The best arts & culture spots in Lancaster

“1719 Museum lets you wander from the Herr House, the oldest surviving homestead in Lancaster County, to the Lancaster Longhouse that unpacks the Eastern Woodland story, connecting Mennonite immigrants and Indigenous neighbors.”

From the Lancaster newsletter, August 5, 2026

“From the new Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy to the Thieves & Vagabonds exhibition, LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center delivers Lancaster’s past without the textbook yawns.”

From the Lancaster newsletter, August 7, 2026

“Village & farm museum devoted to the history & culture of Pennsylvania's rural German community.”

“Small, long-running showcase of regional, national & international artworks, plus workshops.”

“Museum exhibiting works by noted modernist painter Charles Demuth in his former home & studio.”

“Set in a building with a Chinese rotunda, this museum has abundant artifacts & antiquities.”

“Historic house museum & library showcasing Germantown's early history & artifacts.”

“This roomy venue offers interactive exhibits, classes & events geared for kids ages 2 to 10.”

“Chain of art studios offering easy-to-follow painting classes for groups & individuals.”

“Guided tours of this 18th-century plantation & its grounds are offered from April through October.”

“Historic theater is a grand space for current & classic musicals, plays & family-oriented shows.”

“Museum featuring exhibits including a dinosaur gallery & discovery room also boasts a planetarium.”

“Museum where kids can explore science, engineering & technology principles with hands-on displays.”

“Majestic space with famed entry staircase featuring Renaissance classics & special exhibits.”