A Different Kind of Park
One powered by steam...
A recent spring trip found us spending a couple of nights around Scranton, Pennsylvania. If you’re ever lucky enough to be in the area, I strongly recommend staying two fewer nights than we did. I found Scranton remarkably unremarkable, with one VERY BIG exception.
We decided to spend a day visiting Steamtown National Historic Site. Along with Grand Canyon, Redwoods, and Yellowstone, Steamtown is part of the vast U.S. National Park System. But rather than spectacular geology, towering trees, or spouting geysers, Steamtown was set aside primarily to interpret the importance and influence of steam railroads in Amercian history.
The park protects a 62-acre railroad yard formerly operated by the Delaware Lackawanna and Western Railroad. The facility houses an impressive collection of steam locomotives, cars, and railroad equipment.
The park offers facilities and exhibits that make the subject matter understandable, interesting, and accessible. And the handful of park staff we encountered were friendly, engaging, and clearly passionate about the topic.
But here’s what I liked best. The size of the visitor center, theater, and parking area could easily accomodate HOARDES of train nerds. But on the Tuesday we visited in April, we were literally the only ones there! We had the entire facility to ourselves to enjoy at our leisure.
Try THAT at Grand Canyon, Redwoods, or Yellowstone.
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