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Museum of York County

Explore the Carolina Piedmont and its connections to the world at the Museum of York County!

History

History

What's Happening

What's Happening

Plan Your Visit

Plan Your Visit

Explore the wild wonders of nature with our award-winning exhibitions and programs that explore a variety of natural history topics. With more than 2,000 specimens at your fingertips, the Naturalist Center allows visitors to explore their interests hands-on. Experience a journey back in time to encounter the strange, gigantic, fierce, and fantastic beasts that once roamed the Carolinas in Ice Age Carolinas: Exploring Our Pleistocene Past. In the Settlemyre Planetarium, travel the cosmos from the comfort of your seat with state-of-the-art digital projection and new programs. A playful learning space awaits our youngest visitors in Tot Town. Educational gardens, a Nature Trail, and a picnic area offer outdoor experiences. The Museum Store offers items of interest for all ages.

Exhibits

See what permanent and changing exhibits are currently on display at the Museum of York County.

Settlemyre Planetarium

Learn about the Carolina Skies and beyond the Milky Way with a variety of scientific shows!

Naturalist Center

With more than 2,000 specimens, learn about animals from the Piedmont and across the globe.

Nature Trail & Gardens

Explore the flora of the Carolina Piedmont with our garden and nature trail located behind the Museum.

History

Museum of York County in Rock Hill, South Carolina, originally the Children’s Nature Museum of Rock Hill, opened in 1950 as a result of a community effort led by the Junior Welfare League, to create a cultural opportunity for area children. With the Stans African animal collection acquisition in the late 1950s, a larger space was necessary. The new building, which the museum now occupies, opened in 1965 and featured dioramas showcasing the African collection. In 1976, the Children’s Nature Museum of Rock Hill became Museum of York County. The Settlemyre Planetarium opened at Museum of York County in 1977. In 1978, the Museum became repository for the Vernon Grant collection of illustration art by the originator of Snap!® Crackle!® Pop!®.

What’s Happening

Museum of York County
Participants contribute images of organisms by emailing citizenscience@chmuseums.org. This month’s theme is fall lichens & mushrooms. Please include the name of the photographer and place where the photo was taken. The best photos of the month…
Thu, October 1, 2026 – October 31, 2026
/ Museum of York County
Spooky Saturdays: Night Hunters
Museum of York County
Owls, bats, and big cats rule the darkness with adaptations that make them silent, efficient, and a bit scary.  Learn about several nighttime animals that can be found in nature through hands-on specimens from our…
Sat, October 3, 2026,  11:00 AM – 02:00 PM
Museum of York County
Pitcher plants, poison ivy, and other creepy plants of the Carolinas.  Join us to learn all about the wild side of plants and how not to be haunted by them.  Make your own creepy plant…
Sat, October 10, 2026,  11:00 AM – 02:00 PM

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