York, PA: Screening “Communities that Shaped America” Travels with Darley
In honor of America’s 250th commemorations and celebrating American history in local communities, host Darley Newman traveled to York, Pennsylvania for the premiere screening of Travels with Darley: Communities that Shaped America, a new PBS episode from Season 13 of the series to more than 350 community members who gathered at the historic Appell Center for the Performing Arts to celebrate the debut and hear from a panel of local experts.
The event took place inside the Capitol Theatre, a venue with deep roots in York’s cultural history. Originally built in 1906 as a one-story dance hall, the theater evolved with the addition of a balcony in 1917, transforming it into a space for film and entertainment. Today, the beautifully restored historic movie house hosts concerts, comedy shows, community events, and film screenings — making it the perfect setting to bring the community together to celebrate York’s story.
Celebrating Communities That Shaped America
The episode highlights York County, Gettysburg, and Brandywine in Pennsylvania, alongside Vicksburg, Mississippi, exploring the people, places, and stories that helped shape America.
Seeing York featured on the big screen in such an iconic local venue made the night even more special. The episode showcases many beloved York destinations including:
Victor’s Italian Restaurant
Susquehanna National Heritage Area
Eichelberger Distillery at Dill’s Tavern
The Yorktowne Hotel
Central Market York
Royal Square District
Perrydell Farm & Dairy
Each location reflects the rich history, culture, and flavors that make York County unique.
Community Voices Take the Stage
@darleynewman Screening recap from York, PA! What a cool event bringing the community together at the historic Appell Center to screen “Communities that Shaped America” 🇺🇸 featuring York County, Gettysburg, and Brandywine in PA and also Vicksburg, MS! Thanks to @Explore York PA and everyone who came out including our all-star panel! Shoutout to @Miss Pennsylvania ⭐️ Watch for this episode on your local PBS station and coming to Youtube. Look for the book, Revolutionary Road Trip, now available on pre-order on Amazon and featuring York.📕📚 #revroadtrip #yorkpa #pbs #travel #america250 @Appell Center ♬ Human - Instrumental Version - Rex Banner
Following the screening, guests enjoyed a panel discussion featuring local experts and storytellers who help preserve and interpret York County’s heritage. Panelists represented:
Northern Central Railway
York County History Center
York Architectural Heritage through local Blake Gifford
Their insights helped deepen the conversation about how York’s past continues to influence the present.
A True Community Celebration
The evening was also a powerful reminder of the pride people feel for their community. In addition to the enthusiastic crowd of local residents, the event welcomed special guests including Miss Pennsylvania and elected officials, all there to celebrate York’s role in the larger American story.
Of course, no movie night would be complete without popcorn — thanks to The Popcorn Loft for providing the perfect theater treat as guests enjoyed the film.
Thank You, York
Special thanks go to Explore York and the Appell Center for the Performing Arts for helping bring the event to life, and to everyone who joined us for such an inspiring evening.
Moments like this show how powerful storytelling can be when communities come together to celebrate their shared heritage.
Watch the Episode
Travels with Darley: Communities that Shaped America will be airing on PBS stations nationwide and will also be available on YouTube.
And if you want to explore even more Revolutionary-era stories, keep an eye out for my upcoming book “Revolutionary Road Trip,” now available for pre-order on Amazon and featuring York among the destinations that helped shape America.
Thank you again to everyone who came out to make this screening such a memorable night.