the western hotel museum

Don't go on a Thursday. The hours of operation are not sufficient, in my opinion. We wanted to go and see this historical museum, but were disappointed to find it was closed most days and that the hours are very limited. Perhaps the Chamber of Commerce could find a way to support this facility as it would definitely draw travelers in for a look. We gazed at it from the sidewalk and it is a nicely restored building. Wish we could have experienced more!

We enjoyed our visit to this property. It did not consume much time and much of it was closed off. Donations are at your choice, and worth a couple of bucks. Parking is free and was available on this weekend day. Hours/days available Limited. Not chock full of items, but it does represent some of the town history.

Take your kids here to show them how much our expectations have changed in 100 years! The hotel's rooms are tiny, which is to be expected. (A bedroom was just that--a bed in a room, which you used to sleep. You went to the lobby if you wanted to read, write a letter, or play cards.) But what interested me during my visit was how short the beds are. You'd assume it was because people then weren't generally as tall as they are today. But no--the tour guide said it was because people didn't really sleep in a prone position then; they sat up more in bed, propped up by pillows. Very interesting!

The Western Hotel gives people the opportunity to see what Lancaster was like during the days of the Wild West. It is a beautifully restored Victorian treasure in the heart of the newly renovated downtown. A trip to Lancaster would not be complete without scheduling in a visit here as well.