Discover Scranton: Railways, Trolleys and Culture

Scranton tells the story of railways in different ways: Steamtown National Historic Site is devoted to steam railways, while the Electric City Trolley Museum explores the history of electric railways. There’s also a trolley excursion, a treehouse overlooking a gorge, and cultural activities with hands-on workshops. If you’re considering whether Scranton is right for your trip, you can choose between railway history, a ride along a former railway line, and insights into art and theater.

A Treehouse Overlooking the Gorge

In Nay Aug Park, the David Wenzel Treehouse overlooks the gorge from a height of 150 feet. The treehouse opened on Friday, May 25, 2007. Its striking view into the gorge offers something different from the city’s railway attractions: the focus here is on a view from above. If you’d like to visit this distinctive spot in addition to museums and railway history during your stay in accommodation in Scranton, you can add it to your itinerary.

Steam Railways and the Historic Roundhouse

Steamtown National Historic Site preserves, interprets, and protects the history of steam railways in America. This includes its historic railway grounds and collections. The Steamtown rail experience consists of 30-minute rides through the park’s historic grounds. This offers a way to experience the history not only through a collection, but also on a ride around the site.

One distinctive structure there is the Roundhouse: it was built in 1902 and expanded in 1937. Its thirteen stalls are still used operationally to display and maintain historic locomotives. Its construction history and present-day use come together in one place. If you’re especially interested in locomotives, you’ll find here a specific building with its own construction and use history, in addition to the broader story of steam railways.

Electric Railway History on a Trolley Excursion

The Electric City Trolley Museum offers a different perspective on railway history. Its collection represents the history of electric railways in eastern Pennsylvania, from the Philadelphia region to Northeastern Pennsylvania. Its focus therefore extends beyond Scranton, presenting electric railways as a regional theme.

The Electric City Trolley Excursion follows a section of the former Lackawanna & Wyoming Valley railway line, also known as the Laurel Line. It runs parallel to Roaring Brook, passes the Historic Iron Furnaces, and goes through the 4,747-foot-long Crown Avenue Tunnel. If you’re choosing between a ride through Steamtown’s historic grounds and this trolley excursion, you can weigh up two different railway experiences in Scranton.

Hands-on Cultural Experiences

The Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple also brings together history and hands-on activities. The “School & Group Experience” includes a tour of the center’s historic architecture for all age groups. It also includes a choice of two hands-on workshops. Options include instruction in theater, dance, drawing, mixed media, music, or magic. This means the program appeals not only to those interested in architecture but also to people with a range of creative interests. When planning your trip, you can consider whether a tour and workshop program would suit your interests better than a focus on railway exhibits or a trolley ride.

When choosing a vacation rental in Scranton, you can let the experiences that matter most to your trip guide you.

You can also include these places in your search: Dunmore, Old Forge, Clarks Summit, Moosic and Dickson City.

For the broader travel overview: Lackawanna.