World War II Resources - Linked Page

Agricultural and Industrial Museum

The Agricultural and Industrial Museum is located in a old factory building on Princess Street in York, PA. It has 7 large areas filled with exhibitions that examine the agricultural, industrial and transportation history of York County. Many of the companies represented have gained international recognition.

Two large galleries at the Agricultural and Industrial Museum include Air, Land, and Water: Transporting People and Products in York County.  You can view a Conestoga Wagon, 1937 Aeronca K Airplane, York City Trolley Number 123, and Switcher Number 2287.  Through these and other displays, you can view the impact improved-transportation methods have had on York County from the 1700s through today.  There are Model Ts, printing presses, a Pfaltzgraff display, and a three-story tall 1830s grist mill with an operating water wheel.  

Defending America's Freedom

Also featured at the museum is an introductory Defending America’s Freedom exhibit currently on display. There was very little in the museum about WWII. What there was, focused on World War II and the York County residents who served both at home and abroad.

Artifacts from World War II being exhibited related partially to the York Plan and the role the Marine Corps, Army, Army Air Corps, Women’s Army Corps (WACs), Navy, and Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services (WAVES) played in the war.

The York Plan

York County industrial leaders turned out in large numbers for a dinner at the Yorktowne Hotel in World War II. The York Plan resulting from their cooperation became a national model.The 15-point York Plan was an effort by area industries in World War II to share skilled workers and machinery to secure defense contracts. These contracts otherwise would have been too large for a single business to handle.

Artifacts

The following images were taken at the exhibit at the York Agricultural & Industrial Museum.

Army uniforms and medals.

Letter describing how the writer felt about finding a fellow soldier's body and the desire to share with the soldier's parents.

Images

Soldier writing letter.

Posters displayed in the York area during WWII.

*Images photographed by

D. Wilson, courtesy of The York Heritage Trust, March 2009.