Take a sneak peek inside the new York County History Center at the project's halfway point

Paul Kuehnel, York Daily Record
·2 min read

The new York County History Center project at the intersection of West Philadelphia Street and North Pershing Avenue in a former steam powered electrical generating plant, is more than 50 percent complete, said Joan Mummert, president/CEO Thursday while standing in the new multi-story entryway that was once an open space between two buildings.

Interior spaces are starting to take shape while digital display preparation is taking place off site to coincide with completion to the interior.

A partially completed multi-purpose room on the third floor of the new York County History Center shows a panoramic view of York city on July 20, 2023. The room, with a large glass wall, will be the new home of the Tannenburg organ built in 1804.
A partially completed multi-purpose room on the third floor of the new York County History Center shows a panoramic view of York city on July 20, 2023. The room, with a large glass wall, will be the new home of the Tannenburg organ built in 1804.

Highlights

Some highlights of the building include a 208-inch screen that will be mounted on the exposed base of a former smoke stack that rises above the building.

A glass atrium and entryway with a catwalk that will connect upper floors and a third-floor multi-purpose room with a wall of glass that features a horizon of York city and will house the 1804 Tannenburg organ.

Looking through the main entrance of the new York History Center from a catwalk July 20, 2023. The new floor was poured a few days before.
Looking through the main entrance of the new York History Center from a catwalk July 20, 2023. The new floor was poured a few days before.

Mummert said the new building will have the same footage as the old museum, only more open space so the public will be able to see more of the collection. She added that the interior design was built for changeability so that the collection can be rotated more often.

Large artifacts are expected to begin moving into the new building this November.

Savings anticipated

The History Center hopes to save $200,000 a year in "reconfigured personnel, reduced utilities, insurance and related expenses" by consolidating space from multiple existing buildings.

The Steam Plant will have 52,000 square feet of space when the construction is completed. It will be used to house a library and archives to store most of the artifacts collection − and for exhibit space. They anticipate using somewhere between 12,000 and 15,000 square feet for exhibits. Some of this will be devoted to two changing exhibition galleries in order to allow a continual rotation of artifacts by theme or subject showcasing the collection depth, according to the History Center.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Take a sneak peek inside the new York County Pa. History Center