Wilkes-Barre
Wilkes-Barre, part of the Wyoming Valley, is framed by the Pocono Mountains to the east, and the Endless Mountains to the west, with the majestic Susquehanna River flowing through the center.
In the 1800s, hundreds of thousands of immigrants flocked to the region to work the mines. Wilkes-Barre was located in the heart of the anthracite fields, and thus smack in the middle of development. The accompanying growth they triggered, coupled with inevitable economic and cultural changes, transformed the rural farming region into a thriving urban center. Wilkes-Barre soon became the region’s financial center, and home to rich and powerful entrepreneurs whose business ventures affected the railroad-and-canal system that stretched 165 miles southward to Bristol.
The first documented burning of anthracite occurred in Wilkes-Barre. In 1808 Judge Jesse Fell discovered that forced air made the hard-to-burn coal an efficient heat source. This discovery helped change Luzerne County from a quiet frontier to a thriving region where mining was king.
Today, one of the best places to quickly glimpse Wilkes-Barre’s past is the Luzerne County Historical Society Museum on Franklin Street. It has Native American exhibits, anthracite coal displays and presentations that highlight important natural and cultural events of the Wyoming Valley. Nearby are Wilkes-Barre Commons, the F.M. Kirby Center - a center for the performing arts, and the Luzerne County Courthouse - one of Pennsylvania’s most impressive architectural masterpieces.
Things to see and do in Wilkes-Barre
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All of the fine arts under one roof! Painting, pottery, poetry, origami, dancing, music, comedy, sculpture, photography - come discover yourself!
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Central Railroad of New Jersey Station
Constructed in 1868, it was once considered one of the finest passenger stations on the Jersey Central Line.
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The land on which the Dorothy Dixon Darte Center for the Performing Arts now stands was used as a depot for the Lehigh & Susquehanna Railroad.
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A beautiful art deco theater that provides live Broadway, children's and classical performances.
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Downtown Wilkes-Barre Farmers Market is seasonal - June 28 to November 15. Enjoy fresh vegetables and fruits and much more.
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The Forty Fort Meeting House, built in 1806-8, and located in the Old Forty Fort Cemetery, is a wood-frame building with white clapboard siding in a style typical of New England meeting houses.
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Consists of 1,035 acres in Northeastern Pennsylvania with a lake that forms a horseshoe covering 165 acres.
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The Giants Despair Hill Climb, sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America. One-hundred competitors battle for hill supremacy.
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The Keystone State Games, modeled after the Olympic Games, are multi-sport competitions held annually, providing amateur athletes throughout the Commonwealth an opportunity to compete in the Summer Games, Winter Sports Festival, and the Pennsylvania Senio????????
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Named for the five and ten cent store magnate, Kirby Park was designed for residents to relax and play along the banks of the Susquehanna River across from downtown Wilkes Barre.
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Go down in history! Descend 300 feet below ground to explore abandoned tunnels of rock and coal.
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Lackawanna County - Electric City Trolley Museum and Station
The Electric City Trolley Museum and Station is a collaborative effort involving many partners. Together they have created a premier electric railway museum in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
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The Lion Brewery, Inc. brews high-quality ales and lagers that are enjoyed throughout Pennsylvania. While visiting our area, try one of our delicious Brewery Hills or Stegmaier labels.
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Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre
This non-profit community theatre has been entertaining the community since 1923, offering something for everyone. The upcoming season brings a blend of musicals and dramas, as well as special events.
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The Fair has been showcasing the best of Luzerne County's agricultural regions for over 40 years.
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Luzerne County Historical Society
Founded in 1858, the Society chronicles the history of the Wyoming Valley from prehistoric times to the present in three floors of exhibits.
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The Wyoming Valley area currently includes about 22 miles of trail that follows the Susquehanna River Levee system. Both urban and suburban in character, environmental and historical waysides follow the trail as it meanders along the mighty Susquehanna.
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Established in 1976, the gallery offers a wide variety of exhibitions done by students and professional artists.
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Moon Lake Park is owned and operated by Luzerne County and is the only facility of its type. Park development was started by the county in 1968.
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This trailhead is currently in the planning stages. No restroom facilities or parking are available at this time.
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Being the oldest house in the Wyoming Valley, it was built by a Revolutionary War Colonel in 1790.
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Share in the passion of this cultural jewel of Northeastern Pennsylvania with new seasons of world-class guest artists, family concerts and Pops series.
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At Ricketts Glen you can take the Falls Trail and explore the Glens, which boasts a series of wild, free-flowing waterfalls, each cascading through rock-strewn clefts in this ancient hillside.
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Elegance and grandeur prevail at the Scranton Cultural Center. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the facility offers dramatic settings for every occasion.
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Established in 1973, the gallery presents a range of exhibitions by local, regional, national and international artisits.
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Steamtown National Historic Site
Read the history. Climb aboard an old steam engine. Enjoy a train excursion. Learn about steam railroading and the people who made it possible at Steam Town National Historic Site.
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Constructed in 1894 and designed by architect A. C. Wagner, the Stegmaier Brewery's Romanesque influenced industrial styled architecture was repeated throughout the other buildings constructed by the First World War.
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The Swetland Homestead has the original cabin built on-site in 1797 and period rooms from 1797-1860s.
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The Tubs Nature Area is a 500-acre site located in Plains Township. The main feature of the area is a stream called Wheelbarrow Run that flows through a ravine where a series of large potholes or "tubs" are gouged out of the underlying bedrock.
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The Widmann Art Gallery is located adjacent to the lobby of the Sheehy-Farmer Campus Center. It is an art gallery for displaying the talent of local and national artists.
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Developed by the Leadership Wilkes-Barre Class of 2000, the parks offer an environmental and historical guide of the Susquehanna Riverfront.
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Wilkes-Barre Historical District Walking Tour
Visitors who take a walking tour of Wilkes-Barre will see a wide range of architectural styles and history living on through renovated buildings and structures.
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World class athletic competition- 1k swim, 40k bike, 11k run- from Harvey's Lake to Penn State Campus & Sports Expo.
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This monument was erected in 1843 over the final resting place of those who gave their lives in the Battle of Wyoming. A plain obelisk sixty-two and one-half feet high, of dark grey stone native to Wyoming Valley, stands as a silent and grand memorial to those who gave their lives for the safety of their friends and loved ones.
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Each June, this program celebrates the Susquehanna River and draws appreciation to the value of the watershed.
