Energy, enthusiasm, and community spirit filled the air in downtown Lancaster last weekend as thousands of people attended a May 2 block party to celebrate the opening of the Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy on Vine Street.

The new museum and education center, operated by LancasterHistory, is located in the former home of Stevens, a 19th-century U.S. Congressman who championed abolition and racial equality.

Franklin & Marshall College was one of more than two dozen organizations to host a tent at the block party, which was organized by LancasterHistory. Members of the F&M community — including President Andrew Rich — greeted visitors and answered wide-ranging questions about the College, its academic programs, student body, and athletics.

F&M faculty and students played a key role in the establishment of the Stevens & Smith Center. In 2002, the Thaddeus Stevens house was set to be demolished during the construction of the Lancaster County Convention Center. The Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County advocated for its preservation, bringing in F&M Professor of Anthropology Mary Ann Levine to conduct an archaeological excavation.

Levine organized a team of students and volunteers, who uncovered two cisterns in the basement that were modified in the 1830s. The group hypothesized that the location was part of the Underground Railroad.

The cisterns became a galvanizing force for the preservation of the site, according to Robin Sarratt, president of LancasterHistory.

As the new museum took shape, LancasterHistory consulted with F&M Professor of History Louise Stevenson on how to present the lives and careers of Stevens and Smith. Stevenson, who retired from teaching in 2023, said at the time that “If you can show students what happened here, they go, ‘Wow, I really am living in history; I am part of this.’”

The Stevens & Smith Center officially opened to the public on May 5.

Q&A with Robin Sarratt, president and CEO of LancasterHistory:

What was it like to bring the Lancaster community together for this historic event?

We’ve worked toward this goal for more than 16 years and couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve achieved at the Stevens & Smith Center. Bringing the Lancaster community together for the grand opening of the Center was both deeply moving and incredibly energizing. What stood out most was the sense of shared ownership. This wasn’t just an institutional milestone, it felt like a community achievement. People from all walks of life showed up with genuine curiosity, pride, and a desire to connect with the stories at the heart of the Center. It was a great reminder that when a community comes together around a shared vision, something powerful happens. 

What does it mean to have President Rich as a partner in strengthening the relationship between Lancaster and F&M?

We’re fortunate to have a longstanding relationship between LancasterHistory and F&M that has connected our organization with the college’s faculty, students, and programs for decades. Under Andy Rich’s guidance, that collaboration is reaching new heights. Andy brings a deep commitment to partnership and a clear belief in extending the mission of F&M into the broader community. At LancasterHistory, we’re excited to pursue new opportunities together—sharing programs, deepening civic engagement, and partnering in thought leadership to connect the work of F&M students with the history of this community and the initiatives underway at the Stevens & Smith Center. Personally, I’m grateful to have developed a friendship with Andy that strengthens my own leadership through his example, camaraderie, and insight. I’m confident that Andy and his team will continue bridging campus and community in ways that bring students, scholarship, and meaningful dialogue from F&M into the Stevens & Smith Center.

"We’re fortunate to have a longstanding relationship between LancasterHistory and F&M that has connected our organization with the college’s faculty, students, and programs for decades."

Robin Sarratt

Lancaster: An Integral Educational Partner

Diplomats don’t simply live in Lancaster — we are intricately woven into the fabric of our city. We value our partnerships with organizations like LancasterHistory, which provide vital opportunities for our students to learn, serve, and engage with the community. Experience Lancaster > https://www.fandm.edu/visit/lancaster/living-and-learning/

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