Tillamook hosts ‘A Man Called York’

The Corps of Discovery made history in more ways than one, when, under the command of Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark, the group of United States Army and civilian volunteers trekked through the Louisiana Purchase, all the way to near modern-day Astoria.           

Amongst the explorers was an enslaved man called York, the subject of the traveling exhibit from Oregon Black Pioneers, “A Man Called York.” The temporary display will open at the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum this Saturday, Jan. 3, and will remain through February 28.

York took part in the Lewis and Clark Expedition from 1803 to 1806 and was the first African American to explore the American West. He was born around 1772 on the Clark family plantation in Caroline County, Virginia. In 1803, William Clark joined Meriwether Lewis in leading the expedition through the newly acquired western territories and on to the Pacific. William chose to bring York along, making him the only Black member of the party. York’s journey is the origin of Black history in many states, and he is remembered as a pioneering explorer and ancestor.           

The exhibit features eight standing vinyl banners that explore the life and experiences of York, revealing his life beyond the expedition and recognizing his place within national African American history.

A free admission day will be hosted on Saturday, Jan. 17. Community members and visitors are encouraged to take the opportunity to see the traveling exhibit as well as the rest of the Tillamook County Pioneer Museum.      

The exhibit will conclude with a presentation from Oregon Black Pioneers on Saturday, Feb. 28.

The Tillamook County Pioneer Museum is located at 2106 Second Street and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors, children under 10 are free. For more information, go to tcpm.org.