In the area of equal rights, our country has made great strides. But the process continues; there is still much work to be done.

The brand-new Stevens & Smith Center sheds a wider, more colorful light on the issues of equality.

"The center explores the ongoing struggle to expand freedom, equality and democracy in America," said Jason Traverse, the director of marketing and communications for the Stevens & Smith Center. "Through the stories of Stevens, Smith and countless others, visitors are invited to consider how ordinary and extraordinary people alike have worked to advance these ideals, and how that work continues in America today.

"What makes the center special is that it doesn't simply present history as something that happened long ago," continued Traverse. "It asks visitors to consider how the questions that defined Stevens' and Smith's lives - questions about citizenship, equality, justice and democracy - continue to shape our lives today."

Recently, the Thaddeus Stevens & Lydia Hamilton Smith Center for History and Democracy opened its doors at 13-15 E. Vine St., Lancaster, to visitors. The new museum, which is located on the site of Stevens' home and law offices, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Stevens & Smith Center is associated with and a part of LancasterHistory.

"The project has been many years in the making - more than a decade," said Traverse. "It grew from painstaking research, preservation efforts, archaeological discovers and a growing recognition that Lancaster - and this historic landmark in particular - played an important role in some of the most consequential chapters of American history. The center represents a communitywide commitment to preserving and sharing that history for future generations."

Housed in a multistory building, the Stevens & Smith Center tells its tales through exhibition galleries, original artifacts, educational programs and immersive experiences. Visitors connect local history to national history through stories about the Underground Railroad, the Civil War, Reconstruction and the Christiana Resistance.

"Many people are surprised to learn that some of the most important stories in the fight against slavery and for equal rights happened right here in Lancaster," said Traverse. "We want visitors to understand that Lancaster's history is not a footnote to the American story - it is American history. Lancaster County's history is remarkably deep and diverse. Lancaster has long been a crossroads of people, ideas and movements that helped shape the nation."

An influential statesman from Lancaster County during the 1800s, Stevens actively assisted individuals in search of freedom through the Underground Railroad, and many of his ideals helped form national laws. Steven's longtime confidante, Smith was a successful businessperson and property owner who shared Stevens' home.

"History helps us understand how we arrived at the present moment," said Traverse. "It gives us perspective, context and a deeper understanding of the choices individuals and communities have made. Preserving history allows us to learn from the past while inspiring future generations to engage thoughtfully with the challenges of their own time."

For additional information, go to https://stevensandsmithcenter.org.