Category: York history

Artifact Spotlight: The Conestoga Wagon

Discover the iconic Conestoga Wagon’s role in American transportation history Attention, history enthusiasts. Let’s dive into the fascinating world of transportation, where everything from social gatherings to business deals and moving goods hinges on the wheels of progress. Forget the usual cars, buses, and trucks for a moment, because we’re about to take a delightful […]

Cabinet of Curiosities, Ep. 4: Boiler Bolt and Lantern Ring

From the ordinary comes tragic history For our fourth installment in the Cabinet of Curiosities video series, Bailey Lozanoff, Collections Manager, tells the story of two seemingly ordinary items with unexpected links to tragic events from more than a century ago. And she walks us through the care required for these unique items. The first, a […]

Animating history

Creating digital magic in new museum experience is no simple trick By The Exhibit Design Team When the History Center’s core exhibit opens in the new museum, library and archives, visitors will see many of the best-known items in our collection, from the A-frame Ammonia Compressor and Conestoga Wagon to the Weaver Player Piano and […]

Cabinet of Curiosities, Ep. 3: Plaster Fruits and Vegetables

Education artifacts recall legacy of WPA project Poke around in the esoterica of our collection long enough, and you’ll find something you probably never saw before. Our Collections staff recently pulled out some hand-painted, plaster fruits and vegetables. It turns out these were educational tools that date back to the 1930s. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, […]

Cabinet of Curiosities, Ep. 2: Ebony and Ivory Elephants

The delicate elegance of carved elephants In 1965, Elizabeth Bonham bequeathed to us her home and possessions, including her collection of ebony and ivory elephants. The latest Cabinet of Curiosities episode features Bailey Lozanoff, collections inventory assistant, sharing the story of these unique pieces and their care. From regular cleaning to monitoring humidity levels, our […]