10 Fun Things To Do in Scranton, PA

It’s more than the Dunder Mifflin Paper Company!

There are so many things to do in Scranton! The Electric City offers natural beauty, fascinating history, and unique attractions. And many of these attractions are FREE or at least reasonably priced.

Whether you are visiting for the day or a weekend, you’ll find plenty of fun ways to spend your time in Scranton, PA!

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Scranton History

As the most populous city in northeastern Pennsylvania, Scranton offers plenty of fun things to do. It also has a large history of industry, including mining, ironmaking, and railroads, similar to Jim Thorpe to its south.

Even though Scranton was originally founded as an iron-making community, it became known as the “Anthracite Capital of the World” and played a major role in fueling America’s Industrial Revolution through its vast coal mining operations.

Scranton is also called “The Electric City,” earning its nickname in 1880 when it became the first U.S. city to have a continuously operating electrified streetcar system. And, although it’s not your typical “small town” in Pennsylvania, it still offers plenty of charm!

Nay Aug Park

A gem in Scranton, Nay Aug Park is the largest park in the city. The star of the park is the Nay Aug Gorge, featuring beautiful cascades and waterfalls of the Roaring Brook.

Take the Davis Trail to the David Wenzel Treehouse to overlook the gorge. Or follow the trail across the Paul Kanjorski covered bridge to the Mia Overlook for a view of the treehouse and waterfall.

If you’re visiting on a Saturday, stop by the Brooks Mine to tour it for FREE!

Everhart Museum

Don’t leave Nay Aug Park without stopping by the Everhart Museum! The Everhart Museum of Natural History, Science & Art offers the perfect mix of education and entertainment.

Opened in 1908, it is one of Pennsylvania’s oldest museums, combining natural history, science, and art under one roof. Visitors will enjoy the various exhibits, including dinosaur fossils and mineral collections, as well as regional and fine art galleries. It’s a one-stop shop for learning and fun.

Steamtown National Historic Site

Train lovers need to visit this place! Steamtown National Historic Site is an excellent museum that offers visitors an immersive journey into America’s railroad heritage.

Located on the historic grounds of the former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad yard, the site features a museum filled with vintage locomotives, an operational roundhouse, and interactive exhibits. Kids will love ringing the bell of the steam engine at the entrance!

Steamtown also offers train rides on weekends during the summer months. The cost for the train rides is $6 per person ($1 for kids 5 and under).

Electric City Trolley Museum

Housed in a beautifully restored 19th-century mill right next to the Steamtown National Historic Site, the Electric City Trolley Museum features a large collection of vintage trolleys, interactive exhibits, and hands-on displays that bring the story of “The Electric City” to life.

For an additional fee, you can ride on a historic trolley through Scranton, past an old mine entrance and Nay Aug Park, through a one-mile-long tunnel, and end at the PNC Field where the Railriders play baseball.

Electric City Aquarium & Reptile Den

Located in the heart of Scranton at the Marketplace at Steamtown, the Electric City Aquarium & Reptile Den showcases the wonders of aquatic and terrestrial life.

Spanning over 20,000 square feet, you’ll see several kinds of marine creatures, including sharks, stingrays, and colorful reef fish, as well as an impressive collection of reptiles like snakes, lizards, and crocodiles. There are even interactive exhibits, like the stingray touch tank.

Antracite Heritage Museum

Right next to the Lackawanna Coal Mine in McDade Park, Anthracite Heritage Museum offers plenty of information about the region’s rich coal mining and industrial history.

Several immersive exhibits allow visitors to explore the lives of European immigrants who worked in the anthracite mines and textile mills of northeastern Pennsylvania. There are also plenty of interactive learning opportunities for younger visitors, like the activity book that coordinates with the exhibits.

Lackawanna Coal Mine

Probably one of the coolest things to do in Scranton (literally), the Lackawanna Coal Mine is a must-see to learn more about the industry that kept the lights on in the Electric City.

The mine, which opened in 1860, now offers one-hour guided tours 200 feet underground, providing a look at what life was like for the workers who powered the Industrial Revolution.

The mine’s constant temperature is 53°F, and the floors are wet and dirty. It’s a good idea to wear warm clothing and comfortable shoes.

Scranton Iron Furnaces

You can learn more about Scranton’s history of ironmaking at the iron furnaces on Cedar Avenue. The four massive stone blast furnaces are all that’s left of the plant operated by the Lackawanna Iron & Steel Company, which had the largest iron production capacity in the United States by 1865.

In 1902, the company dismantled the plant and relocated it to Lackawanna, New York, to be closer to the high-grade iron ores being mined from the Mesabi Range.

The Office Mural

Fans of the American version of The Office will want to stop by and see the mural on Lackawanna Avenue.

Artist Kala Hagopian and her team spent a year creating the mural, which features 17 characters from the show. The mural was painted on synthetic cloth in multiple sections and then pieced together and permanently installed at its current location in August 2023.

Electric City Sign

Scranton earned the nickname “Electric City” in 1880, when electric lights were introduced at the Dickson Manufacturing Company. And then in 1886, the first electricity-powered streetcars began operating in Scranton. So the Electric City sign was built to celebrate that heritage!

The original sign had 1,200 40-watt filament incandescent bulbs that featured circles of red and green, a flame of red and amber, and letters, rays, and sconces of white. The lights were turned off in the mid-20th century and remained dark for decades.

However, the sign was renovated in 2014 with new one-watt LED bulbs that followed the original 1930s color scheme and remains lit today!

Where to Eat in Scranton

For a small city, Scranton still has plenty of delicious and fun places to eat in town.

• Bartari: A brew pub with retro video games
• Coney Island of Scranton: A small cafe with hot dogs and burgers on the menu
• Cooper’s Seafood House: A fun restaurant that feels like a pop culture museum with a seafood menu
  

Scranton Things to Do Wrap-Up

With its industrial history, Scranton is a unique gem in Pennsylvania. Although it’s not at the top of everyone’s list of places to see in the state, it should be! This town offers plenty of interesting ways to spend a weekend or even a day trip. Plus, many of the activities are free. It’s not only family-friendly, but also budget-friendly.