The Louise Arnold Tanger Arboretum is an 11-acre arboretum featuring a multitude of plant specimens and garden features on the grounds of LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center and President James Buchanan’s Wheatland in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The Arboretum includes over 100 species of trees from all over the world and includes two Pennsylvania State Champion trees, native plant pollinator gardens, and an American Conifer Society Reference Garden. The Arboretum is cared for and conserved by the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum, a subsidiary of LancasterHistory.

Visiting the Arboretum

The Louise Arnold Tanger Arboretum is located on the grounds of LancasterHistory Museum & Research Center, including President James Buchanan’s Wheatland. There is no designated “entry” point; only that vehicles should enter the property via LancasterHistory’s main entrance at 230 North President Avenue.

The Tanger Arboretum is open from dawn to dusk to the public. There is no admission fee. Maps of the Arboretum and the Native Plant Pollinator Gardens are available at Visitor Services at LancasterHistory, Monday – Saturday 9:30am – 5pm, or in two map boxes in the Arboretum. One box is located at the entrance at North President Avenue. The other, near the Pollinator Gardens.

If you spot a problem or concern about the Arboretum, please contact (717) 392-4633 or email Michelle Lapp, Groundskeeper, at michelle.lapp@lancasterhistory.org.

Programs & Events

The Friends of the Tanger Arboretum hosts periodic events throughout the year, including their yearly Nature Series, that focus on topics rated to plants, gardening, the environment, and animals. An Annual Dinner is also hosted each year to raise funds for the care and conservation of the Tanger Arboretum. To view upcoming events, please click here. Members of the Friends of the Tanger Arboretum often receive complimentary admission or program discounts to Arboretum programming.

The Louise Arnold Tanger Arboretum is a member of the American Horticultural Society’s Reciprocal Admissions Program (RAP). If you are a member of an American Horticultural Society Reciprocal Garden, we offer the following: 90-mile exclusion not enforced, free/discounted audio guide or tour, free/discounted educational programs, and free/discounted entry to select special events. Programming that has an AHS Reciprocal discount often mentions it in the listing. You can view available programs here.

Group Tours of the Tanger Arboretum

LancasterHistory offers guided, private tours of the Tanger Arboretum for adult and student groups of 10 or more, led by knowledgeable Friends of the Tanger Arboretum members. Guided tours traverse the entire Tanger Arboretum and take approximately 60 – 90 minutes depending on the amount of questions from group members and the size of the group. For more information, including pricing, on scheduling a guided tour of the Arboretum for a group (10+ people), please visit and complete a Group Tours inquiry form online.

Volunteering at the Tanger Arboretum

We’re always looking for volunteers to help care for the Tanger Arboretum! To view any current opportunities, please visit the Volunteer webpage or reach out to Michelle Lapp, Groundskeeper, at michelle.lapp@lancasterhistory.org.