York, PA: Downtown

[xzmattzx]

York is centered around Continental Square, which has Market Street running east and west and George Street running north and south. Most of York's businesses formed on Market Street, as it was the road that headed east to Lancaster and Philadelphia. Market Street continued west towards Gettysburg, and this route through the borough was designated the Lincoln Highway in 1913. Today, Market Street is one-way heading east, with Philadelphia Street to the north going westbound to compliment Market Street.

Continental Square, originally called Central Square, was the site of the York County Courthouse. It was at this courthouse in the middle of the intersection that Congress met from September 30, 1777, to June 27, 1778, and was the nation's capital. The Articles of Confederation were ratified here in York.


The York County Colonial Courthouse, on Market Street. The courthouse was built in 1976 to celebrate the nation's bicentennial. The courthouse is a replica of the original colonial courthouse, built in 1756 and demolished in 1841.



The Barnett-Bobb House, on Pershing Avenue. The log house was built in 1812, and was moved to this site from Pershing & College Avenues in 1968.



The Golden Plough Tavern, on the left, and the Joseph Chambers House, on the right, both on Market Street. The tavern was built in 1741 by a German native who used building techniques from his native Karlsruhe. The Chambers House was built in 1751. General Hortatio Gates, fresh from his victory at Saratoga, lived in this house afterwards. The clash of German and English cultures that is ubiquitous in the area is evident in how this German-style building is next to an English-style building.



An old house on Market Street.



The old Bon-Ton Department Store, at Beaver & Market Streets. The store was built in 1912 and was the flagship store of the company. Bon-Ton is still headquartered in the York area.



The National House, on Market Street at Beaver Street. The hotel was built in 1828 as the White Hall Hotel, and was renamed during the Civil War.



A Romanesque building on Market Street.



The Trinity United Church of Christ, on Market Street. The church was built in 1866, and the architecture displays the congregation's German roots.



Buildings on Market Street. The Fluhrer Building, on the left, was built in 1911 as a jewelry store. The yellow brick Rosenmiller Building, on the right, was built in 1909.



The Rupp Building, on George Street. The structure was built in 1892.



Christ Lutheran Church, on George Street. The church was built in 1814 and is similar in style to the Zion Lutheran Church in Philadelphia.



The First National Bank Building, on George Street. The bank, built in 1924, is at the northeast corner of Continental Square.



The York County Judicial Center, on George Street. The structure was built in 2003 and houses much of the county's offices.



The old Golden Swan Tavern, on Market Street. The tavern was built in 1807 and later served as a dry goods store. It is now a bank branch.



The York County Courthouse, on Market Street. The courthouse was built in 1898.



Domes designed by John Dempwolf light the interior and showcase much of the detail of the courthouse.



Buildings on Market Street. The York Trust Company Building, built in 1910, is on the right.



The Rex & Laurel Fire House, on Duke Street. The Laurel Fire Company was founded in 1772, and was one of the first fire companies in the United States. The fire station was built in 1878.



The Yorktowne Hotel, on Market Street at Duke Street.



The Yorktowne Hotel was built in 1925 to fulfill the need for a modern hotel in the mid-sized city.



Buildings on Market Street. On the right is the Art Deco building that housed the White Rose Motor Club. It was built in 1949 and is a rare instance of modern architecture in Downtown York.



Buildings on Market Street. The York Water Company, built in 1929, is on the right.



Buildings on Market Street.



The First Presbyterian Church, on Market Street. The church was built in 1860.



The Charles Billmeyer House, on Market Street. The house was built in 1863 for Billmeyer, a railroad car manufacturer.



Houses on Queen Street.



Houses on Philadelphia Street.



Rowhouses on Philadelphia Street.



The Goodridge-Dempwolf House, on Philadelphia Street. The house was built in the mid-1800s and was modified in 1897 a Colonial Revival style with Victorian touches. The house was once the home of an ex-slave who ran a stop on the Underground Railroad.



A house on Duke Street.



A house on Duke Street.



Buildings on Philadelphia Street. On the left is the York Dispatch Building, with a cast-iron facade. The structure was built in 1887.



Buildings on George Street.



The Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center, on George Street. The performing arts center is actually two separate buildings, with the Capitol Theatre of 1917 on the right and the smaller Strand Theatre of 1925 on the left. The theaters were combined into one venue in 1980 after both places closed in 1977.



The Valencia Ballroom, on George Street. The venue was built in 1911 and was originally the Coliseum Ballroom. The Art Deco facade was added in the early 1930s. The ballroom hosted performers such as Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and Frank Sinatra.



Buildings on Philadelphia Street. On the left is the old York Post Office, built in 1895 and used as a post office until 1912. On the right is the Heidelberg United Church of Christ, built in 1901.



The Central Market House, on Philadelpia Street. The market house was built in 1888, replacing the original markets that abutted the Center Square courthouse.



The Market House also has an entrance on Beaver Street, and surrounds a building at the southeast corner of Beaver & Philadelphia Streets.



The White Rose Bar & Grill, on Beaver Street.



Houses on Philadelphia Street. The Garber-Rudisell House, built in 1780, is on the right.



The Friends Meeting House, on Philadelphia Street. The meetinghouse was built in 1766 and an addition was added to the left in 1783.



A former Metropolitan Edison steam plant, on Philadelphia Street.

[desertpunk]

Wow! What a remarkable architectural treasure trove!

[Jaybird]

Amazing looking place! Is York a city or town? Either way, it's treasureful!

[xzmattzx]

Originally Posted by Jaybird

Amazing looking place! Is York a city or town? Either way, it's treasureful!

York is a city. York, Lancaster, and Harrisburg form a triangle in south-central Pennsylvania, and York is maybe the middle of the three cities/metro areas in terms of size. (But, I am not as familiar with York as I am Lancaster and Harrisburg, so someone might be able to elaborate on this.)

[midrise]

In 1741 York city was first laid out and lots were offered for sale 23 were promptly purchased in what became the first town west of the Susquehanna River, at that time it was a true western outpost. It is 93 miles west of Philadelphia and 52 miles north of Baltimore.

[VelesHomais]

Spectacular architectural heritage, decisively a must visit city. Nice pictures.

[WestSideJohn]

I had no idea York was so historic. Great shots!

[KnAobserver]

What a beautiful little city!!!!

[Middle-Island]

Interesting how all that colonial gingerbread largely skips this tri-state region, then seemingly picks up again north and east of New Haven, albeit more in the New England architectural style. Upstate NY really doesn't have it, either.