Explore NEPA’s Industrial History Through Coal Mining & Railroad Landmarks
Tour the sites that bring Northeastern Pennsylvania’s industrial history and railroad past to life. Explore anthracite coal mines, iron furnaces, railroads, and towering bridges. These landmarks tell the story of how NEPA powered America’s Industrial Revolution and highlight the communities that grew around them.
These sites aren’t just relics — they’re living reminders of how industry shaped our landscapes and our culture. Walk through preserved mining towns, step into iron furnaces and museums, or follow rail-trails beneath soaring viaducts to see the scale of engineering that defined the era. Whether you’re a history buff, a casual explorer, or just looking for a unique day trip, NEPA invites you to step back in time and connect with the resilience and drive that fueled its industrial history.
Hawley, PA
D&H Canal Park at Lock 31 in Hawley preserves a rare piece of the 108-mile Delaware and Hudson Canal, which once carried anthracite coal from NEPA to New York markets. See how the canal fueled the region’s growth between 1828 and 1899, shaping the industrial and cultural identity of the Poconos. Visitors can explore Lock 31, walk the historic towpath, and step inside the 1820 Daniels Farmhouse.
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Foster Township, PA
Eckley Miners’ Village in Foster Township is a preserved 19th-century company town that reveals the lives of coal miners and their families during America’s industrial rise. Built in 1854, the village reflects both the power of coal companies and the resilience of immigrant workers who fueled NEPA’s anthracite industry. Guests can tour original homes, churches, and the company store, with guided tours and events like Patchtown Days immersing visitors in mining-town history.
Scranton, PA
The Electric City Trolley Station and Museum in Scranton tells the story of one of the first electric streetcar systems in the U.S. and its role in transforming the city into a transportation hub. Trace the development of electric railways that powered local industry and connected workers across NEPA. A ride on a restored trolley takes visitors through the Crown Avenue Tunnel and past landmarks like the Scranton Iron Furnaces.
Scranton, PA
The Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour located within McDade Park in Scranton descends 300 feet underground to showcase the difficult and dangerous work that sustained NEPA’s coal mining industry. Opened in 1860, the mine once supplied fuel that powered factories, railroads, and homes across the nation. Visitors ride into the Clark Vein and walk through original tunnels guided by former miners and their descendants.
Landsford, PA
The No. 9 Coal Mine and Museum in Lansford offers a look inside one of the world’s oldest continuously operated anthracite mines. Generations of miners once labored here, extracting coal that fed America’s steel mills and railroads. Guests ride a rail car into the mine and explore tunnels lined with original tools, then browse museum exhibits filled with artifacts and photographs.
Scranton, PA
The Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum in Scranton explores the immigrant communities, miners, and factory workers who powered America’s Industrial Revolution. Explore machinery, tools, and cultural artifacts that capture the heart of NEPA’s working-class story. Visitors can see reconstructed miners’ houses, historic saloon displays, and detailed collections of photographs and artifacts.
Scranton, PA
The Scranton Iron Furnaces preserve massive blast furnace remains from the mid-1800s, when Scranton was a leader in the iron and steel industry. These structures fueled the expansion of America’s railroads, bridges, and factories, cementing the city’s place in industrial history. The site features a visitor center with exhibits, and many visitors arrive by vintage trolley for a unique connection to the past.
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Lanesboro, PA
The Starrucca Viaduct in Lanesboro, built in 1848, is one of the nation’s oldest and largest stone railroad bridges still in use today. Constructed of local bluestone, it symbolizes the engineering achievements that carried NEPA’s coal and rail industries into national prominence. View its 17 arches from Luciana Park or see it as a highlight along the D&H Rail-Trail.
Scranton, PA
Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton celebrates the era of steam locomotives and their role in building America’s industrial might. Once the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad yard, it now showcases restored engines, interactive exhibits, and rail yard tours. Guests can step inside historic railcars, watch mechanics at work, and ride trains through scenic NEPA landscapes.
Nicholson, PA
The Tunkhannock Viaduct in Nicholson, completed in 1915, is one of the largest concrete railroad bridges in the world. Built for the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, it carried coal and freight across NEPA and became a symbol of the region’s industrial power. Visitors can take in sweeping views of its 240-foot arches from scenic overlooks in town.
Keep Exploring NEPA’s Historic Sites
NEPA’s story doesn’t end with coal mines and railroads — its heritage stretches across farms, estates, and small towns that shaped daily life. From the stately Grey Towers National Historic Site in Milford to the fascinating Old Jail Museum in Jim Thorpe and the living history at Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm in Stroudsburg, each landmark adds another chapter to the region’s past.
NEPA’s network of rail trails also offers another way to connect with history. Paths like the D&H Rail-Trail, the O&W Rail-Trail, and the Lehigh Gorge Trail follow former canal and railroad routes, letting you walk, bike, or run where coal, goods and passengers once traveled. Together, these experiences invite you to explore the people, places, and industries that built Northeastern Pennsylvania. Start planning your journey and connect historic sites that reveal NEPA’s industrial and cultural roots.
Experience NEPA’s Heritage
Uncover the people, places and industries that shaped our region. Explore historic towns, museums, and tours that preserve Northeastern Pennsylvania's rich industrial legacy.
