museums of old york

Elizabeth Perkins house is gorgeous. Beautiful setting and a peak at what life was like years ago.Kids love the old jail and the stocks out front on the lawn.Great for elementary school kids and anyone with an interest in history.

We spent a Thursday at the Museums. There is parking where you get your tickets. The gentleman who waited on us was a retired teacher so he enjoyed giving us lots of information to make our visit more enjoyable. Be sure you get the Set in Stone flyer. There is a lot of interesting information about the Village Burying Ground. Many of the tombstones are very unique and the flyer gives a lot of info. Don't miss it. The two main houses are the Emerson-Wilcox house and the Elizabeth Perkins House. They are not open on the same days. Emerson Wilcox is Thursdays and Saturdays 12:30, 2:00, 3:30. It is near the visitors center and an easy walk. This is the house we saw. We see a lot of old houses and this was the first one we saw where instead of building additions they actually moved other houses to the location and attached them. The next day we visited the Louisa May Alcott house and they did the same there. This house has a lot of York history and is worth a visit. The Perkins house is open Fridays 12:30, 2:00 and 3:30. Sundays 2:00 and 3:30. We did not see it. It is about a mile from the visitors center so if you don't usually walk you should drive. It is also up hill on the way. A half mile out is the John Hancock Wharf which we couldn't go in and the George Marshall Store which is an Art Gallery. The visitors center has an old tavern attached and some other items to look at. The old school and out house is near the visitors center. The old Goal (pronounced jail) is near the Emerson Wilcox House. This is a must see. It is not a guided tour but someone is there to give you information and answer questions. The cost for adults is $5.00 for one building or $12.00 for all of them. On line it says there is a senior price but there isn't. I don't remember the cost for children. We were there about 3 hours but that included a half mile walk to the store and warehouse and back. I wouldn't advise walking with children. You run out of sidewalks and there is a lot of traffic. If you're in the York area this is worth a trip. I should add if you have a problem with stairs you may have a difficult time in the old houses and goal.

This is a very short drive from Short Sands Beach where we were staying. Jefferds Tavern was setting up for a wedding that afternoon, but we were allowed to come in and look around while the staff were setting up. We had a nice chat with the docent who took our entrance fee - she gave us plenty of advice on what to see and do in the area, and recommended we take a guided tour of the houses in the district. We did do one of those, but not both: Tad Lyford was very knowledgeable and answered all the questions on the tour. We could tell he loved his job/storytelling: very good tour.

The Museums of Old York have several properties. This is just a review of the Remick Gallery in the Visitor's Center. The exhibits do change, but the present one on World War I and its effects on York county is excellent. There are lots of memorabilia including a soldier's uniform, medals, guns, a wedding dress, a tea set, China, and posters. The information accompanying each piece is informative. I loved the letters written by the soldiers, too. There is also a guide to answer any of your questions. The upstairs exhibit took us about 35 to complete and was well worth the $5 charge. Downstairs is a tiny gift shop area and an old tavern. The tavern was authentic. The parking is free, and the bathrooms are clean. My only tiny complaint is that the print on the exhibits was a wee too small for me to read comfortably. I do, however, have very poor eyesight. For $12, you can tour all the Museums of Old York.

We enjoyed our stop here in this small town along the Maine coast. The museums offered a good look at life in the old days.

We were actually quite amazed by the new exhibit at the Museums of Old York. With artifacts, letters, newspapers, photographs, and posters, the exhibit connects the people of York to WWI from the onset in 1914 through reconstruction. Through the lens of Elizabeth Perkins, the Emersons, the Nowells, and other families, the visitor experiences the impact of War on the community and the impact the community had on the war. This special exhibit truly rivals any great museum in it's presentation, context, and heart. It is to be savored - don't expect machine gun displays! And don't miss it - you won't be disappointed.