A new approach to York County’s history
Our Mission
Understand the past to illuminate the future, through inclusive, authentic storytelling, and preservation.
Our Vision
We seek to be a destination where visitors become well-versed in the history of the region, enabling them to bring critical thinking, empathy and optimism to advance our community.
Our Core Values
- Stewardship – Champions of York’s history
- Sustainability – Leave it better than you found it
- Empathy – Everyone’s story has value
- Collaboration – More perspectives make a better work product
- Transparency – Do the right thing, and keep it real
- Accuracy – Take the time to get it right
Our work
The York County History Center, a nonprofit organization, inspires the exploration of the rich history, diverse people, and vibrant culture of York County, Pennsylvania and the United States. Through its extensive collections and historic sites, the History Center’s new museum vividly narrates the American story from pre-colonial times to present day. Housing more than 90,000 artifacts, the collection spans nearly 300 years of York County’s history, showcasing its development and spotlighting the many community contributions. The History Center’s Library & Archives is generally considered one of the best local history and genealogy libraries in the state and offers a wealth of resources to help you with your research. A key aspect of the History Center’s mission is to tell York County’s history more inclusively, to have the stories fully reflect the entire community. The new museum’s core exhibit uses state-of-the-art technology to provide an immersive and modern experience for visitors, who are encouraged to visit all five of our impressive museums to gain a full appreciation for all of York County’s history.
Our History
The roots of the York County History Center can be traced back to 1895, when a group of citizens formed the Historical Society of York County.
The Historical Society began to collect, preserve and interpret the history and culture of York County. The Society’s original focus was the development of a library to serve as a repository for the County’s genealogical resource material. By the early 1900s a growing collection of artifacts led to the opening of a museum in the county courthouse. In 1959 the Historical Society Museum and Library/Archives relocated once more to the present location at 250 East Market Street in Downtown York.
In the 1960s the HSYC acquired the Golden Plough Tavern, the General Gates House, and the Barnett Bobb Log House. The Bonham House became part of Historical Society in 1968.
Between 1999 and 2002, the Historical Society merged with the Agricultural and Industrial Museum and took on the Fire Museum of York County, the York Murals and the Colonial Courthouse.
In 2016, as part of a longer-term strategy to place the organization on a more sustainable path, the Trust became the York County History Center, and its leaders pursued a plan to move again, this time to the former Met-Ed electricity generating plant on West Philadelphia Street. By repurposing this former industrial site, the History Center has created a new history campus in the heart of downtown. Through all the changes, the History Center is better positioned to collect, preserve and interpret more than 250 years of York County’s rich and diverse history.
Want to learn more about the History Center? Send us an email with your questions.
Make your plans soon to visit the new York County History Center Museum, Library and Archives.
