things to do

Lancaster County Historical Society & President James Buchanan’s Wheatland

James Buchanan died at Wheatland on June 1, 1868. The 22 acre Wheatland estate was inherited by his niece, Harriet Lane Johnston. Mrs. Johnston, whose principal residence was in Baltimore, used Wheatland primarily as a summer retreat. She sold the estate in 1884 to Lancaster businessman, George B. Willson. Although Willson eventually installed electricity and plumbing, he apparently had a great respect for Wheatland's historical significance and made very few structural alterations. However, in 1893, Willson sold 13 of Wheatland's 22 original acres to Henry Williamson. Upon George Willson's death in 1929, Wheatland was inherited by his cousin, Mary Willson Rettew. Mary Rettew died in 1934, leaving 5 ¾ acres of the estate and funds for the establishment of what later became the Lancaster County Historical Society.