Historical Places to Visit in Pennsylvania
Jim Thorpe is a Tourist Destination Filled with History & Culture
Nov 8, 2009
Located two hours from New York City and an hour and a half from Philadelphia, Jim Thorpe has a lot to offer the weekend visitor or the visitor who wants to stay longer.
Little Switzerland Located in the Pocono Mountains
Coming into Jim Thorpe the traveler cannot help to have their breath taken away by the beautiful entrance of the small Victorian town. Traveling from Flag Staff Mountain the Lehigh River is seen meandering through the town.
The view is picturesque and reminds many of the small towns that sit below the Alps in Switzerland.
Location of First American Roller Coaster
The Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway first built in 1829 brought the first tourists to the American Indian named town, which means “Mountain of Bears”.
The Railway was the second oldest railroad and originally built to transport coal from the mines at Summit Hill to the Lehigh River and Canal in Mauch Chunk.
The Railway became the second most visited attraction in the United States with the first being Niagara Falls.
The Switchback closed in 1933 due to declining tourism and The Depression. However, remnants of the era are still seen at Mt. Pisgah, Five Mile Tree, Mt Jefferson Crossing, and the Home Stretch.
Ride the Rails at Lehigh Gorge
The train takes visitors on a sixteen mile ride through the scenic gorge. The trip begins on the former mainline of the Jersey Central mainline and travels on to the former Lehigh Valley mainline. The train continues along the curvy Lehigh River until it reaches Old Penn Haven where it starts back towards Jim Thorpe.
During the train ride, tour guides will give the history of the gorge and coalmines that once played an important role in settling the town.
Mysterious Hand Placed on the Prison Wall
In 1877, four Irishmen, also known as Molly Maguires, were hung after they were convicted of murder.
Alexander Campbell, who was due to be hung claimed his innocence up to the day of the hanging. In order to prove that innocence he placed his hand against his cell wall and told the guards the handprint will never fade away. The print will remain there as long as the prison stands and will show that the men of Carbon County made a dreadful mistake.
To this day the handprint remains and can be seen by visitors who tour the old prison.
Name Changed from Mauch Chunk to Jim Thorpe
From the beginning of it’s settlement the town referred to as “America’s Little Switzerland” was officially named Mauch Chunk, but all that changed in 1954 when Jim Thorpe, American Indian athlete, died and his third wife made arrangements with the town commissioners that if they changed the town name to Jim Thorpe she would allow his body to be buried there. The vote to change the name was carried. The commissioners of the Mauch Chunk thought the name change and Jim Thorpe’s tomb would rebuild tourism, but unfortunately, that did not happen.
Jim Thorpe is still buried in his namesake town. A large memorial is built for him showing his athletic achievements. The memorial is located three miles outside of town.
Adventures for the Outdoor Enthusiast
In the nearby Lehigh Lake Gorge State Park, outdoor enthusiasts have a wide range of fun things they can do while visiting Jim Thorpe
- Mountain Biking: there are over twenty trails that range from rough single trails to mild rails to trails.
- Mauch Chunk Lake Park: located outside of town on Lentz Trail there is swimming, nonmotorized boating, and fishing.
- Camping: there are two campgrounds located outside of town on Lentz Trail
- White Water Rafting: there are four rafting companies, which are located in town and outside of town.
Jim Thorpe is located off US 209.
Sources:
Drury, John H., & Gilber, Joan. Jim Thorpe (Mauch Chunk) (PA) (Images of America). Mt. Pleasant, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2001.
Mauch Chunk Historical Society
Roller Coaster History: How it Started
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
