All Ages: York History Center
Date – Time
December 13, 2024
– 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Location
York History Center
121 N. Pershing Ave.
York, PA 17401 US
Additional Information
All Ages: York History Center
Date: Dec 13, 2024
Time: 10:00a-11:30a
Cost: $6.75/6+; FREE/5 and under
Ages: all ages
Location: 121 N. Pershing Ave., York
Sign up: all attendees. Please pay via PayPal at the time of sign up to ensure your spot.
Contact: Beth Mellott: HomeschooLegacy.com
The Colonial Complex is one of the most interesting York, PA attractions. The Golden Plough Tavern, a Germanic half-timbered building built in 1741, is the oldest structure in the City of York and served York residents and travelers into the mid-1800s. The General Gates House (c. 1751) was the temporary residence of General Horatio Gates, newly appointed president of the Board of War. These buildings contain period furnishings, textiles, tools and utensils. The Complex also includes the reproduction of the 1754 Colonial Court House, created to represent the headquarters of the Continental Congress, which met in York from September 1777 to June 1778 and adopted the Articles of Confederation.
The two original buildings represent two of the main cultural groups that settled in Central Pennsylvania – the Germans and English. During the month of December, we decorate for the season as the Germans and English would and as part of our tour, we include holiday traditions that would have been around in York (and Central PA) during the colonial period (Christmas and one room discusses Hannukah), reflecting the different cultural groups. For your group, we would have a special activity as well – making a holiday decoration in the German folk art of Schrenschnitte.
Some important information about the buildings:
The Golden Plough Tavern and Gates house are not climate controlled and so it will be cold in there. We ask everyone to dress appropriately. The courthouse does have heat and we will make sure that it is warm in there.
We will not have a bathroom available at the colonial complex. We do typically have an emergency one, but the water is turned off for the winter. Folks can use the restroom at the History Center building if they need one.
The building also is unfortunately not accessible. There will be a flight of stairs to go upstairs one to go downstairs. So any strollers won’t be able to be inside either.
Due to the size of the room, we will need to be divided up into four groups. The groups will rotate between 4 different spots, spending about 20 minutes in each section. The stations will be the plough tavern, the Gates house, the first floor of the courthouse, and the second floor of the courthouse for an activity.
Free parking is available in our lot behind our new History Center location (121 N. Pershing Ave). The colonial complex is less than a block away from the History Center. Below is a map showing where the parking lot is located.