Historic farms, battlefields, and the culture of the Catawba Indian Nation offer very different perspectives on the past in York. There are also trails through forest and river landscapes, as well as museums exploring natural history and regional topics. This means you can discover York according to your interests in culture, history, or spending time outdoors.
History at Farms, Battlefields, and Along Trails
Historic Brattonsville includes more than 30 buildings from the Colonial and Antebellum eras, including two house museums. The site also includes the location of a Revolutionary War battlefield, with an interpretive trail. The history of the buildings and the memory of the war stand side by side here. The Living History Farm in Kings Mountain State Park offers another way to experience 19th-century life: It recreates a Southern farm with a barn, cotton gin, blacksmith and carpentry shops, and farm animals. Historic Brattonsville’s Heritage Farm Program maintains rare breeds such as Gulf Coast sheep, Devon cattle, and Ossabaw Island pigs. At Historic Brattonsville, costumed interpreters demonstrate historic farming techniques and everyday activities throughout the year.
The trails in Kings Mountain State Park also vary considerably in length: the Kings Mountain National Recreation Trail is 16 miles long, and the Ridgeline Trail is 1.8 miles long. At Kings Mountain National Military Park, a self-guided, 1.5-mile hiking trail crosses the battlefield. Interpretive signs explain different aspects of the battle from the perspectives of Patriot and Loyalist militiamen. Artifacts and audiovisual displays help bring the battle to life in the park museum; the 25-minute park film “Frontier Battles: Kings Mountain 1780” is shown in the auditorium.
Catawba Culture and Museum Discoveries
The Catawba Cultural Center preserves and shares the culture of the Catawba Indian Nation. The Yehasure Trail at the center leads to the Catawba River, with interpretive signs along the way. The trail therefore connects a cultural focus with a specific river landscape, without combining culture and nature into a single theme.
At the Museum of York County, visitors can explore more than 2,000 exhibits hands-on in the Naturalist Center. The museum also includes the Settlemyre Planetarium, with digital projection and new programs. The exhibit “Ice Age Carolinas: Exploring Our Pleistocene Past” focuses on the Carolinas’ Ice Age past. There is also a current practical note about the McCelvey Center: It is temporarily closed for repairs. Check whether it is still closed before visiting.
River Landscapes and Outdoor Trails
A 30-mile stretch of the Catawba River, which runs through York County and Lancaster and Chester counties, was designated a State Scenic River in June 2008. The corridor and adjacent uplands include large areas of undeveloped forest, as well as a mix of farmland and pastureland. The Catawba Scenic River offers opportunities for recreational fishing and boating. Fishing is also available at Lake York and Lake Crawford in Kings Mountain State Park.
There are more specific details for boating, too: Ebenezer Park has three boat ramps, open 365 days a year from dawn until dark. Fort Mill Access in York County has a boat ramp and a parking lot. These details can help you plan your time on the water; the individual access points should be considered separately.
At the Catawba River Trail at Riverwalk, you can walk, run, or bike along a 3.35-mile paved multi-use trail. Restrooms are available at the Riverwalk and River Park parking lots and at the trailhead; a canoe and kayak ramp is located near the trailhead. The York Greenway offers a different landscape: Most of it is wooded and follows a former railroad corridor. Cyclists and walkers use the trail. This gives you two distinct options: a paved trail with several designated uses and a predominantly wooded greenway.
Coffee: Another Way to Explore York County
The YoCo Coffee Trail is a self-guided tour of more than ten independently operated cafés in York County. It adds a culinary discovery to the historic sites, museums, and trails, giving you a reason of your own to explore the county’s cafés.
Discover more destinations: Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Lake Wylie, Barnwell County, Berkeley, Spartanburg, Darlington, Dillon County.
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