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In Process

York County’s History Starts Here

The York County History Center is in the midst of a multiyear consolidation project to create a single historical campus in downtown York City, “right-sizing” from 10 buildings scattered across the city to one single location along the Codorus Creek. The history center purchased the former MetEd building on North Pershing Avenue in December 2015 with plans to convert the old steam plant into the historical hub of York County. The property, a significant historic building in York City, will be converted into a 50,000-square-foot modern museum by connecting the steam plant to an adjacent building via a two-story lobby made mostly of glass.

We Listen

The York County History Center seeks to create common ground in the York, Pennsylvania community by celebrating the diversity of the historic experience as a means to inspire the future. The developing concept is an artistic integration of large iconic objects, bold environmental graphics, and interactive media in a visitor-centered experience.

We Design

The new history center will include a 15,000-square-foot main exhibit gallery, a 2,000-square-foot gallery for changing exhibits and a lobby that provides 3,000 to 4,000 square feet for event space. The main exhibit gallery will take up most of the first floor of the steam plant, but portions of the gallery extend two stories high. The back half of the building will be used for office space and the center’s new library and archives.

We Deliver

Behind the changing exhibit in the adjacent building will be space for a multi-purpose café and warming kitchen to support events in the space. The second floor of the new center will be used to house the library and archives, administrative offices and more exhibit space. A rooftop deck will be constructed above the lobby and adjacent building, providing additional event space and scenic views of downtown York City and the Codorus Creek. The third-floor space where giant bins once held coal for the power plant will be converted into a community gallery with several thousand square feet of space for special collections. The project is currently in construction.