Frequently Asked Questions

The Stevens & Smith Center is located at 13–15 East Vine Street, Lancaster, PA 17602. The main entrance to the Center is on East Vine Street, near the corner of East Vine and South Queen Streets.

Advance reservations are strongly recommended for all visitors, including LancasterHistory Members. Tickets are for timed entry into the Center, and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Tickets to the Center can be purchased online, by phone (717.392.4633), or at the Center in person. 

For admission pricing and information about available discounts, please visit our Hours & Admission page.

The Center is open:

Monday: Closed
Tuesday-Saturday: 10am–5pm
“Summer Sundays” (May 31–Aug 30): 12–4pm

The Center is closed most Federal holidays.

We recommend allowing at least two hours to experience the whole Center.

Yes! You can view the maps of our Center on the Museum Map & Guides page.

Multilingual gallery tools will be available soon. Meanwhile, please ask LancasterHistory staff or volunteers for assistance using Google Lens to translate text into the language of your choice.

Food and drinks should be consumed before entering the Center. Water fountains are available on each floor. Sealable water bottles are allowed.

No, but we encourage you to visit local restaurants and eateries nearby, like Southern Market.

Benches and chairs are available throughout the Center.

Still and video photography is permitted for noncommercial use only in the Center and its galleries, unless otherwise posted. For more information about when and how you can take photos or video in the Center, please visit our Visitor Code of Conduct page.

Note: Visitors may be filmed, photographed, or recorded by LancasterHistory for educational and promotional uses, including for LancasterHistory’s printed publications, advertising, digital channels, and other partner channels.

For more information about conduct and items that are prohibited in the Center, please visit the Visitor Code of Conduct page.

Please visit our Directions & Parking page for more information.

The Center offers unstaffed self-check for coats for Center visitors. Visitors are allowed to carry small bags and backpacks in the Center. We offer lockers for luggage or other large items. Marriott guests may leave luggage with the Marriott front desk.

The Center is not responsible for lost or stolen items. Coat check is for Center visitors only. To inquire about a possible lost item, please call 717.392.4633 to speak to Center Visitor Service staff.

General Admission is:

• $20 for adults (walk-up, in-person, over the phone)
• $18 for adults (online purchase only) and seniors
• $10 for students (with ID), military (with ID), and Lancaster County educators (with ID)
• FREE for children 10 and under

Timed entry tickets help us maintain a comfortable and enjoyable experience for all visitors. Same-day tickets at Visitor Services are available on a first-come, first-served basis and may sell out. Advance reservations are strongly encouraged.

We recommend visitors arrive no more than 10 minutes prior to their timed entry. Once checked-in, visitors can stay as long as they like up until closing.

The last entry time is one hour before closing. If the Center closes at 4pm, the last entry time is 3pm. If the Center closes at 5pm, the last entry time is 4pm.

No, you do not have to print your ticket(s). We can scan the ticket(s) from your phone or look up your reservation manually.

Don’t panic! We’ll work with you at Visitor Services to slot you into the next available time slot.

Online ticket orders are delivered via email from info@lancasterhistory.org soon after you submit your order. The tickets are enclosed in the email via a hyperlink. Please check your spam or junk folder for the email if you don’t see it in your inbox.

If you still do not see the email with your ticket link, please contact support@lancasterhistory.org or call 717.392.4633 for more immediate assistance.

LancasterHistory requires at least 24-hours notice to cancel tickets. Within that 24-hour window, we are happy to refund or reschedule your tickets to a better day or time. Outside of that window, we do not offer any refunds or reschedules.

The Stevens & Smith Center participates in the North American Reciprocal Museum (NARM) Association program. If you are a qualifying member of a museum or organization that participates with NARM, please visit our Visitor Services desk when you arrive to obtain timed entry General Admission ticket(s) by presenting your membership card, which must have the NARM logo or NARM sticker visible. You may also reserve your tickets over the phone in advance, but must show the membership card with the NARM logo or sticker upon check in. Online orders are not available.

NARM visitors receive free General Admission for up to two (2) adults and up to four (4) children under 18, and 10% off in the Museum Store.

Yes! We offer a number of ways to save on the price of admission. To view our complete list of available discounts, please visit our Hours & Admission page.

Yes! Please visit our Visitor Services desk to apply your ticket purchase toward your membership. Please present your receipt, tickets, or order number so we can review your previous purchase and apply the correct amount.

Groups of 15 or more adults or 10 or more students can book a group experience by contacting groups@lancasterhistory.org or call 717.392.4633, ext. 135.

For more information, please visit our Group Tours page.

The Stevens & Smith Center welcomes visitors of all ages and offers engaging, family-friendly experiences that encourage curiosity, learning, and discovery. Some stories may be more complex for elementary-school-age children, but the Center’s immersive exhibits offer opportunities for learning at all ages.

Parents are allowed to breast- or bottle-feed anywhere in the Center.

A baby-changing station is available on the main entrance level and lowest level of the building.

Yes, strollers are allowed in the galleries.

We’d love to have you join us! For more information and to become a member, please visit our Membership page.

You can renew your membership any time online, or call 717.392.4633 to renew over the phone.

No, the Center is not part of the National Park Service and therefore does not accept any Park Passes for admission.

The Center is a member of the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom and the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network.