Your Guide to Black History Sites in York County, PA (And the Businesses Carrying That Legacy Forward)
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York County holds some of the richest African American stories in Pennsylvania. It is a story of freedom seekers and freedom makers, entrepreneurs and educators, soldiers and singers, all woven into the streets, homes, and gathering places of this county. Today, that story is still being written, and you can experience it in person. Here is a roundup of the sites, tours, and Black owned businesses that bring York’s Black history to life, plus a stop you will not want to miss.
Crispus Attucks York History & Culture Center
Any guide to Black history in York has to begin here. The Crispus Attucks York History & Culture Center is now open and welcoming visitors in the heart of the city. Inside, you will find exhibits, oral histories, and artifacts that trace the African American experience in York from the era of slavery through the Civil Rights Movement and into today. The Center grew out of Crispus Attucks York, an organization that has served the community for more than 90 years.
Come see the stories of local figures like Dr. George W. Bowles, York’s first Black physician, Wade Hampton Bowers, known as the Black Caruso for his singing career, and Randy Christie, one of the first Black Pennsylvania State Troopers. This is where York’s Black history lives, and it is ready for you to walk through the doors today.
William C. Goodridge Freedom Center and Underground Railroad Museum
A few blocks away sits the home of William C. Goodridge, a man who was sold into indentured servitude as a child and rose to become one of York’s most successful businessmen. Goodridge built a barbershop, a variety store, and a fleet of railroad cars, some of which are believed to have carried freedom seekers north in hidden compartments as part of the Underground Railroad. His former home at 123 East Philadelphia Street is now a museum recognized by the National Park Service’s Network to Freedom!
Learn more and plan your visit through Crispus Attucks York, and check current hours before you go, since they can vary seasonally.
Lebanon Cemetery and the Friends of Lebanon Cemetery Tours
Established in 1872, Lebanon Cemetery is the oldest and largest African American cemetery in York County. Black veterans, politicians, clergy, and formerly enslaved individuals are laid to rest here, including members of the Goodridge family. The nonprofit Friends of Lebanon Cemetery leads walking tours that bring these stories forward, including a Historic Lebanon Cemetery History Tour focused on educators, artists, and community leaders, and a Military Tour honoring African American veterans from the Civil War through Vietnam.
Find tour details through Friends of Lebanon Cemetery.
The Paved Over Prominence Project Walking Tour
Not every historic site is still standing. This walking tour, organized in connection with Friends of Lebanon Cemetery, traces the neighborhoods, churches, and businesses that once anchored York’s Black community, many of which were demolished or lost over time, including the old Bandstand in Penn Park that once served as a spiritual and social gathering point for the community. The tour was recently featured by the York Daily Record, and you can read that coverage here.
York County History Center
For deeper research and rotating exhibits, the York County History Center maintains an African American Guide to Collections and hosts year round programming on Black history in the county. Explore their offerings through the York County History Center.
Now Support the Legacy: Black Owned Businesses to Visit in York
History is not only something you learn about in York, it is something you can support today. Here are a few Black owned businesses to add to your visit.
Nasim & Co. A Downtown York dessert shop known for beautifully crafted cheesecakes and dessert cups. Find them at Central Market and on East King Street in the Royal Square District.
Grace Manor Bed and Breakfast. A stunning, artfully themed bed and breakfast in downtown York, owned by interior designer Joanne Wilmore, who also founded Sojourn Noir to welcome Black leisure travelers to York County. Details are available through Grace Manor’s listing.
Global Café. Located inside Central Market, serving a fusion of Afro, Caribbean, and Latin cuisines.
Ethel’s BBQ. Slow smoked ribs, brisket, and wings at Penn Market on West Market Street.
Skillet2Plate Soul Bistro. A proudly Black owned soul food restaurant serving the York community. https://www.skillet2platesoulbistro.com/
Mark and Val Wines. One of Pennsylvania’s first Black owned wineries, with a story worth hearing straight from the owners. https://markandvalwines.com/
Refillism. An eco friendly, zero waste shop making sustainable living accessible, founded by Elizabeth Bower. https://refillism.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopcdxGAX_jxq4BggJ1eq76UHj2ERPDpV54Yp4uH_78HppcNa5is
You can find even more Black owned spots, from Sweet Mama’s Mambo Sauce to Men in the Kitchen and Ophelia’s Making Agency, through Explore York’s full roundup.
