Museums to Visit in the Pocono Mountains

The charming small towns of the Pocono Mountains region in Northeastern Pennsylvania are filled with plenty of great things to see and do in the present, but the area also has a rich past to discover. Plan to explore these four fantastic museums in the four counties of the Poconos during your next visit!

Human habitation in the Pocono Mountains stretches back over 10,000 years: Native American artifacts dating back to the Late Ice Age were uncovered at the Shawnee-Minisink Archaeological Site near the Delaware River in Monroe County. Plan a trip to the Pocono Indian Museum near Stroudsburg to learn more about the history of the Lenni Lenape and Delaware people. The word “Pocono” itself comes from a Lenape word meaning “stream between mountains,” referring to nearby Delaware Water Gap.

Further north along the Delaware River, the historic town of Milford in Pike County is home to the stately Grey Towers National Historic Landmark, where former Governor of Pennsylvania and founder of the USDA Forest Service Gifford Pinchot once lived. When President John F. Kennedy dedicated Grey Towers in 1963, he called Pinchot "the Father of the Conservation Movement." Wander through the beautiful house and grounds on the 100-acre estate to admire the majestic trees that Gifford planted and learn more about his legacy.

From trees to trains: the town of Honesdale in Wayne County is known as the birthplace of the American railroad. In 1829, the "Stourbridge Lion" became the first railroad steam locomotive to be operated on commercial tracks in the United States. Visitors can see a replica of the Stourbridge Lion on display at the Wayne County Historical Society & Museum, housed in the former headquarters of the D&H Canal Company. If you’re longing to ride the rails yourself, you can hop aboard The Stourbridge Line for an old-fashioned train excursion along the Lackawaxen River.

The picturesque old-world streets and Victorian mansions in the town of Jim Thorpe in Carbon County make it a popular destination for visitors from around the globe. The area was once home to more millionaires than any other spot in the country, thanks to the rich coal deposits in the surrounding mountains. The No. 9 Coal Mine & Museum in Lansford is the perfect place to learn more about the area’s history and even travel down a mine shaft yourself!

To find more information about the past and present of the Poconos and to start planning your trip, visit PoconoMountains.com.