Stony Batter

     James Buchanan was born on April 23, 1791 at Stony Batter, a trading post named after his father's homeland in Northern Ireland.  Stony Batter consisted of not only the trading post, but also an inn, barn, stables, storehouses, and the log cabin where the family lived (http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident/buchanan/essays/biography/1).

This is local artist Charles Stoner's depiction of what Stony Batter looked like at the time (available at Buchanan State Park, shown on informational display). 




     The log cabin where Buchanan and his family lived is no longer on the property.  It has been been moved, most recently to the grounds of the Mercersburg Academy.

     Although none of the buildings still exists at Stony Batter, a monument commemorating Buchanan's birth stands prominently on the hill where his home may have been.  This monument was made entirely from local stone, which adds to the sentimentality of the monument.  Buchanan once said, "It is a rugged but romantic spot, and the mountain and mountain stream under the scenery captivating.  I have warm attachments for it."  It is only fitting that this monument be made of stone from the very mountains where he was born. 

 This following inscription can be seen on the front of the monument.

Mercersburg, Pennsylvania

     After a wagon road was built across Cove Mountain and the Tuscarora Mountains, the trading post was no longer needed so, when James was six years old his family moved to Mercersburg, where James's father decided to open a store (Buchanan State Park, informational display).  The building where James and his family lived is now called the Buchanan Hotel.  It is open for business on Main Street in Mercersburg, Pennsylvania (photograph courtesy of www.presidentialavenue.com/media/300/15c.jpg).

   

 
This statue and plaque stand in the square of downtown Mercersburg to commemorate Buchanan's life and legacy.

Dickinson College

     At age 16, Buchanan left his home in Mercersburg to attend college at Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.  He traveled 70 miles to pursue his education.  This "home away from home" was very different from where he had been raised.  In this new atmosphere, he not only studied hard, but he also partied a little too hard at times.  He narrowly escaped two expulsions due to his behavior and actually graduated with honors (http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident/buchanan/essays/biography/2).

This is a photograph of what Dickinson College looked like at the time Buchanan attended the institution.

Lancaster, Pennsylvania

     After graduating from Dickinson College, Buchanan moved to Lancaster to pursue his career.  He was uncertain what career path he wanted to follow at first, but soon decided to pursue becoming a lawyer.  Lancaster was a bustling city, the state capital at the time, and it offered much more career advancement than Mercersburg.  Even though he did not return to Mercersburg, Buchanan still held his home town close to his heart.  In Lancaster, he was a successful lawyer for a few years, but then soon moved into government (http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident/buchanan/essays/biography/1). 

Wheatland

     After holding several positions in government, including state representative, member of both houses of Congress, United States Minister to Russia, Secretary of State, and Minister to England, Buchanan returned to Lancaster.  However, this time he went home to his new estate, Wheatland (http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=b001005).

This estate was much different than his humble home at Stony Batter (photograph available on informational display in Buchanan State Park).

White House

     Buchanan's experience in politics made him the Democratic party's ideal candidate for President.  Buchanan won the election and moved into the White House with his niece and First Lady, Harriet Lane.  The White House was their home for four years (http://millercenter.org/academic/americanpresident/buchanan/essays/biography/7).

This engraving shows how the White House looked in the 19th century, when Buchanan would have lived there (courtesy of www.knowledgerush.com/wiki_image/3/3e/WhiteHouseEngraving.JPG).

Return to Wheatland

     After his tenure as President, Buchanan returned to Wheatland, where he lived until his death on June 1, 1868.  He was buried in Lancaster's Woodward Hill Cemetery (http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index+b001005).

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