‘Revealing York Minster’ opens May 2013

A brand new visitor experience, Revealing York Minster, opens to the public on Saturday 25 May 2013.

Revealing York Minster is a network of new interactive galleries, housed in the Undercroft and Treasury below the historical cathedral, telling the colourful story of York Minster, from the lives of the Roman garrison to the work of the staff, clergy and volunteers in the 21st century.  In the state-of-the-art multi-media galleries, there will be new displays of historic collections and interactive interpretations which will create new learning opportunities for all ages.  Improved access to the South Transept, Undercroft, Treasury and Crypt will totally transform the experience of visiting York Minster.

“Our visitors generally spend their time marvelling at the architecture of the building and the stunning stained glass works, but seeing the building as it is today only tells part of York Minster’s rich history, which stretches back to the time of the Roman city of Eboracum, centuries before the first Minster was built,” comments the Very Reverend Vivienne Faull, Dean of York. “Revealing York Minster is effectively a visitor attraction in its own right which tells the story of this site through history, illustrated by real archaeological finds and artefacts collected and stored in our archives.”

Revealing York Minster is the latest part to be completed of the £20 million York Minster Revealed project, a five-year project scheduled for completion in early summer 2016.  It is the largest restoration and conservation project of its kind in the UK. The cost of the whole York Minster Revealed Project is £20 million, of which £10.5m has been generously supported with a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The remainder of the funding has been raised by York Minster.