Solanco Historical Society serves the southern end of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, including Quarryville Borough and Bart, Colerain, Drumore, East Drumore, Eden, Fulton, Little Britain, Providence and Sadsbury Townships. We welcome any information and inquiries pertaining to Southern Lancaster County.Current Office and Research Hours: 9:00 A.M. to noon every Wednesday throughout the year, and 2nd and 4th Saturday mornings from September to May.
Robert Fulton Birthplace Guided Tours: See detailed information under "About Us - Operating Hours."
Interested in becoming a membership of Solanco Historical Society? This Society welcomes anyone interested in learning more about the "Southern End" of Lancaster County and surrounding areas. See "About Us - Membership" for an application form and dues amounts.
On the 3rd Saturday of most months, Solanco Historical Society offers a free historical program at 1:30 P.M. at its headquarters meeting room. Located at 1932 Robert Fulton Highway across from the Robert Fulton Birthplace, the brick archives warehouse is 6-1/2 miles south of Quarryville near Swift Road in Fulton Township. The programs are open to the public and the facility is handicapped-accessible. For more details on programs, speakers and our full list of events, click on the "Upcoming Events" section at the top of this page.
Saturday, June 17th: Program on General Stores of Southern Lancaster County - Presented by Michael Roth and Stanley White - 1:30 P.M. at the Society's Archives Building across from the Robert Fulton Birthplace.
Weekend of June 23rd, 24th & 25th: CIVIL WAR LIVING HISTORY ENCAMPMENT
Don't miss this enriching historical 3-day event on the grounds behind the Robert Fulton Birthplace. Very kno
wledgeable Civil War reenactors of the 2nd Pennsylvania Cavalry, 59th Regiment Volunteers, Co. D, will be speaking of wartime experiences of the Union and Confederate soldiers as well as the much-revered President Abraham Lincoln. Visitors will be able to view the soldiers' living conditions, meal preparation, communications, weapons including artillery demonstrations; view a historical weapons display; watch period dancers and hear folk music. On Sunday an outdoor worship service will be led by an ordained minister. Photographic opportunities will be available all weekend. Payment is by donation. The Robert Fulton Birthplace will be open for tours during the encampment. The tour fees are $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for children from 6 to 18 (or $5.00 for 2 children), and 5 years and under free. Parking is off Swift Road.
Tentative Schedule of the Civil War Encampment:
Friday, June 23, 2017 --
12 noon-4:00 PM – Camp open to the public during participant arrival and setup.
4:00 PM – If possible, artillery demonstration to close camp to the public.
Participant arrivals continue until dark, about 8:30 PM.
Saturday, June 24, 2017 --
Throughout the weekend at various locations as they become available, visit with:
The President’s personal secretary, John G. Nicolay
General William Tecumseh Sherman, USA
Major General Philip H. Sheridan, USA
Major John Hammond, 5th New York Cavalry, USA
Sergeant John Lincoln Clem, USA
General Robert E. Lee, CSA
Brigadier General “Extra” Billy Smith, CSA
John Burns, citizen soldier from Gettysburg, PA
Period dancing by Venture Crew 1861’s dancers
Blacksmith and cast iron cooking
Author Bruce Mowday, Civil War Historian
Author J. Arthur Moore, Civil War Historical Fiction and history of the boys of the Civil War
10:00 AM – Camps
open to the public
10:00 AM – Camps open to the public
10:30 AM – Period dancing exhibition with Venture Crew 1861’s dancers
Artillery demonstration at the guns in the military camp
A conversation with the President and the Generals at the upper camp gathering space
11:00 AM – Firing demonstration in the military camp
11:30 AM – Artillery demonstration at the guns in the military camp
A presentation in the barn about the boys in the Civil War
A presentation in the barn about Fort Delaware prison camp
12:30 PM – Firing demonstration in the military camp
1:00 PM – Artillery demonstration at the guns in the military camp
A conversation with the President and the Generals at the upper camp gathering space
A presentation about cast iron cooking with Black Dragon Iron Works
2:00 PM – Firing demonstration in the military camp
2:30 PM – Artillery demonstration at the guns in the military camp
A conversation with the President and the Generals at the upper camp gathering space
Meet the authors in their camp areas
3:30 PM – Firing demonstration in the military camp
4:00 PM – Artillery demonstration at the guns in the military camp
A conversation with the President and the Generals at the upper camp gathering space
Meet the authors in their camp areas
5:00 PM – Firing demonstration in the military camp
A conversation with the President and the Generals at the upper camp gathering space
10:00 AM – Camps open to the public
Sunday, June 25, 2017
10:30 AM – Period dancing exhibition with Venture Crew 1861’s dancers
Artillery demonstration at the guns in the military camp
A conversation with the president and the generals at the upper camp gathering space
11:00 AM – Firing demonstration in the military camp
11:30 AM – Artillery demonstration at the guns in the military camp
A presentation about the boys in the Civil War in the barn
12:30 PM – Firing demonstration in the military camp
A presentation about Fort Delaware prison camp in the barn
A conversation with the President and the Generals at the upper camp gathering space
3:00 PM – Camp closes and participants depart.
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Saturday, September 16, 2017 - SOCIETY-SPONSORED BUS TRIP TO WASHINGTON, D.C. - See details under Upcoming Events tab.
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Below left: Pine Grove Covered Bridge, Little Britain Township. Below right: archives warehouse building, headquarters of Solanco Historical Society, located across from the Robert Fulton Birthplace on Route 222, Fulton Township.
