Things to do in York

After you’ve explored the ocean beaches, lighthouses and historic buildings of York, visit Steedman Woods and its famous Wiggly Bridge for a pleasant hour with Mother Nature. Set along a scenic country road, these attractions are sometimes missed by following the more direct route to the coast. Reward your curiosity with refreshing shade beneath towering trees amid the scents of the salt estuary and wild roses in the breeze.

Join kids and other adults sitting in the desks and imagining colonial-era schooling on a visit to the York Corner Schoolhouse. Just one of the historic buildings that comprise the Museums of Old York, the one-room schoolhouse dates back to 1745, when it was located at York Corner. In the 1930s, the schoolhouse was moved to its current location to be used for Old York museum complex educational programs.

Get a glimpse of colonial-era prison life when you visit The Old Gaol, a national historic landmark and one of several interesting structures that comprise the Museums of Old York. The Old Gaol sits on the site of Maine’s first prison, built in 1656. In 1720, the original wooden prison was torn down and replaced with a stone jail building. Through several iterations over the years, the prison emerged as the red stone and wood, barn-like structure you see today. It operated as York County’s prison until the 1860s.

Visit Jefferds Tavern during one of its holiday events and raise a pint in the space where soldiers gathered during the Revolutionary War. The historic tavern, built in 1750, hosts annual events, including St. Patrick’s Day gatherings and whiskey tastings. The tavern was originally located in Wells, Maine, on the stage and mail route between Portland and Portsmouth. In 1941, the tavern was moved to York, with a meticulous restoration to reflect a congenial, colonial gathering spot.

During your visit to Emerson-Wilcox House, part of the Old York Historical Society museum, witness Maine life in the 18th and 19th centuries. Combined with its centuries-old neighbors, the Remick Gallery, the Jefferds Tavern, and the York Corner Schoolhouse, among others, the storied structures host exhibits and educational programs throughout the year. The buildings were vital to their close-knit maritime community when York was among the country’s earliest English settlements. Visit picturesque Old York today to be treated to an interactive education on coastal Maine, its natural beauty and its culture.

While visiting Elizabeth Perkins House, note its striking, dark-red color, unusual among the area’s historical homes. Enjoy peaceful gardens along the banks of the York River that make the house a perfect spot for quiet contemplation and connection with the area’s storied past.