Steam Plant Project

Our future vision for the York County History Center is a new campus that serves as a major cultural anchor and community space in downtown York.

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Construction photos

February 2023

Windows along the Pershing Avenue side of the building have been installed.

Crews poured concrete to make the floor of the new section of the complex that will connect the two existing buildings.

The first-floor space is still filled with construction equipment, but the outline of the space is beginning to take shape.

The area between the two existing buildings will eventually be turned into the mostly glass entrance into the new museum.

Workers install new windows on the second floor of the side of the building along West Philadelphia Street.

Construction crew members work on area between the two main buildings, space that will eventually be the glass-and-brick entrance to the new museum.

A look at the second floor exhibit space inside the new museum.

Concrete has been poured and walls have been framed out for the first floor of the new museum.

The “Placing History at the Center” Capital Campaign launched its fundraising campaign to raise more than $10 million from the community. Philanthropic support of the Placing History at the Center campaign will ensure the success of this new vision for York County. The total cost of the project now stands at $28 million, after supply-chain issues and rising costs added $3 million to the project in late 2021. We have raised $25 million to date, but we still need your help. It’s not too late to join our initiative to build the York County History Center!

To ensure that a vibrant tomorrow exists for our county’s history, we are working through deliberate and purposeful change to address new audience expectations, advances in technology, evolving educational needs, and variability in economic conditions. Our effort centers upon developing a museum, library & archive in the former Met-Ed steam plant building to open in spring 2024.

The York County History Center will be a wonderful opportunity to share our history with others so they may appreciate the role the people, places, and ideas have played in creating our community.

Meet our architects and exhibit designers:

The York County History Center is York County’s storyteller – connecting the community and tourists alike with the astounding stories of our shared history. Through compelling programs, exhibits and publications, we strive to inspire exploration of history, people and culture of our county, state and nation. Thank you for thoughtfully considering a gift to achieve our goal of enhancing and sharing York’s history today and for future generations.

Photo gallery from groundbreaking, Aug. 22, 2022

Full video of groundbreaking, Aug. 22, 2022

Animated Museum Walk Through Video

York County History Center Capital Campaign Video

Capital Campaign Cabinet Access

We invite you to learn more how we engaged all members of our community to set the direction for this campaign. In 2014, the History Center produced Pondering Change, a report that framed our challenges as an organization and posed four possible solutions. Overwhelmingly, York Countians responded favorably toward the direction presented here.