Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County In The Open

Background

It’s no secret that Lancaster, PA holds a rich history.

The Red Rose City has served as capital of the country, home to renowned painter Charles Demuth, and is the location of the oldest continuously operated farmers market in the States, to name a few notable items. What might not be as known are the achievements of underrecognized communities, whose resilience left a great impact on Lancaster and beyond. The Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County set out to give well-deserved recognition to six of those communities, highlighting a historic figure to represent each one.

Going on display at the historic Lancaster Amtrak Station, where there is never a shortage of foot traffic from rail passengers and patrons, we found a balance between informative and expressive to create an engaging experience. From naming, to design, to installation, every part of this process saw close collaboration with many partners in the Lancaster community, bringing this mosaic of well-deserved recognition to life. We created a contrasting, cohesive typographic hierarchy and limited color palette to shape the exhibit’s bold identity. This worked alongside a grid system that allowed the articles and artifacts shine, giving them the attention they deserve. After its time at the Amtrak Station, the exhibit was moved to the Historic Preservation Trust office at the Sehner-Ellicott-von Hess House.