Scranton, PA

Our reason for coming to Scranton was to visit Steamtown, USA which is a National Historic Site.   We arrived on Monday about 10:15 and there was so much to see that it was almost 2 pm when we stopped for lunch.   The National Park Service had a good introductory movie, history of railroading done by describing the duties/roles of the various people:  emigrants, newsboys, engineers, conductors, brakemen, firemen, etc. and a history of the founders of the railroad.    From there we walked through a business coach, a mail car with a film about Oney the dog and a film talking about the last time the rail car was used.   There were two roundhouses with rolling stock to view.

After lunch we went across the parking lot and visited the smaller Electric City Trolley Station and Museum.

Tuesday we stopped to see the coal furnaces and then drove to McDade Park to visit the Anthrocite Museum.   This museum talked about the mining of the coal and the processes used to prepare it for use in the trains and industrial uses.   The region recruited emigrants to work the mines and children as young as 8 were set to work in the mines.   The wives scrounged for dropped coal for heating and cooking, did normal household chores, and many went to work in silk factories that dotted the area.
It was an interesting look at life in the 1800's in the area.

Wednesday we set out for Lancaster County, PA.