4 minute read
Then, Now, Next
Honoring Downtown York’s Historic Milestones
Celebrating the impact of The Yorktowne Hotel, The Strand Theatre, Martin Library, and Crispus Attucks York
By Bronley Martin | Urban Revitalization Manager, Downtown Inc
Downtown York is celebrating major milestones and new beginnings as our beloved institutions mark major anniversaries, and a fresh cultural hub nears completion. From historic restoration to bold expansion, this renaissance underscores our community spirit.
THE YORKTOWNE HOTEL
Since opening its doors in 1925, the Yorktowne Hotel has stood as the “cornerstone of York,” with its Renaissance Revival façade, grand mezzanine, and iconic revolving door entrance on Market Street turning a century old. A focal point for social gatherings for decades, this landmark once hosted luminaries like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Ray Charles.
After closing in 2016, the hotel underwent an extensive restoration: historic terrazzo floors were uncovered, ornate woodwork and chandeliers preserved, and interiors revitalized with modern amenities. On January 31, 2023, York's flagship venue reopened as the 100th property in Hilton’s Tapestry Collection, boasting 123 guest rooms, The Graham Rooftop Lounge, WellSpan Ballroom, and a Pelotonequipped fitness center. Community-focused events like weddings, reunions, and conventions are once again filling the halls of this rejuvenated treasure, now celebrating its 100th birthday in 2025.
THE STRAND THEATRE
Since 1925, the Appell Center for the Performing Arts—home to the Strand and Capitol Theatres— has served as York’s stage for world-class entertainment and community connection. This year, the Strand Theatre celebrates its 100th anniversary, marking a century of spotlighting Broadway tours, Grammy-winning musicians, comedians, films, and local productions. Generations of York residents have gathered beneath its iconic marquee and ornate interiors to experience the magic of live performance. Beyond entertainment, the Appell Center has become a hub for education and outreach, engaging thousands of students annually through workshops, residencies, and school performances. Its centennial not only honors a storied past but also reaffirms its role as a cultural cornerstone for the next hundred years.
MARTIN LIBRARY
Martin Library, located at Market and Queen Streets, reaches its 90th anniversary this year, having first opened in 1935 as York’s hub for reading, education, and community engagement. From story time to history lectures, the library has welcomed generations of York residents. The opening of Martin Library was a long process that brought together many important Yorkers. In 1915, a bequest of $185,000 was made by Milton Martin and his wife, Martha, to build a public library in downtown York. However, it would take two more decades of investment and the famous York architect J.A. Dempwolf to bring the project to the community. Over the last 90 years, the library has been expanded into the state-of-the-art facility that serves York’s residents and visitors today.
THE CRISPUS ATTUCKS YORK HISTORY & CULTURE CENTER
Founded in 1931, the Crispus Attucks Community Center was established as a space for growth, unity, and empowerment. Now, nearly a century later, that legacy continues with the Crispus Attucks York History & Culture Center—currently in its final phase of construction and set to become a new cultural landmark. The center, with a $12.5 million budget and 19,450 sq ft of purpose-built space, will feature interactive exhibits, classrooms, and a performing arts venue that highlights York’s African American experience. Since groundbreaking in 2023, the Center—rooted in the legacy of the Crispus Attucks Association of York— sprouted skyward towards becoming a new anchor institution for the York community. Scheduled to open later this year, it promises to transform local heritage engagement, commemorate past struggles, and inspire future generations through storytelling, artistry, and performance.
As York celebrates 100 years of hospitality at the Yorktowne Hotel, a century of entertainment at the Strand Theatre, 90 years of learning at Martin Library, and welcomes a new cultural landmark with Crispus Attucks York, we witness a vibrant tapestry of preservation, creativity, and progress. These landmarks connect us—past, present, and future—in shared gatherings, revelations, and celebrations. Downtown York isn’t just preserving its history—it’s building on it. Through these milestones, we honor the stories of those who came before and invite the voices of those yet to come.
