Lackawanna Valley State Heritage Region

Enter Pennsylvania's Hard Coal Region. Looking at it today, it's difficult to imagine that, not too long ago, the Lackawanna Valley was a hot bed of the nation's anthracite mining industry helping to supply 80 percent of the hard coal needed to fuel the growth of American industry. The Lackawanna Heritage Valley, Pennsylvania's first Heritage Park, tells the story behind the difficult lives of mineworkers and their families, fourteen levels of mine tunnels, thousands of miles of railroad tracks, hundreds of industrial sites, distinctive architecture, and countless ethnic communities, organizations and institutions that remain from the anthracite era.

You'll also experience a place with an array of sites and attractions for the entire family from the Historic Scranton Iron Furnaces to the Houdini Tour and Show. Discover the wonder of railroading at Steamtown National Historic Site or go 300 feet down into the Lackawanna Coal Mine and into history. At the Anthracite Heritage Museum you can take a closer look at the lives of the people who settled the area, mined the coal and transformed the region into the coal producing giant it came to be. Head to the Everhart Museum, a regional center featuring natural history, science and art exhibits.

If it's outdoor fun you're looking for you can find it at the Olympic size swimming pool, fishing ponds, tennis courts and playgrounds at the 200-acre McDade Park. Enjoy water slides, batting cages, Triple A baseball and Alpine skiing at Montage Mountain. Don't forget the Valley's two state parks complete with campgrounds, fishing, swimming pools, and picnic facilities.

Heritage Park Description

The Lackawanna Heritage Valley addresses the historic and natural assets along 40 miles of the Lackawanna River in northeastern Pennsylvania. The partnership seeks to interpret the area’s national significance for residents and visitors while encouraging environmentally sound economic development and recreational opportunities....

Project Characteristics Size: 500? square miles Counties: Lackawanna, Susquehanna, Luzerne Population: 200,000 Municipalities: Boroughs - 17 Townships - 21 Third-Class Cities - 1 Major Highways: Pa. - 247, 347 U.S. - 6, 11 Interstate - 81, 84, 380, 476 Key Communities: Scranton Carbondale Dunmore Major Attractions: McDade Park Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour Montage Mountain Electric City Trolley Station and Museum Steamtown National Historic Site Historic Scranton Iron Furnaces Everhart Museum/Nay Aug Park Lackawanna Historical Society/The Catlin House Scranton Cultural Center Lake Scranton Heritage Valley Crossing Lackawanna River Heritage Trail National Institute for Environmental Renewal Carbondale Center/Historical Society Lackawanna State Park Welcome Centers: Lackawanna Heritage Valley Visitors' Center, Exit xx, I-81

The Lackawanna Heritage Valley is located in northeastern Pennsylvania and, for the most part, includes the watershed area of the Lackawanna River in Susquehanna, Lackawanna and Luzerne counties. A federal, state and local partnership entity, the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority, has undertaken an ambitious implementation strategy for the region with guidance from a full-time Executive Director, partially paid for with Pennsylvania Heritage Parks Program funds.

Initial projects have focused upon creation of a continuous greenway trail and park system along the entire length of the Lackawanna River, improvement to the water quality of the river, development of visitor centers and a trolley museum, establishment of a multi-million dollar National Institute for Environmental Renewal (NIER), community heritage preservation programs, downtown and Main Street community revitalization programs, construction of a rail system to link the Valley with the Steamtown National Historic Site, development of a signage, interpretive and marketing plan, and completion of a county natural areas inventory study.

Milestones

• April 23, 1991 – Lackawanna Heritage Valley designated as first State Heritage Park
• September 22, 2000 – Lackawanna Heritage Valley designated as National Heritage Area

Heritage Park Organization

Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority
538 Spruce Street, Suite 516
Scranton, PA 18503
(570) 963-6730
Fax: (570) 963-6732
Web site: www.lhva.org
E-mail: nsolfanelli@lhva.org

Contact: Natalie G. Solfanelli
Title: Executive Director

Organization Type: Municipal Authority

Mission/Purpose: Dedicated to the development of the Valley’s historic, cultural, natural, and economic resources through preservation, education, and promotion of our heritage

Staff and Volunteers: four full-time, one part-time

Involved Organizations

Additional Project Supporters

• Lackawanna River Corridor Association
• DCNR

Tourist Promotion Agencies (TPAs) within the Region

• Northeast Pennsylvania’s Convention and Visitors Bureau: 1-800-22-WELCOME (229-3526)

Pennsylvania's Heritage Regions

Allegheny Ridge Heritage Area Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Endless Mountains Heritage Region Lackawanna Heritage Valley Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor Lumber Heritage Region

National Road Heritage Corridor Oil Region National Heritage Area PA Route 6 Heritage Corridor Rivers of Steel National Heritage Area Schuylkill River National & State Heritage Area Susquehanna Gateway Heritage Area

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