Old Colonial York - Maine

Address:Route 1A and Lindsay Road
York, Maine
Tel: (207) 363-4974

Welcome to Old Colonial York, a city that dates all the way back to 1652, making it one of the United State's oldest cities! Located on the Gulf of Maine and alongside the Atlantic Ocean, York became an obvious choice for the new colonists and an obvious choice for modern day resort-goers.

York was first settled in 1638. After going through a series of other names, the settlers in this seaside town decided on York, named for York, England, the site of Oliver Cromwell's defeat. Soon after incorporation in 1652, York was destroyed in the Candlemas Massacre (one of the Indian Wars). It wasn't until the 1763 Treaty of Paris that York became war-free and could continue prospering once again as a new city. It wasn't long before York became a posh summer resort town, filled with museums and historic homes and battlegrounds.

The museums and preservation property of Old Colonial York are managed by the Old York Historical Society. Located near the trendy York Village shopping area and the York River, the Old York Historical Society provides tours and exhibits of over 300 years of history. Many of the colonial houses serve as museums, with 37 period room settings and several galleries that display historic artifacts as well as contemporary portrayals of colonial New England. Admission to the series of museums in Old Colonial York costs about $10 and is valid for two consecutive days. Among the properties you'll tour on your visit include the Old Schoolhouse:1745, the Emerson-Wilcox House:1742, the John Hancock Warehouse, 1740, and the Elizabeth Perkins House:1730, among many other fascinating displays of colonial and post colonial York. There is also an extensive library and archive collection that covers every aspect of York history.

Being on the water, Old Colonial York also includes the York Harbor and some beaches, so when you're done soaking up some history, get out there and start soaking up some sun! Have fun!