Preservation Happy Hour / Speaker Series – Continental Congress in Lancaster

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 most important figures of the Revolution 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 the tense journey of Congress 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.