YORK COUNTY, Pa. — Take a step back in time at York County's Indian Steps Museum which has a collection of Native American exhibits and artifacts up to 10,000 years old.
It's one of the first Native American museums in the entire United States; A hidden gem right on the edge of the Susquehanna River in Lower Chanceford Township.
"In the 1950s this was a number one attraction in York County, but this was before computers and the internet," said Debbie Saylor, the museum's curator and research director. "We want to bring that back, we want to get people down here to see how beautiful this hidden gem really is in York County."
The museum officially opens for the season on Saturday, April 20. It was created by wealthy York County lawyer, John Edward Vandersloot back in 1912 with one mission that is literally etched in stone at the museum's entrance.
"He wanted to preserve the ancient ones, is what he called the Native Americans because he realized their culture was disintegrating and he wanted to preserve their possessions," said Saylor. "The Susquehanna River was like the Indian highway so there’s a lot of special encampments on this side, even on York’s side that you could explore. But when people come down, they can mentally put themselves back 10,000 years ago in time."
The museum is four floors high and filled with over 10 thousand ancient artifacts on grounds filled with history, most of which highlights the historic importance of the local Native American people.
"I make it a point to focus on local native American woodland peoples," said Saylor. "It’s important to preserve that and preserve their culture."
It's a preservation effort that began in 1912 by Vandersloot and is now carried out by the Conservation Society of York County.
"We’re all volunteers and it takes a lot of time and dedication and money to keep up the displays," said Saylor.
However, it's time, hard work and money that is worth the reward of providing people a chance to appreciate Native American culture and a simpler age in history.
"I would want them to appreciate the social evolution of mankind going from such primitive conditions," said Saylor. "Truly ponder what a good clear mental health would be like and get away from all the stress and chaos in the world today."
Indian Steps Museum is open Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. More information can be found on the museum's website.