Education & History
Making New Memories at the Montgomery House
The Montgomery House is where history and sophistication meet.
The Montgomery House is where history and sophistication meet.
Nestled between the Lancaster County Convention Center and the Lancaster Marriott on South Queen Street stands one of Lancaster’s few remaining Federal Period buildings: the William H. Montgomery House, a striking Federal Style brick mansion with marble window sills.
Now a historic venue complete with four floors of intimate, elegant meeting and event spaces, the Montgomery House is an important piece of Lancaster’s history still in commission today. William Montgomery, a prominent local attorney, bought this piece of land for $1,250 in 1804 and built the house for his family where they stayed for several generations. Around the early 1900s the building would eventually be home to the first Lancaster YWCA, a pharmacy, a hardware store, a barbershop, rental units until eventually becoming a part of the Watt & Shand Department store (which many remember fondly), and later a Bon-Ton. However, it experienced a brief spell of vacancy from 1995 onward before returning to its former glory to open as a special events venue in 2013.
The 1804 mansion sports its original brick walls.
Designed by Stephen Hills, the mansion holds the title of Lancaster’s only structure designed by the architect who crafted Harrisburg’s first Capitol building, and it dates back to Thomas Jefferson’s presidency.
The hotel and convention center was built around this historic mansion to help preserve part of Lancaster’s history. To help make this magnificent house accessible for everyone, the idea to transform it into a welcoming event space was born! Montgomery House’s first step towards its former state came in the form of restoring its exterior before moving on to refurbishing the interior with the goal of making it practical and accessible for the community.
Remnants of the home's Federal Style architecture can still be found throughout the house.
While talking about the Montgomery House renovation, Josh Nowak, Lancaster Marriott’s Director of Sales & Marketing, mentioned that renovating the house resulted from a strategic phase determining what compliments the hotel. Nowak says, “It’s more intimate, it’s unique. The [Montgomery House] experience is entirely different than anywhere else in the city,” and the mansion’s unique history and offerings are a big part of its appeal to individuals looking for the perfect space to host an event and make new memories.
Private hospitality quarters on the fourth floor.
Vaulted ceilings and spiral staircases are common characteristics of Federal Style architecture.
The Montgomery House plays a real role in Lancaster’s history: “It’s not a manufactured history,” Nowak remarks, “The space tells a story.”
Walking into the Montgomery House is like walking into another period in time. Historical nostalgia oozes from the walls.
Distinctive, elegant meeting spaces throughout the mansion.
A central space that houses many events associated with the Marriott, the Montgomery House is an ideal spot for local business meetings, weddings, celebrations, and brunches. Complete with upscale dining and a menu that can be customized according to each client’s desires, the mansion’s intimate setting allows for butler-style service and high-class amenities. The chefs are very conscious about sourcing fresh, local ingredients, and the food is exquisitely crafted.
A delectable menu can be customized for each event.
For your next event, choose from three levels of versatile environments perfect for receptions, dinners, gatherings, cocktail parties, and other memorable experiences! Additionally, the Montgomery House’s fourth level features private hospitality quarters that can serve as an excellent VIP lounge, bridal salon, or be repurposed for other uses.
Contact Sarah Babski at (717) 207-4000 to tour the beautiful mansion and book one of its intimate spaces for your next special event! There’s no better place to create treasured memories than in a timeless, historic venue.
To learn more about the William H. Montgomery House, visit themontgomeryhouse.com.
