Preservation Happy Hour / Speaker Series – Continental Congress in Lancaster

On September 9, 2026, join Capital Day at the Sehner-Ellicott-von Hess House in Lancaster, commemorating the city’s brief role as the U.S. capital during the Revolution. Enjoy a presentation on historical events, happy hour, and exclusive merchandise, while supporting the Historic Preservation Trust. Tickets are $37.50, limited to 40 attendees.

Raise a glass to the day Lancaster became the capital of the United States!

Join me on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at the historic Sehner-Ellicott-von Hess House for Capital Day: The Continental Congress in Lancaster, a special fundraising event benefiting the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County.

The evening begins with happy hour at 5:30 p.m., followed by my presentation at 6:30 p.m. We’ll explore the dramatic events that brought the Continental Congress to Lancaster, what happened inside the courthouse that once stood in Penn Square, who was there, and why Congress remained in the Red Rose City for only a few hours before continuing west to York.

Tickets are $37.50, and seating is limited to only 40 attendees. Advance registration is strongly encouraged.

Everyone who attends will receive free Uncharted Lancaster stickers and magnets. I’ll also have signed copies of my books available for purchase, and I will donate 50 percent of the evening’s book-sale proceeds to the Historic Preservation Trust.

I hope you’ll join us for a drink, some remarkable local history, and a toast to Lancaster’s extraordinary day as the nation’s capital! Click here to reserve your seat.

Event Details

Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Happy Hour: 5:30 p.m.
Presentation: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Sehner-Ellicott-von Hess House, 123 North Prince Street, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Admission: $37.50
Registration: Seating is limited to 40 attendees and ticket registration is required.

On September 27, 1777, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, became the capital of the United States for one remarkable day. But this was no ceremonial honor. It happened during one of the most dangerous moments of the American Revolution, as British forces advanced on Philadelphia and the Continental Congress fled for safety.

This presentation explores the dramatic sequence of events that brought some of the Revolution’s most important figures to Lancaster. Beginning with the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777, the program follows the collapse of American defenses, Alexander Hamilton’s urgent warning to evacuate Philadelphia, and Congress’s tense journey through Pennsylvania as delegates sought to stay one step ahead of the British army.

Along the way, we will look at the movement of vital public papers, the hidden journey of the Liberty Bell, John Adams’ firsthand account of the flight from Philadelphia, and the arrival of Continental Congress members in Lancaster. The story culminates at the old courthouse in what is now Penn Square, where Congress met, conducted official business, and then quickly adjourned to York for greater safety.

More than a local footnote, Capital Day reveals Lancaster’s brief but meaningful role in the survival of American independence. For one day, while the future of the Revolution hung in the balance, the Red Rose City stood at the center of a young nation’s government.

Merch & Swag

I will have signed copies of my books for sale, including Capital Day: Lancaster and the Revolution, Ghosts, Monsters, and Tales of Adventure, and Uncharted Lancaster: Field Guide to the Strange, Storied, and Hidden Places of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. I will be donating 50 percent of all proceeds from that night’s sales to the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County.

Pick up some free Uncharted Lancaster swag, like stickers and magnets.

Where To Go

The Sehner-Ellicott-Von Hess House is located at 123 N Prince St, Lancaster, PA 17603. Click here to register for this event.