York is a city in southeast Pennsylvania, and while it might not be the state’s biggest city, it’s one of the oldest around. Recently, Downtown York, Inc. has come up with a new branding idea: “Historically Edgy.”
The idea for this new marketing campaign is the fact that York has a long history of pushing boundaries and pushing buttons: the Articles of Confederation, the rough draft of the U.S. Constitution, came into being in York, Pennsylvania. These days, downtown York has attracted some new businesses that are pushing the envelope again, so “Historically Edgy” York is both new and old.
See the Beginnings at the Colonial Complex
The Colonial Complex is a set of reconstructed 18th-century buildings right by the Market Street bridge and the Heritage Rail Trail. The complex includes the Golden Plough Tavern, an upper-class home, and the colonial courthouse where the Second Continental Congress met and drafted the Articles of Confederation. The fourth and final building is the Barnett Bob Log House, and during the open season artisans use it to show off their skills in hands-on demonstrations. Tickets for a tour are $15 or $7 for students, and that also gets you into all the other York County museums for the day.
Enjoy a Locally Brewed Drink
One way downtown York is part of the leading edge today is by offering a lot of quality craft brews. A national brand will get you tipsy without challenging you, but a craft brew can deliver a quality alcoholic drink that really explores the different flavors you can get from a little barley, hops, and yeast. Just within the downtown area you can find Liquid Hero Brewery, the Mudhook Brewing Company, the Gift Horse Brewing Company, and Collusion Tap Works. For a few extra flavors, you can visit Holy Hound Taproom and its 30 rotating craft brew taps.
Find Some Interesting Art Pieces
Downtown York has a lot of art on display, both in public spaces and in several galleries. You can find much of the public art in York along Market Street or just off on one of the side streets, like the metal flowers with gear petals in Foundry Plaza and several murals covering dozens of otherwise blank brick walls. If you’d like to see some indoor artwork, try visiting the Marketview Arts gallery on West Philadelphia Street. Then there’s the King’s Courtyard Artists’ Collective, a place where local artists meet, create their works, and sell them to interested buyers.
“Historically Edgy” combines the two main reasons people have to visit downtown York, Pennsylvania. The district has historical museums and old buildings that date back to the Revolution, and a lot of the businesses in the district still use buildings that first went up over a century ago. At the same time, the district saw the birth of the first American government and still isn’t afraid to try something new. That’s why you can find plenty of craft breweries, galleries featuring local artists, and small boutiques run by people with their own edgy sense of fashion.
Some rights reserved by Lorie Shaull
Connect with us
