Visiting the York County History Center in York, PA is an immersive way to explore how local stories connect to the larger American experience.
Set inside a thoughtfully renovated former Met-Ed Steam Heat Generating Plant, the museum pairs historic artifacts with the building’s striking industrial character.
The result is a welcoming space that encourages curiosity about the people, places, and ideas that shaped York County.
Directions | Hours | Admission Fees
The York County History Center is located at 121 North Pershing Avenue, York, PA 17401.
The museum hours are: Tuesday – Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Sunday: Noon to 4 p.m. | Mondays: closed.
Admission fees as of 2026 are: Adults – $15 (Sundays $10) | Students (6-18) – $8 | Children 5 and younger – FREE every day.
What You’ll See at the York County History Center
Inside, the exhibits guide visitors through the county’s evolution, from early settlement to modern industry.
Displays focused on migration and movement help illustrate how York County developed as people arrived, worked, and built communities.
Throughout the galleries, everyday objects are used to show how families lived, traveled, and adapted over time.
Craftsmanship plays a major role in the story, with exhibits highlighting locally made goods that once supported households and businesses.
The museum also explores York County’s strong manufacturing tradition and how local companies grew into names recognized far beyond the region.
Agriculture and innovation are recurring themes, showing how farming and machinery shaped both the landscape and the economy.
Hands-on elements and detailed visuals make complex topics easy to understand without feeling overwhelming.
Military and civic history are woven into the experience, emphasizing the contributions of local residents during times of conflict and service.
Rather than focusing solely on dates and events, the museum emphasizes the people behind the history.
This approach helps visitors see how individual stories fit into broader national trends.
Final Thoughts
By the end of your visit, it becomes clear how deeply York County’s history is woven into the American story.
The York County History Center presents that story in a way that feels approachable, engaging, and relevant.
For that reason, I can’t recommend this museum highly enough!
For more information or to purchase advance tickets, please visit the museum’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE.
Nearby Attractions
The York County Agricultural and Industrial Museum is housed in a former factory complex in downtown York, and features thousands of artifacts and exhibits highlighting York County’s contributions to the areas of agriculture, transportation, and manufacturing.
The Colonial Complex in York includes some of the oldest and most historic buildings in the city, which served as the Capital of the Nation for nine months during the Revolutionary War!
York, PA and the First National Thanksgiving dives into the fascinating backstory of this Revolutionary War-era event, which had nothing to do with Pilgrims and turkeys!
Spread across a compact one-block radius in downtown York, Royal Square Mural Park features more than 30 larger-than-life murals painted on buildings, walls, and urban structures.
The Haines Shoe House near York is one of PA’s most recognizable roadside attractions, and now it’s a vacation rental home!
Schull’s Rock Overlook in York County is a fantastic rock outcropping and vista on the west bank of the Susquehanna River, located at Susquehanna Riverlands State Park.
Find even more great spots to explore in York County and all across Pennsylvania with the interactive PA Bucket List Travel Map!
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