Lane Place was built by Senator Henry Smith Lane (1811–1881) and his wife, Joanna Elston Lane (1826–1914). Joanna's niece, Helen Elston Smith, inherited the home and eventually deeded the house and its contents to the Montgomery County Historical Society. After some renovation, the home became a museum that preserves and displays furnishings and objects belonging to the Lanes or the Elston family and items from Montgomery County.

 

The historic house has evolved over the years.  Around 1830, there was a cabin built on the site.  In 1845, the front portion of the home was built when Henry and Joanna were married.  The cabin was treated as a summer kitchen cabin.  It was not connected to the main house until 1870 when the library was added.  Extensive work was done in 1890 when the upstairs was expanded, the roof lines were altered, and the space between the front house and the cabin was enclosed. 

 

Originally, in 1845, the house was painted white.  In 1881, the house was painted gray in mourning for Henry.  Sometime after Joanna’s passing, Helen painted the house pink after renovating it into an Italianate villa.  Then she had it painted yellow in 1920.  In 1945, after the house had come into possession of the Montgomery County Historical Society, it was painted white once again.  

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House colors:
White in 1845 to 1881
Gray in 1881 in mourning of Henry Lane’s passing
Pink after Helen renovated it into an Italianate villa
Yellow from 1920 to 1945
White from 1945 to present