The Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County is now entering into Phase II of our campaign to create an $18 million educational and interpretive complex that will honor Stevens and Smith and their many accomplishments as well as exploring the larger themes of civil rights, equality, slavery and freedom that were reflected in their lives and have imprinted a lasting legacy on America.  To develop this important heritage tourism site, we have already accomplished the following:

1. Painstakingly restored the facades of the Stevens House, Kleiss Tavern and Lydia Smith Boarding Houses that form bookends on the east and west corners of the new Lancaster County Convention Center.
2. Created thousands of square feet of rough museum space behind these historic structures that will contain most of the interpretive exhibits and provide room for programming.

1. Restore the law office in the Thaddeus Stevens Residence where he practiced and read law with many aspiring students, including future U.S. Congressmen.  His restored parlor will also demonstrate the space where Stevens and Smith entertained many distinguished visitors and where they no doubt entered into many lively discussions over the great issues of the day.
2. Create exhibits and associated programming within the historically restored areas and modern space to chronicle the rise of public education, slavery, emancipation, the Civil War, Reconstruction, and development of the passage of the 13th, 14th and 15th amendments to the U.S. Constitution and their link to civil rights in America.
3. Preserve the cistern site and basement of Kleiss Saloon as a nationally significant Underground Railroads safe haven for runaways seeking freedom on their way north.
4. Develop ongoing educational programming for a wide variety of visitors include elementary through college students, families, researchers, and scholars, Civil War enthusiasts, archaeology buffs, heritage tourists, and church, club and cultural groups.
5. Tell the significant story of Lydia Hamilton Smith and how she rose above her station in life to become Stevens’ business manager and confidante and embody his belief that women can achieve much more than Victorian customs allowed.
6. Develop certain portions of the historic buildings into leased commercial space that would provide income for maintenance and operations of the historic site.
7. Mount a $10 million effort to complete interior restoration and construction, develop exhibits and programming and establish initial operating and longer term endowments to facilitate the financial sustainability of the site.