Old York Historical Society

05/20/2026

Research Center Director, Peggy Wishart, and her team have been busy preparing the gallery for Old York’s opening day on Monday, May 25.

Be sure to visit the newly refreshed Remick Gallery’s ‘Revolutionary York’ exhibition with its focus on Revolutionary-era artifacts. 

Join us Monday, May 25 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Admission is FREE!

05/19/2026

Come check us out Monday May 25th for our Old York Season Opening and Community Free Day!

Old York marks the nation’s 250th with new programs, free admission days and special tours. See link below ⬇️

📸 Provided by Natasha Osborne-Howe

05/15/2026

Please join us on Memorial Day as we kick off our 250 at Old York season, which commemorates the nation’s Semiquincentennial with programs and events highlighting York’s rich Revolutionary history. 

Our striking seasonal image features a pine tree from a flag that once flew above the Old Gaol. The pine tree’s ties to Maine date to the Revolution and its use as a symbol of resistance.

From 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. visit the newly refreshed Remick Gallery’s “Revolutionary York” exhibition with its focus on Revolutionary-era artifacts. Tour the Old Gaol, Jefferds Tavern, and the York Corner Schoolhouse. The Emerson-Wilcox House will also be open! 

And don’t miss our special free walking tour at 1:00 p.m., “Answering the Call: York’s Wartime Service.” Registration is encouraged.

What: Memorial Day at Old York: 250 at Old York Season Opening and Community Free Day

When: Monday, May 25, 2026
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
“Answering the Call” walking tour at 1:00 p.m.

Where: Old York Museum Center, 3 Lindsay Road, York, ME 03909

Cost: FREE

For details and to register for the walking tour please visit oldyork.

05/10/2026

05/10/2026

A loud shout out to the great group of Liberty Mutual volunteers who helped Old York staff and trustees spruce up our York Village properties. We're excited for opening and our first Community Free Day of 2026 on Memorial Day. Tour the Old Gaol, the Emerson-Wilcox House, the Schoolhouse and check out "Revolutionary York" in the Remick Gallery. See you there!

05/02/2026

Sending a big "Thank You!" to the enthusiastic group of Liberty Mutual Volunteers who helped staff wash archaeological artifacts at the Old York Research Center. We accomplished a lot, learned a lot and had a great time.

05/01/2026

Last week we celebrated National Volunteer Week by hosting a tea for all of Old York’s volunteers at Jefferds Tavern. It was a lovely event and we are so grateful to all of our volunteers.

Today we want to highlight two volunteers who have been working on a project at Old York since spring 2024! Catherine Chaisson and Nancy Landroche have spent over 350 hours cataloging Old York’s nearly 3,000 book reference library collection and updating Old York’s LibraryThing page on a weekly basis. LibraryThing is a free online platform that organizes book collections and helps Old York share its reference library with a wider audience. Thank you, Catherine and Nancy for your dedication to this project!

You can search our Reference Collection here: https://www.librarything.com/profile/oyhslibrary

📸 From left to right: Catherine Chaisson and Nancy Landroche.

04/30/2026

Old York is participating in Jane’s Walk, which is a global festival of free, volunteer-led walking conversations inspired by community activist Jane Jacobs.

The 90-minute York walk will take participants along the York River, an area rich in history. The route will include historic landmarks, such as: Historic New England’s Sayward-Wheeler house, the Wiggly Bridge, and Old York’s Donnell-Hancock Warehouse, Elizabeth Perkins House and boathouse. Crossing Sewall’s bridge on the return, walkers will be able to view Mark Twain’s summer home.

Preservation architect and former state representative Deane Rykerson will lead the walk, assisted by Ken McAuliffe of Old York.



What: Jane’s Walk

When: Saturday, May 2, 2026
8:30 a.m. start; 90-minute walk

Where:
Beginning and ending at:
St. Christopher’s Church, Lower Parking Lot
10 Barrell Lane
York, ME 03909

Cost: FREE

For the full route and details: janeswalkme.org.

📸 Ken McAuliffe

04/26/2026

Did you know that York, Maine held its own Tea Party on September 15, 1774? As a way to demonstrate York’s patriotism in the face of the rising tide of the Revolution, town members boarded Jonathan Sayward’s ship and confiscated fifty pounds of English tea. As we continue to commemorate America’s 250th this season, please join us for a springtime tea in historic Jefferds Tavern. Savor a cup from White Heron Tea and assorted sweet treats from Gamester’s Good Goods and others. And enjoy a display of eighteenth century, tea-related artifacts from Old York’s collection. Don’t forget to wear your fancy hat, or fascinator!

There are two seating times: 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Space is limited and seating is family-style. Advanced tickets are required and are non-refundable.

What: Springtime Tea

When: Saturday, May 9, 2026
Seatings at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.

Where: Old York Museum Center, 3 Lindsay Road, York, ME 03909

Cost: $20 / $15 members

Register at oldyork.org

04/19/2026

Don’t miss the conclusion to our 2026 Winter Webinar Series! Henry David Thoreau’s trips to the Maine woods led to a gradual transformation of his views on Nature, Native Americans, and Transcendental spirituality. Scholar David B. Raymond highlights the influence of Thoreau’s Native American guide, Joe Polis, on Thoreau’s Transcendentalist beliefs. Polis’ ability to travel through the woods in harmony with nature shaped and deepened Thoreau’s Transcendentalist beliefs, confirmed his lifestyle, and proved Polis to be Thoreau’s American Representative Man.

David B. Raymond has taught United States and Maine history at Northern Maine Community College for the past thirty-five years. He has published essays and reviews in numerous journals, including the Maine History Journal, The Concord Saunterer: A Journal of Thoreau Studies, The Robert Frost Review, and Philosophy and Literature.

What: The Influence of Joe Polis’ Woodcraft on Henry David Thoreau with David B. Raymond

When: Wednesday, April 22, 2026
6:00 pm ET

Where: via Zoom

Cost: FREE

Register at oldyork.org. Upon registration, you will receive an email confirmation with the link for the program through our online ticketing system.

This program is generously funded by