Hidden Histories

Hidden Histories sheds light on the stories of York’s people that may have been forgotten, lost or cast aside. We will be telling these stories at different locations around York County. Whose hidden past would you like our community to know? Join us as we uncover Hidden Histories.
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Historical Society Museum

Located at 250 East Market Street is the headquarters of the History Center. The museum features some of the History Center’s diverse exhibits housed in a building that is itself a historical artifact.

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Agricultural & Industrial Museum

Explore York County’s vast contributions to the progress of agricultural and industry at the History Center’s Agricultural & Industrial Museum. The museum highlights over 300 years of transportation and agriculture.

More Info >

Seasonal Sites

The Golden Plough Tavern, the General Horatio Gates House, the Colonial Courthouse, and the Fire Museum are all located along West Market Street and are open seasonally April through November.

More Info >

Library & Archives

The Library & Archives, located on East Market Street, houses an extensive collection, including genealogy and family history, decorative arts, community organizations, and more.

More Info >

Blog: History Uncovered

In our History Uncovered blog, we make the past come alive by telling stories about the people, places and things that shaped the York County of yesterday and help us understand who we are today..

More Info >

Historical Society Museum

Located at 250 East Market Street is the headquarters of the History Center. The museum features some of the History Center’s diverse exhibits housed in a building that is itself a historical artifact.

More Info >

Agricultural & Industrial Museum

Explore York County’s vast contributions to the progress of agricultural and industry at the History Center’s Agricultural & Industrial Museum. The museum highlights over 300 years of transportation and agriculture.

More Info >

Seasonal Sites

The Golden Plough Tavern, the General Horatio Gates House, the Colonial Courthouse, and the Fire Museum are all located along West Market Street and are open seasonally April through November.

More Info >

Library & Archives

The Library & Archives, located on East Market Street, houses an extensive collection, including genealogy and family history, decorative arts, community organizations, and more.

More Info >

Blog: History Uncovered

In our History Uncovered blog, we make the past come alive by telling stories about the people, places and things that shaped the York County of yesterday and help us understand who we are today.

More Info >

The difference YOU make

The York County History Center is grateful for your support and commitment to this very special place. As a member, supporter or volunteer, you make history come alive.

More Info >

The difference YOU make

The York County History Center is grateful for your support and commitment to this very special place. As a member, supporter or volunteer, you make history come alive.

More Info >

Events & Programs


The Other Side of the River: The similarities that York and Lancaster share

06-08-2023

Presented by York County History Center at York County Historical Society Museum, York
Upcoming Dates: Thu, Jun 08 @ 7:00 pm

When local historians from bordering counties get together, great things happen!

This program will discuss some of the many similarities that both the White Rose and the Red Rose counties have in common including architecture, industry, religion,...

[more+]

When local historians from bordering counties get together, great things happen!

This program will discuss some of the many similarities that both the White Rose and the Red Rose counties have in common including architecture, industry, religion, entertainment, and much more! From their founding until now, York and Lancaster have shared a storied history, divided only by the Susquehanna River.

Learn more about our presenters here.

[less-]
Tags:   History & Heritage Online/StreamingFree Events

Second Saturday Series

06-10-2023

Presented by York County History Center at York County Historical Society Museum, York
Upcoming Dates: Sat, Jun 10 @ 10:30 am

The Second Saturday Series is presented on the second Saturday of each month. Speakers present on a wide variety of topics from York County’s 270 years of history including people, places, and events that have had local, regional, or national...

[more+]

The Second Saturday Series is presented on the second Saturday of each month. Speakers present on a wide variety of topics from York County’s 270 years of history including people, places, and events that have had local, regional, or national impact. Most programs are held in the Meeting Hall at the Historical Society Museum and begin at 10:30. If any program is at a different location or time that will be noted under the title of the program. Attending any of these presentations is free and open to the public.
June’s speaker will be Jaime Noerpel. After earning a B.A. in history and secondary education from York College in 2012, Jamie Noerpel landed her dream job at Milton Hershey School where she teaches history to 9th and 10th graders. Since then, she’s earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in American studies from Penn State with a focus on agriculture, environmental studies, African American literature, and folklore. In her free time, she builds on the public history of YoCo. She co-founded a website called Witnessing York, writes a local history blog for YDR called Wandering in York County, films videos through a series called Hometown History, and launched Project Penny Heaven – an initiative to install a permanent monument in York’s potter’s field.

Close to 800 bodies rest under the surface of a grassy field in North York— a cemetery for the unknown or poor people. When the deceased had no family, no financial means, or were unidentified, they would be interred in the City Cemetery, also known as potter’s field and Penny Heaven. Their names meant little, buried anonymously in a remote area and segregated from people who paid for their plots, save Clashay Johnson, the only name on the only gravestone. In this presentation, Jamie Noerpel will teach you about the history of Penny Heaven, including the stories of people interred there such as P.T. Barnum’s Figi cannibal. Her talk will dive deeper into conversations surrounding the intersection of class and race, as well as current efforts to raise money for a permanent monument to recognize those previously unrecognized.

[less-]
Tags:   Free Events History & Heritage Online/StreamingCommunity

The Other Side of the River: The similarities that York and Lancaster share

06-08-2023

Presented by York County History Center at York County Historical Society Museum, York
Upcoming Dates: Thu, Jun 08 @ 7:00 pm

When local historians from bordering counties get together, great things happen!

This program will discuss some of the many similarities that both the White Rose and the Red Rose counties have in common including architecture, industry, religion,...

[more+]

When local historians from bordering counties get together, great things happen!

This program will discuss some of the many similarities that both the White Rose and the Red Rose counties have in common including architecture, industry, religion, entertainment, and much more! From their founding until now, York and Lancaster have shared a storied history, divided only by the Susquehanna River.

Learn more about our presenters here.

[less-]
Tags:   History & Heritage Online/StreamingFree Events

Second Saturday Series

06-10-2023

Presented by York County History Center at York County Historical Society Museum, York
Upcoming Dates: Sat, Jun 10 @ 10:30 am

The Second Saturday Series is presented on the second Saturday of each month. Speakers present on a wide variety of topics from York County’s 270 years of history including people, places, and events that have had local, regional, or national...

[more+]

The Second Saturday Series is presented on the second Saturday of each month. Speakers present on a wide variety of topics from York County’s 270 years of history including people, places, and events that have had local, regional, or national impact. Most programs are held in the Meeting Hall at the Historical Society Museum and begin at 10:30. If any program is at a different location or time that will be noted under the title of the program. Attending any of these presentations is free and open to the public.
June’s speaker will be Jaime Noerpel. After earning a B.A. in history and secondary education from York College in 2012, Jamie Noerpel landed her dream job at Milton Hershey School where she teaches history to 9th and 10th graders. Since then, she’s earned her M.A. and Ph.D. in American studies from Penn State with a focus on agriculture, environmental studies, African American literature, and folklore. In her free time, she builds on the public history of YoCo. She co-founded a website called Witnessing York, writes a local history blog for YDR called Wandering in York County, films videos through a series called Hometown History, and launched Project Penny Heaven – an initiative to install a permanent monument in York’s potter’s field.

Close to 800 bodies rest under the surface of a grassy field in North York— a cemetery for the unknown or poor people. When the deceased had no family, no financial means, or were unidentified, they would be interred in the City Cemetery, also known as potter’s field and Penny Heaven. Their names meant little, buried anonymously in a remote area and segregated from people who paid for their plots, save Clashay Johnson, the only name on the only gravestone. In this presentation, Jamie Noerpel will teach you about the history of Penny Heaven, including the stories of people interred there such as P.T. Barnum’s Figi cannibal. Her talk will dive deeper into conversations surrounding the intersection of class and race, as well as current efforts to raise money for a permanent monument to recognize those previously unrecognized.

[less-]
Tags:   Free Events History & Heritage Online/StreamingCommunity

June 2, 2023

First Friday

Details

June 3, 2023

All About!

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June 8, 2023

Writers’ Roundtable

Details

June 10, 2023

Second Saturday Series

Details

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