We recently visited the Steamtown National Historic Site in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It’s brimming with the history of railroads. Expecting a short visit, we had hoped to spend just a couple of hours exploring a few trains and exhibits. Yet, as these things often go, it quickly became clear that we’d grossly underestimated our time. A few hours turned into half the day, and we should have probably planned on spending the whole day.
But the site was something we decided to visit at the last minute as we were traveling near the area on a road trip. And we’re glad we did!
The site is a treasure trove of sights and stories. The National Park Service has restored the impressive roundhouse, and the yard displays an array of trains waiting for you to discover.
If you like museums, you can dive deep into the history of railroads, the engineering marvel of bridges, and the evolution of trains. There is a lot to explore in several different buildings.
Steamtown is perfect if your family has varying interests. For those who adore museums, there’s enough detailed information to satisfy the most ardent history buffs. Meanwhile, thrill-seekers are free to roam and climb through the trains, experiencing technology from a different era in a hands-on way.
Make sure you stop in the visitor center, which we always recommend, and consider doing the Junior Ranger book. Jessi always does those, and we both end up learning from the experience!
A fun surprise was the opportunity for a short steam train ride. The half-hour ride, though brief, was enough for a brief taste of rail travel. We were lucky that the day we were there, they offered a “run by” option, which is an extended ride because they stop to let passengers off and then run the train past you for a great photo and video opportunity. The rides cost $6 per person, which felt like a small price for such a unique experience. That’s especially true since the site itself is free!
If there’s one lesson learned — besides all the train history — it’s to plan ahead. Allocate more time than you think you’ll need to fully immerse yourself in the offerings of Steamtown.
But if you ever find yourself near Scranton, Pennsylvania, make sure you take advantage of this gem of a historic site.
If you’d like to see the video we produced all about our visit to Steamtown, you can find it here: https://youtu.be/5kalj43tElw