Asa Packer Mansion Asa Packer Mansion Built in 1860, this Victorian mansion contains eighteen rooms of original furnishings. Open weekends April, May and Nov. and seven days a week from Memorial Day to October 31, from 11 A.M. ­ 4:15 P.M. (570) 325-3229. Anthracite Museum Unique collection of mining artifacts. Free admission. Open during park season. Knoebels Amusement Resort, PA 487 between Elysburg and Catawissa. (800) ITS-4FUN. The Catlin House Museum at The Lackawanna Historical Society Centralia This 1912 English Tudor-style home serves as the headquarters of the county's Historical Society. Exhibits include a variety of artifacts, photos and archives relating to local history and industry. Tours available Tues. through Fri.- 10AM-5PM; Sat.- 12-3PM. Scranton. (570) 344-3841. Mining town incorporated in 1862 by Alexander Rea, chief engineer for Locust Mountain Coal and Iron Co. In 1962 an underground mine fire began eating away at the land. A government buyout of property ensued as the fire continued to burn. Population 40. Located in southern Columbia County. Eckley Miners' Village Dimmick Memorial Library Hours: Mon & Thurs. 9AM-7PM, Tues, Wed. & Fri. ­ 9AM-5PM; Sat. 9AM­4PM. 54 Broadway, Jim Thorpe. (570) 325-2131. Eckley Miners Village A National Register District site dedicated to the lives of immigrant miners at the height of the anthracite boom. Includes exhibits, home tours and a gift shop. Mon-.Sat. 9:00-5; Sun. 12-5. Off Rt. 940 on Highland Rd., Eckley. (570) 636-2070. Electric City Trolley Station & Museum Former CNJ Passenger Station The museum tells the story of the electric traction systems and the impact they had on the development of the Lackawanna Valley and the industrial northeast. Museum includes a fifty-seat theatre and a hands-on kids' exhibit. Open daily 9AM to 5PM. Scranton. (570) 963-6590. Also, known as the Delaware & Lehigh Old Mauch Chunk Landing. Home of the tourist information center. Susquehanna Street, Jim Thorpe. Open everyday from 9:30am-5:30pm. (570) 325-3673. Glen Burn Colliery Iron Heritage Festival Remnants of a huge anthracite mine including a coal refuse (culm) pile reported to be the largest in the world. Located along Rt. 61 on east side of Shamokin. Danville celebrates its history each year at this festival held the third weekend in July. The first iron foundry was built in Danville in 1829. In 1840 the first anthracite coal fired furnace was used to efficiently produce iron. In 1845 the first T-rail is produced at Montour Iron Works, the largest iron manufacturing plant in the U.S. At one time Danville was the largest producer of iron in the country. (570) 275-5200. Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour Lehigh Canal Go down in history and explore 300 feet beneath the earth in an actual mine. Open April 1 to November 31, 10AM-5PM. McDade Park, Scranton. 1-800-238-7245. In 1826, the Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company began building dams, locks, channels and slackwater pools to move anthracite along the Lehigh River. The Lehigh Canal operated from 1827 to 1933. It moved black diamonds from as far north as White Haven to Easton, fueling the industrial revolution in the Lehigh Valley and beyond. Today, visitors can enjoy Lehigh Canal Park in Weissport - a well preserved piece of this historic waterway and towpath. Marion Hose Co. Mauch Chunk Museum and Cultural Center Built in 1885, was the home of the first volunteer Fire Company in Carbon County. Come experience the "Tourists in an Industrial Era" exhibit. 16 West Broadway, Jim Thorpe. Hours vary. (570) 325-4439. Home of a 28-foot long operating model of the Switchback Railroad Mining memorabilia. 10AM-4PM everyday except Mon. 41 West Broadway, Jim Thorpe. (570) 325-9190. Mauch Chunk Opera House McDade Park Owned and operated by the Mauch Chunk Historical Society. Live theater and music productions. Ticket prices vary. Thurs.-Sun. 12:30PM-5:30PM. 41 West Broadway, Jim Thorpe. (570) 325-4439. Once a barren strip mine wasteland, the park was reclaimed by the Dept. of Interior. This 200 acre green space features an Olympic swimming pool, fishing ponds, tennis, baseball, playground, trails, picnic and pavilion facilities. (570) 963-6764. Scranton. Montgomery House Museum Montour Preserve Home to Daniel Montgomery, founder of Danville. Contains artifacts of Montour County Historical Society. Corner of Bloom and Mill Streets, Danville. (570) 275-0228. Nature, wildlife, and history come together at this 966 acre preserve. In 1972, the Montour Steam Electric Station was constructed, this coal-fired electric-generating plant is located within close proximity of the preserve. Hours: Monday-Friday 8am to 4pm. (570) 437-3131. Number 9 Mine Museum of Anthracite Mining Pennsylvania State Museum located near the Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine. Museum features mining technology, photographs and artifacts. Seasonal hours. 17th and Pine Streets, Ashland. (570) 875-4708. No. 9 "Wash Shanty" Mine & Museum Exhibits on labor and local history. Experience life like the Molly Maguires. Sun-Wed 9 A.M. ­ 4 P.M. and Mon. and Tues. 8 A.M. - 1 P.M. 9 Dock Street, Lansford. (570) 645-7074. Old Jail Museum Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum Built in 1871 and used until 1995 as the county jail. Guided tours May-Oct. 128 West Broadway, Jim Thorpe. (570) 325-5259. Explore the lives and labors of the people of Pennsylvania's hard coal region. Mon.-Sat. 9AM-5PM; Sun., Noon-5PM. McDade Park, Scranton. (570) 963-4804. Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine Rail Tours, Inc. Tour an actual coal mine and ride a steam locomotive. Open Memorial Day to Labor Day 10AM-5PM. Call for off-season hours in April, May, September and Oct. 19th and Oak, Ashland. (570) 875-3850. Year-round special theme rides for all ages. 4 Lehigh Ave., Jim Thorpe. For scheduled rides call (570) 325-4606. St. Mark's Episcopal Church Scranton Iron Furnaces National Landmark features Tiffany windows. 21 Race St., Jim Thorpe. Services: 8am in the Chapel and 10:30am in the Church. Parish office hours: 9am-12:30pm, Monday-Friday. (570) 325-2241. Four massive stone blast furnace stacks built between 1848 and 1857, recall the Lackawanna Iron and Steel Company. Open daily. I-81, Exit 185 to Cedar Avenue, Scranton. (570) 963-4804. Steamtown National Historic Site Tamaqua Historical Society Museum Learn about the railroads' illustrious past at two museums, theatre, working roundhouse, locomotive restoration shop, visitors' center and bookstore. Open daily 9AM-5PM. Excursions run Memorial Day through the first weekend in November. Downtown Scranton. 1-888-693-9391. Mining artifacts, photograph collection, annual heritage events. Call for hours of operation. 118 West Broad Street, Tamaqua. (570) 668-5722. Transportation Museum Schuylkill Canal and railroad artifacts, photographs. Call for special tours and seasonal hours of operation. Penn and Clinton Streets, Port Clinton. (610) 562-9383.