Though it doesn’t look like much from the highway, bypassed by both US-30 and the I-83 freeway, the medium-sized town of York (pop. 40,862) claims to be the first capital of the United States: Late in 1777, the Articles of Confederation were adopted here by the 13 newly independent former colonies, and (arguably) it’s in that document that the name “United States of America” was first used. A significant number of historic buildings still stand in the quiet, low-rise downtown area, including the medieval-looking, circa-1740 Golden Plough Tavern and other colonial-era structures along Market Street at the west edge of the business district.
For all its historic importance, York is best known for its industrial prowess, which is saluted at the Harley-Davidson assembly plant and museum (Mon.–Fri. 9 am–2 pm; free; 717/848-1177), a mile east of town off US-30 on Eden Road. The guided tours take about two hours, and begin with a brief history of the company, which is still based in Milwaukee. The tour then takes you past a lineup of some 40 Harleys past and present, culled from the corporate collection of over 200 motorbikes, then proceeds to the shop floor for a close-up (and very noisy) look and listen as the bikes get put together: Sheets of steel are pressed to form fenders and fairings, and, once assembled, each bike is “road-tested” at full throttle on motorcycling’s equivalent of a treadmill. A souvenir store is stocked with all manner of things with the Harley-Davidson logo, from T-shirts to leather jackets.
Downtown York has a handful of cafés and restaurants, and on the west edge of town, where the US-30 bypass rejoins the old Lincoln Highway (Hwy-462), Lee’s Diner (717/792-1300), at 4320 W. Market Street, is a classic early 1950s Mountain View pre-fab diner, still serving up hearty road food.
