visit!!!
Great way to spend about three hours.

My wife and I visited Wheatland last Friday, which was a beautiful day. We had purchased ticket on-line prior to leaving on our trip to Lancaster for a few days. By the conclusion of our visit, we were both very glad that we had selected it out of the various other things to do in the area. The house is in excellent shape considering that it was built in the early 1800's. Our tour guide, who admitted to being 85 years old, was almost like a living encyclopedia! She provided our group with so much information that at the end of each room's tour, we didn't need to ask any questions. Outside, we enjoyed to grounds which were kept in as excellent shape as the house. Kudos to the foundation who owns and runs the tours, as they are doing a wonderful job with Wheatland!

Never knew this was out here. Tour guides dressed in period garb offered informative tours of Janes Buchanan’s house, life, and family history. It was interesting and beautifully maintained. Worth a stop if traveling in Lancaster area.

Excellent costumed volunteer tour guide gave an excellent tour of this beautifully restored property of President Buchanan, generally regarded as one of our worst presidents--but he led the country at a most difficult time.

Interesting history of President Buchanan and his homestead presented by pleasant knowledgeable period dressed tour guide. Additional interesting galleries in the adjacent history center.

Our tour of President James Buchanan’s house started with a short film about him in the Lancaster History Center. Following the film we took a very interesting tour of the first and 2nd floors of the house. His “Wheatland” house, a National Historic Landmark, is located behind the History Center. The brick home was constructed in 1828; Buchanan acquired it in 1848 and lived there for about 20 years, except for his four years in the Whitehouse.

We had an excellent tour guide, dressed in period clothing. She was very knowable about the history of the house and about Mr. Buchanan and his family members that lived there. The film and house tour were scheduled to last a total of one hour. But, the house tour itself was about one hour, which we did not mind as our tour guide made it a very enjoyable and interesting experience.

We did not know much about the 15th President before our visit, but learned a lot during the tour and film. He apparently was an effective stateman as Secretary of State and an ambassador in Europe, but ineffective as President leading up to the start of the Civil War.

Wheatland is a great example of Federalist Architecture made even more important because James Buchanan, our 15th president owned it. There are many anecdotes about Buchanan that make more sense after seeing the home. I had heard he had Southerners arrive through one door, and Northerners through another...when you actually see the two faces of the house it truly makes sense. The docent was informative and interestig.

The folks at the historic society in Lancaster have done a great job of preserving history with Wheatland. With the exception of one bed everything in the house is from the life and times of President Buchanan. Even if you are remotely interested in American history, it is well worth a stop to take the tour

Standing on his front porch, Buchanan announced he was running for President and that he wouldn't run for a second term. Campaigning was quite different then...no Twitter!

Very well preserved home of that time in a park-like setting. Excellent tour guide who offered so much detail about the man, his family, the house, the times, the political situation...really learned so much more than expected.

We enjoy Amercian history so when we travel we check to see what historical sites might be in the town. President James Buchanan's Wheatland home is in Lancaster. It is the best Presidential home tour we have taken and we have done about 20 of them. They let you actually walk among the furniture and be close to things. --- Don't touch, but that is normal for historical preservations. It was a wonderful tour and the tour guide let us take our time. Well worth the small fee.

Well appointed historic property, true to the time, showcasing actual artifacts, with commentary to go along!
Decorations for Christmas were true to the time period.
Learned a lot from the guide, who was dressed as Buchannon, and had a ton of knowledge to share. Was able to answer the many questions, and offer even more info.
The guide really made the visit special!
House had a good feel to it, and was a step back into time, before electricity.
Outbuildings were just as well kept, including the 6 seater outhouse.

For anyone interested in American history in the C19th, and particularly the issue of slavery and the genesis of the Civil War, Wheatland, President Buchanan's home, is not to be missed. The visit starts with a short, informative video explaining the historical background to, and consequences of, Buchanan's Presidency, which is followed by a guided tour of the house, expertly led by a young lady in period dress; and can conclude with a stroll in the grounds and sight of the outbuildings. We were lucky with the weather - a beautiful fall Saturday - and I certainly came away with my knowledge of the key issue, and Buchanan's role, greatly enhanced.

Very well done and interesting site! The film was well done in that it critiqued President Buchanan's term objectively. The docent who gave the tour of the mansion dressed like humans was fascinating. Very well done! Note, we are history buffs!

Nice small museum and very good house tour. The house is a wonderful time capsule and the information on a President who could not live up to the job.

Very nice film and the tour with a gentleman reenactor in period clothing. Peaceful site with a small arboreutum and picnic table.

Great look into the life and home of James Buchanan. Guide was excellent and very knowledgeable. Would recommend for those with an interest in US history. A lot of information in a 2 hour tour.

We enjoyed a thorough tour of Buchanan's home, Wheatland. The tour guide, dressed in historical garb, gave many details of each room and was enthusiastic about her subject. I asked for information about Buchanan and why he is regarded as the worst president ever. She gave good but brief answers. The tour center did not seem to have history of Buchanan, apart from a general 8 minute video. There was a research library which I admit I did not visit. Guess I would have liked some exhibits giving clear and simple information on his poor presidency.

The tour guide was phenominal and really knew every detail about Wheatland, Buchanan's personal life and presidential activities. She made the tour a real and vivid experience. I've visited many presidential homes and found this tour one of the better ones. This is a tour that shouldn't be missed. In addition it is located in a beautiful area of Lancaster.

While in Lancaster, my wife and I visited the James Buchanan Wheatland House. The property includes a museum, gift shop, a movie theatre and the Wheatland Estate. You begin by viewing a short movie that presents an overview of Buchanan's life prior to and his Presidency and his life after leaving the WhiteHouse. Then you receive a very educational and interesting guided tour of the Wheatland estate. The guide was very knowledgable of Buchanan's life, his political career and his private life. This is a very good way to spend some time exploring Buchanan's life and the beautiful and historic Wheatland estate.

We visited here several weekends ago. The visitor's center is really nice with lots of open space to walk around and explore the gift shop and museum areas while waiting for the film to begin. The film itself is interesting but focuses a bit too much (in my opinion) on the President's questionable sexuality...these days that is such a hot button issue, I guess I don't get why there would be a film made with such focus on whether or not Mr. Buchanan was homosexual. Otherwise, this was a great experience.

Not knowing much about president Buchanan, this tour of his well-preserved home was informative. The house was lovely and a good time capsule for his mid 1800's time. Nancy gave us a great and balanced tour. The visitor's center was interesting. It is run In conjunction with the county historical society and the museum and library are worth a visit and are included with admission.

History worth seeing! Wheatland is beautiful! We did the Yuletide tour, and we had an amazing tour guide! Definitely worth your time and money!

This is a really good thing to see while you are in Lancaster Pennsylvania and especially if you are from here. James Buchanan might not have been the best president of the United States, but it is still worth seeing his home place. The guides are knowledgeable and the artifacts are real; not many reproductions. If you are from Lancaster County, you should definitely see this. If you are a tourist, it's still a pretty good thing to see. In case you're unfamiliar, he was a bachelor president and his niece was first lady. That in itself is a pretty cool anomaly in United States history.

The tour of Wheatland was really interesting. The tour of the Federal style house was very informative and our
tour guide was excellent. To walk through the furnished home gives you an additional glimpse of the life style of James Buchanan and adds to the experience.

Wheatland is located on the edge of Lancaster city in a park-like setting. When you enter the estate you enter the 1800's and the life of a bachelor of importance in Pennsylvania. The furnishings are authentic, and in some cases surprising. For example, the library sports some of the first venitian blinds in America. The docents are well informed, and in costume, adding to your over-all impression of the 1860-70's.

Beautiful home. The guide was very knowledgeable and answered all questions. Liked how the staff were dressed in period clothes and even acted their parts.

Our guide was very knowledgeable. It is true that the tour focuses on the history of the house, but the guide answered questions about the Buchanan presidency with ease and authority. Arrive a little early to watch the 10 minute movie in the history center as background. That will help place the names and events in context. Few of us know much about Buchanan. The house is in extraordinary condition as it only had 3 owners and most of the furniture is original to the house or transferred from Washington.

We really enjoyed the tour of the house. Our tour guide was so knowledgable. It is a beautiful house with so many original pieces. We highly recommend it.

I was a docent at Wheatland fir many years Great history and really well kept facility. You will learn much about President Buchannon and his daughter Harriet.

I am a history buff and especially enjoy learning about our US presidents. The Wheatland tour did not disappoint! It was an easy trip from Harrisburg taking about 45 minutes. Parking is ample. The grounds are beautiful and the home is in very good condition having been built in 1828. I arrived at 10am and just missed the first tour, they run every hour on the hour. The lady at the ticket counter called the guide and asked if I could join the 10am tour. When I arrived at the entrance to Wheatland I was greeted by a tour guide in period dress and was asked if I would like a private tour. I said of course and spent the next hour with an extremely informative and well spoken guide named Vickie. I had some previous knowledge of James Buchanan but now have a much greater sense of him as a real person. The guides are all volunteers and the site is a private non profit. My senior ticket was $13. There is a donation box at the exit and I wished I had cash! The museum took me about an hour to go through and there is a nice small gift shop and a 10 minute movie. Overall this is a very nice informative little gem!

Guided tours are very reasonable & many discounts are offered. We only waited a short time for the next one to begin. The mansion was well kept with many original pieces & photos. The history was very interesting especially due to the knowledge of the guide. A lovely gift shop, is available as well.

James Buchanan was not a popular or particularly effective president, but his home has been lovingly restored and the tour guides don't attempt to sugar-coat his time in office. Instead, during the tour we learned about his niece Harriet Lane who helped this bachelor navigate some tricky social situations.

It's always fun to hear about the people behind the places and not just about the "stuff" in these historic homes.

The gentleman who played President Buchanan was phenominal. He walks you back in time to another age. A must see for the history buff.

Wheatland is a very nice tour for those who are curious about American history and James Buchanan. It's no Monticello but the docents are very knowledgeable and the tour is quite interesting. I'd not take kids under 10 here unless they are history buffs.

it is amazing that this house is still around and very nice property and a popular house to see.They don't make houses like this anymore.

To get a feel for the events which immediately preceded the Civil War, one must visit James Buchanan's home in Lancaster. Even better, plan to participate in a re-enactment on the grounds. Holiday tours of the home are definitely child-friendly, and the grounds include landscapes of, for example, a beech grove and a bonsai garden. Wheatland is contingent to and now managed by Lancaster History, a great resource for research and artifacts, and just casual interest. Even a terrific shop for "stuff."

Great tour of a historical home! I learned so much about James Buchanan and his presidency. The guide was very knowledgeable and made the tour fun! Beautiful grounds as well!

This visit was much better than anticipated. We learned a lot about the president via the museum, movie, and guided tour. It is the first presidential home that I have visited where you can walk through all of the rooms. Most of the time you can only look into rooms, this was very open. Very enjoyable.

My wife and I visited here recently on a rainy Saturday afternoon. We enjoyed it very much. The museum is very nice and President Buchanon's home is beautiful. The tour guide was very knowledgeable.

Wheatland is in Lancaster, PA. It is in a residential area but yet secluded due to the size of the property. It is easy to find, especially with a GPS. There is amply parking in the rear of the house. The visitors center is a state of the art facility, With lights that operate with motion sensors, solar roof panels, geo-thermal cooling with water from the well, the building is a marvel. There is a 10 minute looping movie that introduces visitors to President Buchanan. There is a small but lovely gift shop. There is no place to eat. So eat before you come or after you leave. There are exhibit rooms to explore that deal more with Lancaster's history, They are not specifically focused on the President.
The highlight of the trip is the tour of the house. The guided tour takes you through the entire first and second floor of the home. Our guide was fabulous. He told us stories about the President and his niece and nephew. Most of the furnishing are originals.
My husband and I highly recommend this historical site.

We passed through the parking lot and viewed the home from our car. It seemed to be under construction. The adjacent visitors center seemed to be open, but we didn't visit it due to time constraints.

Really enjoyed the tour, the tour guide was very knowledgeable about everything and answered everyone’s questions. It was nice to see most of the original furnishings in place...

Having finished our shopping and touring, we still had a few hours before we needed to leave the Lancaster area enroute home. We saw on the map a reference to President James Buchanan's Wheatlands estate and thought, "Why Not?" What a great decision! Even for a history buff, Buchanan is largely unknown to American history, the one-term President who failed to stop the Civil War and was a total non-entity undeserving of any special attention. WRONG! Buchanan had one of the most fascinating careers of any American President, having served for nearly half a century in various senior posts in several Administations before becoming the first American to defeat an imcumbent President in the Primary election (actually in the nominating Convention) to win the White House in the election of 1856 that saw a crowded field including the first candidate of the Know Nothing Party. The struggles of America to deal with the mounting pressures of slavery and Union would likely have defeated anyone in the White House at that time, and Buchanan was more a tragic figure than a failed one. The House is preserved as it was at the time of his residence, uniquely including much of his original furniture, with rooms currently arranged and decorated tomatch old illustraitns of the time. The story of his family, including his niece who became a lifelong friend of England's Queen Victoria during Buchanan's time as US Ambassador to the Court of St James, was equally fascinating. The grounds are also very welcoming, as is the museum attached to the Lancaster Historical Society co-located on the property. All in all, a great must-see site after you have seen all there is to Amish country and done all your shopping in Lancaster County! A perfect way to end the visit.

Come anytime, but a favorite of mine is Christmas. The house is festive and tour guides will take you back to a day-gone-by. It's Christmas and history and remembering a slower pace of Lancaster County. Candlelight tour is a speciality.

Stopped in Lancaster Historical Society with only a few minutes to spare and found a wealth of information on the area. Librarians on call were incredibly helpful. Exhibits looked very interesting. A genealogist's dream ~ we returned the next day and did not regret it!

I slipped a visit in while in Lancaster for business. Previously visited his grave located in Lancaster too.

The house is wonderful, historic and well preserved, as is the well appointed out house with seats for toddlers through adults.

An adjacent new building has gift shop, theatre, museum, and research materials. I recommend for history and architecture.

Do eat before visiting, as there is no food service nor is it allowed.

Learned alot about James Buchanan our 15th president of the United States & only president to come from the state of Pennsylvania. Alot of the rooms inside the house had original furnishings, rugs, wallpaper as well as replicas to represent what was there at that time period.

If you enjoy learning about history through the lens of our presidents, you will enjoy this tour of Wheatland, President's Buchanan's Lancaster home. Tours of the home take about 1 hour and are docent-led. Almost everything in the home area original to the home, which is not always the case. You get to see both floors of the home and actually see his original desk as well as china, both used in the White House. After the tour, take the time to see the galleries and wander the small, but well-tended grounds including the dwarf conifer garden. Lovely museum gift shop; no cafe, just snacks available. Also, see the movie about his presidency, which is well done.

The video at the Museum is an intregal part of this visit, between it and the tour of the President Buchanan's house, the visitor can get a very good idea of the President's life here in Pennsylvania and his career as a statesman, politician and farmer. Jerry, the docent at the house did an excellent job of explaining how the President lived, the influence of his niece and how guests were entertained. Any visitor to Lancaster should include this attraction to their schedule.

Wheatland provides a very interesting tour of James Buchanan's home, his life, and family. The tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable. The grounds surrounding the home are lovely!

Living just over an hour away, took my 9-yr old grandson to learn a little history and how a local person impacted on a national level. Buchanan’s preparedness paired with his underperformance provided a big lesson in our nation’s history…part timing, part the man.
The movie just before the house tour provides some background on the timing in history and the man/his family. While the house was the site of 2 speeches and a Convention headquarters, most of the activities at the home were pre & post presidency.
The home retains many items from Buchanan and family members to the period. Our guide, Bob, was knowledgeable about the home and many visitors that came to the home. House tours are guided only; tours of the ground are self-guided.
In addition to the home, the center where you get your tickets and view the pre-show, also houses an exhibit-currently on Lancaster in the 60s. There is a small gift shop as well. Plenty of free parking.
Buchanan is buried at a nearby cemetery. You can get directions to the cemetery and his grave location at the center.

Never thought I'd ever visit the home of President James Buchanan, but was glad I did. We entered at the Lancaster History.org building to buy the tickets which were $15 for adult. If that adult is a veteran, it's free. There is plenty of parking right in front. Strolled around the lobby/museum/gift store waiting for the tour to begin, but showed up just too late to see the movie. Buchanan's house is right next door and we were met by a very well prepared guide in the clothing of the 1850s. This is where a lot of house tours get cheesy, if the guides pretend to be a characters of the period. This well groomed gentleman just took us leisurely through the rooms talking about the building, the people involved, and the mostly about the situation in America at the time. A lot was said about Buchanan, but a lot was spent explaining about the extraordinary life of his niece, who served as his First Lady. The tour took a little over an hour and the time flew by. There is a lot of standing, but there are designated chairs for guest sitting in each room. The grounds were beautiful and well tended. Great for adults with any interest in history, but I wouldn't bring any young children.

Visited today to kill some time on a rainy day and were b.8wn away by how fascinating the tour of the house was. Tour guide Tom was phenomenal. I've got to admit, I never knew or cared about James Buchanan before, but the tour was so informative and the home is so well preserved and restored. Highly recommend a visit.

Went here with my sister in law she took a long tour of the facility. Due to a disability I was unable to go on the tour. I didn't joy looking around and library gift shop and the front lobby. The front of the newest part of the grounds was amazing. Staffwas exceptionally helpful and friendly. Would recommend this on any trip to Lancaster. For genealogy friends this is also the home of the Lancaster historical society.

I visited Wheatlnd with a group. I knew nothing about President Buchanan. Great video to start and great tour of the house. Well worth the time

Tour begins with a short overview film of Buchanan's life and home at Wheatfields. It is very professional, informative and very fair. After the conclusion of the film, one is directed to the back entry of the mansion for a guided tour. What is especially gratifying is that rooms are open to the tour and one isn't viewing from the doorway thru plastic shields (as in some famous residences). The Historical Society has been able through the years to obtain much of the actual furniture used by Buchanan. These include his bed, desk, dining room table and other pieces. Because of period photos, they are also able to recreate the settings of the room at the time of Buchanan. They exhibit his china and other period pieces. Our guide was extremely well versed in both the houses and its residents over the years. At the conclusion of the inside tour, one is able to roam the grounds to see the ice house, latrine and the beautiful grounds with its many variety of trees and plants.

Inside the main entrance of the historical society, they also have a small museum, gift shop, restrooms. There are many special events offered through the year. In addition his burial site is also in Lancaster and a short journey from the house.

Even if your American presidential history, I recommend visiting this house to witness its charm, style and beauty.

Recently toured Wheatland with a small group we belong to and had a terrific experience. The visitors' center is modern and informative, there's an AV presentation, displays, a tasteful gift shop and clean facilities.

The grounds are very pleasant to stroll about and there is ample parking. Access is easy.

The tour of the mansion was delightful and informative. Our docent was in full period dress and explained all of that. She could not have been nicer or more engaging. The walk through the rooms was enjoyable and full of details not only on the home and its furnishings, but on President Buchanan and his extended family and service staff. Questions were encouraged and happily answered.

Overall, a very enjoyable and informative tour and visit in very pleasant surroundings. Highly recommend.

Great tour! Better even than Mt. Vernon! Tour guides are VERY knowledgeable and dressed in period costume, and there are NO ropes in the house preventing you from walking around.
The small museum is an added bonus with some great antiques too.
Loved the movie, but maybe the door could be shut and lights dimmed a little during the showing?

Excellent tour, about one hour in length after interesting and informative 20+ minute video on President Buchanan. The beautiful decor is either original (furnishings, etc.) or period design (flooring, wallpaper). Our experienced guide Catherine, dressed elegantly in period gown complete with hoop skirt, was fantastic. She knows her history. If you are in Lancaster this is well worth your time. Democratic President Buchanan, as the only PA president and a bachelor, disappointed as a president, but his residence is sumptuous.

I feel less than genuine writing the review because we only walked around the property. We wanted some good fall pictures and Wheatland delivered on that. Beautiful grounds with plenty of great trees. The neighborhood was pretty as well, in particular a building on the northeast corner from Wheatland. It was a fun stop as part of our Lancaster leaf peeping. As a history lover, I should have stayed for a tour but we didn't have the time.

James Buchanan Wheatland is one of the best presidential tours I have been on. The tour was good from start to finish. The guide looked like President Buchanan and told you all the details of Buchanan's life.

I highly recommend Wheatland the home of President John Buchanan tour. The tour was good from start to finish. The guide was dressed in period clothes and resembled President Buchanan. He was both very informative and funny as he told you about James Buchanan's life and family.

The home was splendid and our tour guide was so knowledgeable and really took his time with us. Never felt rushed. It was beyond our expectations.

Well worth your time and admission. I left with a better understanding and appreciation of President Buchanan’s administration. Strongly recommend that you reserve you admission and tour time on their website at minimum a day prior. Tours are like limited and fill up quickly. Otherwise it may be several hours later if then. Professional, knowledgeable and period-dressed tour guide. Cannot recall his name though. Older gentleman with grey hair.

My only negative comment regards the 30-minute film shown prior to taking the tour. The film mentions his sexuality hinting that he may have gay then later inferring that he probably was not. Discussing this aspect of his lifestyle with no supporting validation is totally unnecessary and should be omitted from the film. If anyone from Wheatland is reading this I urge you to remove this topic-makes no sense to include something that you cannot prove.

Allow about 2+ hours for the film, house tour and visit the museum.

My husband and I went to Wheatland on a Saturday afternoon. We enjoy visiting presidents' homes. Wheatland was interesting and many, many original items to Buchanan. However, once upstairs I was overwhelmed by a very musty, moldy smell that was actually starting to make me ill. I know this is an old house. But this is beyond just an old dusty smell. (we visited Hans Herr house, which is older, and was not bothered by 'historical house smell'.) I think there are repairs that are need for water.. who knows. But the tour itself was good. The woman giving it was pleasant and knowledgeable. I learned quite a bit. But oh.. that terrible smell.. ruined my visit. I couldn't wait to get outside to fresh air.

I enjoyed the time we spent here. The guides were very knowledgable and fun! The history was made very personal so you could connect with it better.

This was a very informative and interesting tour. The house is beautiful and our guide was excellent. Worth a visit.

The guided tour of the house was very interesting, our guide was amazing, she really brought the experience to life. Her knowledge and passion was evident. The pace was good and my 3 elementary school age kids were well engaged and every question was answered, even the ones that weren't relevant 🙂. I would recommend this.

Wheatlend is the home of James Buchanan, the 15th President. The home is pretty much untouched since the days the president lived there. Stephanie was our tour guide and did a wonderful job telling us about the house. Mr. Buchanan was a one term President, and the only one born and raised in Pennsylvania. He was bachelor all his life and also a democrat. While he owned no slaves, he believed the South had the right to do so.

Wheatland is a beautiful home. The tour includes the second floor of the home which is not accessible to handicap visitors. The cost for a senior is $13 which helps support the upkeep of this beautiful home. They try to make it interesting for young children by having them do a treasure hunt while going through the house. They are given a sheet with different photos of things in the house they have to find. The children seemed to enjoy it.

While President Buchanan seems to have been a failed president, his life was fascinating during a time of great turmoil in the nation. The home is well worth visiting. Call in advance to insure there are no scheduled large tours .

This is home of President Buchanan. It is a historic place. The tour guide told us about the history of this location. I had a free ticket to visit this place and liked it. It was educational. I am not sure about the price of the ticket but for me was a valuable history lesson. It could be boring for children

What a lovely home, filled with numerous original items from this President's life. You will enjoy the setting of this house, it's very easy to get to and will learn a lot about James Buchanan. However, the volunteer tour guide named Tom was most unpleasant. He wanted to share his knowledge about this house on his terms only. If you asked a question he was bothered by it and was rather rude to the guests. He would state that is part of the story that is coming up. We almost walked out of the tour due to his being so rude but stuck it out. It was so nice learning something new and seeing part of our nations history.

We toured Wheatland home of President Buchanan. The guide that did our tour was great. I really did not know much about this president but learned a lot. He told Abraham Lincoln that if he was as happy to be the president as much as He (Buchanan) was to leave that he (Abe) would be a very happy man. The house and story of his life has much information and our guide did a great job. Worth the money!!!!!

Its like stepping back in time! great place for the history lover! The guide was very knowledgeable too!

This is the house of President James Buchanan -- the president prior to Lincoln. He was our only bachelor president having never married, but who raised his niece and nephew in this house. He also has the dubious distinction of being our "worst" president - though that might be debated according to your definition of what makes one a "worst" president. The house itself is very interesting, with period-dressed guides, who give tours of preserved rooms pertinent to when Buchanan lived there. Recommend for anyone wanting to check-off another presidential home, or for those who just like to soak up history in any form. There is also a Wheatlands foundation next door with a gift shop, and out of which the foundation runs various programs related to education, history and policy. Be sure to see the short film in that building about Buchannan's life. Oh -- and be sure to view the "multi seat" out house! No waiting!

I visited Wheatland several years ago for the holiday program, so I was anxious to experience the everyday tour. It was very interesting and the tour guide was extremely knowledgeable. Members of our group asked a lot of questions and she was able to answer every one of them. I was especially impressed that you could walk through all of the rooms and not have to look at them from a hallway. This is a must-see when you visit Lancaster County.

Although James Buchanan may not get a top nod for his presidency, his charming, educational home in Lancaster PA hosts tours, girls' tea parties, Civil War encampments and scavenger hunts that entertain and educate.

Buchanan is one of the lesser-known presidents, which is a shame considering the pivotal time he was president - right up to the secession of the south which led to the Civil War. He was also a highly-qualified leader, with terms in the senate, house, and diplomat to Russia and England. Just as interesting are the things we learned about his niece, who served as First lady during his term. He was a bachelor but legally adopted children from his siblings who died while their children were young. Harriet Lane was so popular among world leaders that the Queen of England tried to keep her there when she visited by presenting several eligible English bachelors. Harriet also founded several charities and a children's hospital, and was as devoted as her uncle to the plight of the less-fortunate. The house is beautiful and the tour guides do a wonderful job of conveying their love of Buchanan to guests - do take this tour, you won't regret it.

Original house and furniture owned by JB, and presented nicely by very informed guides in period clothing. The house was interesting given it was only 1 room deep, and was nicely preserved by the Lancaster History chapter. The history museum had some additional info, and an informative video which seemed to be recently revised. The tour guide did a good job presenting James' struggles as a president during such a tough time for the USA, and suggested he did his best with the hand he was dealt.

Pleasant way to spend a bit of time, but not 'knock me over interesting'. Beautiful location/ landscape.

A wonderful tour led by a very articulate and knowledgeable gentleman. We were provided history of the house,information about Buchanan as president, and a look into his provate life and his relationships with his niece and nephew.

I love to see historic things and this place was full of it. Buchanan is a president i do not know much about and seeing his house, and learning that he used his own desk in the white house rather than one of theirs, or that his used his own china vs letting government pay for it cool. The house is full of artifacts from time and has an air of elegance about that is not found today. There is a museum attached to property where you pay to get in and they have other artifacts too, especially a dress owned by his niece that was designed for her last visit with queen victoria.

We appreciated our tour of Wheatland. It was an interesting and informative tour. So many original pieces in the home. Much more than many other tours we have been on. The presidential desk was impressive to see! The visitors center was a good stop too that held many interesting pieces and information. Our only complaint was the grounds looked a little unkept but it may have been the time of year we visited, in mid April. All in all a worthwhile stop if you appreciate history.

This is definitely worth a visit! We took a tour with a lovely gentleman who at first seemed a little nervous with our group but quickly loosened up and was a fun guide.

Going into this tour we really didn't know much about Buchanan but by the end we really got a sense of who he and his family were.

Worth a visit.

The home of President James Buchanan was well presented with a mixture of original furnishings and other period pieces. Our guide, Stephanie, did an excellent job of describing the life of Buchanan and his family. A bachelor, he took in and raised his orphaned niece and nephew. Details about his niece were extremely interesting, particularly that she served very competently as First Lady during his presidency. We also learned that Buchanan bought a Pennsylvania distilled whiskey called "Old JB's" by the barrel.

The tour of this home was the best we have experienced at any president’s home! The tour guide was very informative and well versed in history of President Buchanan and his family. Highly recommend this tour!

Our tour began with the purchase of our tour tickets inside the pleasant visitor center which featured a gift shop and two levels of exhibits relating to President Buchanan, Harrisburg/Lancaster and the people who called the area home. Tour of the Wheatland house with a knowledgable guide provided insight into a. bright and educated man who loved his family and his country, but struggled mightily to take a moral stance in the darkest era of American history. Highly recommended for all ages. (The children we saw on our tour seemed to enjoy a “scavenger hunt” quest to spy various historical and decorative items displayed in different rooms and then check them off on their game sheets). Excellent published records of the home’s interior decor while Buchanan was President allow for authentic staging. The elaborate Buchanan china which was taken to the White House (rather than commissioning new), furniture, books, and both family and period furnishings give perspective on the President, his family, and an interesting glimpse into Civil War era life.

An excellent guided tour by a well informed docent makes this visit enjoyable. Learn about President Buchanan's personal life and his presidency which preceded Abe Lincoln.

Attended the Yuletide on a snowy evening which provided the perfect ambience for this program's Christmas eve. The actors were wonderful in their roles and the costumes were realistic. My husband and I enjoyed the games, the poetry and Christmas carols. That's the way to throw a party.

The house is the way it was when Buchanan lived there. He was the first president to have a bath tub. The guides" are very helpful.

I lived in Lancaster for 10 years, never been, it was a mistake, that place is really interesting, the guide explained a lot. I went to Monticello, Jefferson house, etc never here. Plan to return soon with friends.

We learned so much from our lovely guide, and she was very patient with our two children (they are pretty well behaved, but still - this is a "no touch" kind of place and she kept the pace good for them.) Highly recommend watching the short film before going on the tour of the home.

James Buchanan is not a president that I have ever heard much about. We visited his home and learned quite a bit. I would say it is worth a stop. When you arrive, you pay and they assign you a time for your tour. We arrived around 10:30 and were scheduled for an 11:00 tour. During the wait time, there is a museum to browse. There are artifacts from the family and the time (pre-Civil War) and an additional exhibit on the history of the local press. The tour begins with a movie that gives you an overview of who he was and info about his presidency. (He preceded Abraham Lincoln.) . After the film, you walk to the house (very short walk!) and have a guided tour by a knowledgable guide dressed in period garb. The focus of the tour is weighted more on the family and people rather than the actual house. Definitely worth doing, if you are interested in history at all.

We spent a lovely afternoon at Wheatland. The grounds are beautiful and the house is in wonderful condition. We were pleased to learn so much about Buchanan, a president we knew very little about. We were also thrilled that so many of the furnishings were actually his possessions. Often times in presidential homes, you find period pieces, but not actual furnishings owned by the president or his family. Wheatland was the exception.

The only negative on our trip was the tour guide. He was 10 minutes late for the tour, so another tour guide began it and then had to awkwardly step out when the “actual” tour guide showed up. We got the impression that this tardiness happened often. It made the tour feel disorganized. The new tour guide was knowledgeable of the era and history, but he was a bit grumpy at guest questions. He needed a bit of work on his customer service skills.

Overall, we enjoyed the house and the historical significance.

Just outside of Lancaster, PA is this interesting place to visit - President Buchanan's home. We highly recommend to allow time for visit when in the nearby Amish Country area, just a short drive away. You can stroll the grounds and take pictures and stop in the Visitor's Center before taking a tour of the mansion, well worth it. The tour conducted by a knowledgeable docent was very interesting.

Exhibitions in the main building are interesting but not overwhelming. The best part includes the video of Buchanan's life and the tour which follows. Tour guide Nancy was great. This place does not sugar coat the weaknesses and failures of this president. The home is wonderful, with super period furniture, some original to the home and Buchanan himself. The story of Buchanan being never married and his niece Harriet as first lady is interesting. Well done.

If you are in Lancaster check this place out. Who knew there was a Presidential home right here. We called and were scheduled for a regular house tour. Period antiques, manicured lawns and great docents that known their history. This is a must do for Lancaster visitors.

Really enjoyed our tour of James Buchanan's mansion - guide was very informative and the setting is lovely. There is short documentary film and additional exhibits you can view in the museum building while waiting for your tour to begin. And the grounds are beautiful! Well worth the visit!

Very informative introduction to the man and president James Buchanan. The movie and guides had a lot of information about the tumultuous times in which he lived just prior to the Civil War.

Relatively unknown home of President James Buchanan. Many artifacts on display in the adjoining Lancaster County Historical Society.

This isn't Monticello. It's surprisingly small (by the standards of a presidential home) about an hour long tour, though certainly worthwhile. They offer guided tours as well as ones "at your own pace" with a different guide in each room. Some of the guides were better than others. You wouldn't want to schedule a visit solely for Wheatland but, if you're in Lancaster, it's a nice way to spend some down time.

We never knew much about President James Buchanan but this visit gave us an important look at an obscure president that had a profoundly negative impact on our nation. It was neat to see his house and to learn about his life. He was a northern Democrat that supported slavery and his presidency was a real disgrace to our nation.

We enjoyed out visit and learned about his niece who was a good friend of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.

We’ve toured a few historic houses through the states and this had to be one of our top three tours. Informative and fun, Wheatland is not to be missed. A nice chance of pace from the Amish sites in the area.

We stumbled on this site
Today while exploring lancaster..wonderful history..very well done..amazing house with very good narration....amazing place truly a hidden gem.

Great way to learn about the 15th president. House tour guide was fantastic! The grounds were beautiful and the gift shop good.

We enjoy history, and decided to visit both Wheatland and the Lancaster Historical Museum. Both are on the same site. The guide was very knowledgeable on Pres. Buchanan and the intimate details that brought that period of our history alive. The house is in good condition, period furniture in all rooms. Easy to wander the grounds and relax afterwards.
The Lancaster Museum has a very good display showing the historical progression of the area from several perspectives -the political of Pres. Buchanan, newspapers, teh Civil War, Pa Dutch settlers, and more.

Buchanan looked like he would be a wonderful choice for president with a wide range of political and diplomatic posts, a beautiful home filled with glittering crystal, mirrors, a grand piano -- he knew everybody worth knowing in the Government, and on paper had everything needed to hold the Union together.

Clearly a Northerner, but his house and its furnishing showed that he had a deep admiration for the South. He could empathize and sympathize with both sides of the deep divide.

And, at the end of the day, he lacked the one thing that was essential: a lack of character that finally would determine what he had to do to succeed. So we count him as a enormous failure as President, and my visit here led a human dimension to his failure.