Construction work is 98% complete on the Thaddeus Stevens and Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy. The center is finishing up a few key aspects and is getting ready to stage its exhibits in 25,000 square feet of gallery space. One United Lancaster embarked on a tour of the building led by LancasterHistory President and CEO, Robin Sarratt, to examine the progress and opportunities the new museum will provide Lancaster.

LancasterHistory has been creating a museum, constructed by Benchmark Construction,  focused on Stevens' and  Smith’s contributions to America. The Center has been in the making for more than two decades. "The complex will be a tribute, not only to Stevens and Smith as individuals, but to the ideals they stood for," said former Mayor Rick Gray, LancasterHistory's board chair at the center's construction launch.

$3.4 million was allocated for research and design from 2019 to 2024. Site preparation and construction took place from December 2023 to January 2025, on a budget of $11.4 million. $4.5 million is the budget for exhibition fabrication & installation which started in January 2025 and will end February 2026.

The museums galleries will display their contributions on abolition, the Underground Railroad and the Civil War highlighting Stevens' advocacy for the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments. The center will also provide the coverage of Stevens' and Smith's media representation over time, including their mentions in the films "Birth of a Nation" and "Lincoln."

The organization partnered with Ralph Appelbaum Associates for design. Ralph Appelbaum Associates brought in Prime Access consulting (PAC) for assistance on accessibility. PAC specifically works to introduce what it calls, "affordances," or inclusive design elements into a building from beginning to end.

Accessibility and ADA (American Disabilities Act) compliance was a significant consideration in the museum's design. Sarratt explained that Stevens himself was born with a disability, a club foot. His brother was born with two club feet which led to a painful experience during the 19th century. Currently over 25% of Americans live with a disability. Many historic museums do not have "affordances" built in because of old infrastructure or compliance with ADA is not as inclusive as it could be.

The physical affordances: ramps, handrails, tactile strips and wide turn radiuses for wheelchairs and strollers. Visual and neurodivergent affordances: tactile orientation maps and braille introductions. On every intro panel there are audio transcriptions for everything that is written and written transcription for anything that is audio. There are also multiple language translations, which can be done through the website, that can read the room's content.

Sarratt hopes the center’s location will provide opportunities for the local community and the South Central Pa. area. There are 14 schools within walking distance of the center, which will offset the cost of schools having to pay for transportation. The center will offer a mix of curriculum and field trip experiences, creating onsite and remote learning opportunities for students K-12. The education services will offer tours and activities that are appropriate for different grade levels which will be centered around subjects related to United States History, the Constitution, Civil War, Underground Railroad and civic education.

"Tourism is such a huge draw for Lancaster County, 85% of all tourists who come to Lancaster say partly, what they're interested in is the history and heritage of the region," said Sarratt. The center’s location creates an opportunity for visitors to see downtown Lancaster and enjoy economic endeavors such as eating at restaurants, shopping at local businesses and staying at hotels. The Lancaster City Alliance’s 2024 Progress Report cited on its, Building on Strength Plan, that the Stevens Smith Center is one of the new developments in the tourism sector that will further solidify Lancaster as a premier destination on the national map.

The center aspires to be a community hub by providing classrooms and interactive spaces on its third floor for organizations to have meetings and conversations that can go after hours.

Towards the end of the year the center will start hiring, beginning with 6 positions in visitor services, staff, education staff and facilities management.