Lancaster was the center of the United States for one day in the fall of 1777.

That day will be the topic of a talk on Thursday, July 23, at 6 p.m. in the C. X. Carlson Cultural Room at the Quarryville Library, 357 Buck Road, Quarryville. Registration is preferred by going to https://quarryvillelibrary.org; walk-ins will be accommodated as space permits.

Adam Zurn of Uncharted Lancaster will deliver the free program, "Yes, Lancaster Was the U.S. Capital for a Day."

"The presentation tells the remarkable story of Sept. 27, 1777, when Lancaster served as the capital of the United States for one day," Zurn said. "The Continental Congress had fled Philadelphia as the British army advanced, and its members gathered inside the courthouse that once stood in the center of Penn Square."

Zurn added, "I'll explain the dramatic events that brought Congress to Lancaster, what happened during its brief session, who was in the room, and why the delegates continued west to York after only a few hours. It was a short chapter in American history, but it placed Lancaster at the center of the nation's struggle for independence during one of the darkest moments of the Revolutionary War."

Zurn is looking forward to giving the talk in the Southern End. "I'm excited to bring this story to the Quarryville Library because public libraries are wonderful places for communities to come together, learn, and discover something unexpected about the place they call home," he said. "Many Lancaster County residents have heard that Lancaster was once the capital, but they may not know the full story or understand the crisis surrounding that day. I'm looking forward to sharing the people, decisions, and dramatic circumstances behind that familiar claim."

Zurn will also have signed copies of his books available for purchase, including "Capital Day: Lancaster and the Revolution." Fifty percent of the proceeds from book sales that evening will be donated to the Quarryville Library. Attendees will receive free Uncharted Lancaster stickers and magnets.

"Uncharted Lancaster is a local history and adventure platform dedicated to uncovering the strange, forgotten, and fascinating stories of Lancaster County," Zurn said. "I like to describe it as 'National Treasure' meets local history. Through articles, presentations, guided adventures, scavenger hunts, and social media, I try to make local history feel exciting, accessible, and worth exploring."

The Quarryville Library also has several events scheduled for next month.

On Tuesday, Aug. 4, former Disney and Warner Bros. employee Ed Klein will give a pair of cartooning classes. The first one, which will begin at 4 p.m., will teach children how to do flip-book animation. The second class - for adults - will start at 6 p.m. and will teach the basics of how to draw cartoons.

Immigration attorney Paige Britton will provide a program for adults and older children on Saturday, Aug. 8, at 11 a.m. Britton will discuss the process of becoming a United States citizen.