In a recent article about why people are leaving Pennsylvania, we mentioned one of the main reasons was the decline of rural towns as the industrial revolution ended and the coal mining industry fell on hard times. Jim Thorpe was one of those communities. Founded in 1818 as Mauch Chunk and renamed Jim Thorpe in honor of the famous local Olympian Jim Thorpe, the town was perfectly situated along the Lehigh River and in close proximity to the huge anthracite coal deposits there and in northeast Pennsylvania.

Mauch Chunk also developed a great transportation infrastructure, notably the Lehigh Canal and Switchback Gravity Railroad. The Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company (LC&N) was also established in 1818, with its headquarters in Mauch Chunk. LC&N developed two railways and constructed an 8.7-mile downhill track (the Gravity Railroad) to deliver coal to the Lehigh Canal in Mauch Chunk, and used mules and later steam power to bring it back. Basically, LC&N transformed the Lehigh River into a navigable canal system, efficiently moving anthracite coal from northeast Pennsylvania to Philadelphia.

The Rise of Mauch Chunk

The anthracite coal was used for the burgeoning iron industry. LC&N also developed passenger rail service to New York, Philadelphia, and Buffalo. Obviously, Mauch Chunk exploded. Nineteenth-century architecture with a vast array of styles, such as Federalist, Greek Revival, Second Empire, Romanesque Revival, Queen Anne, and Richardsonian Romanesque, popped up all over the town. The town became filled with millionaires and was known as the “Switzerland of America.”

A Town Revived Through History and Tourism

A planning study was done in the 1970s to comprehend the dynamics of history and tourism, and it proved to be invaluable in reviving the town after the end of the industrial revolution and the decline of the coal industry. Jim Thorpe leaned on its history, architecture, and mountainous terrain. Today, Jim Thorpe is once again a popular tourist destination.

The colorful architecture is still there. The Lehigh Canal, Old Mauch Chunk Historic District, Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway, Asa Packer Mansion, Harry Packer Mansion, the former Carbon County Jail (where the infamous Molly Maguires were kept), Central Railroad of New Jersey, and St. Mark’s Episcopal Church are all on the National Register of Historic Places. The Mauch Chunk Opera House and the large clock tower on the courthouse are also popular sites.

Outdoor Adventures and Attractions

Businesses began catering to white water rafting, mountain biking, paintball, boating, fishing, and hiking. The Lehigh Gorge State Park attracts hikers from everywhere, and just north of downtown is the incredibly scenic trail of Glen Onoko Falls. The downtown has plenty of restaurants for hungry and thirsty tourists, including Molly Maguires Pub & Steakhouse, Notch Eight Craft House, Broadway Grille, Moya, and the Stone Row Pub & Eatery.

All Aboard

Best of all are the trains. The RBMN has daily train service from Reading to Jim Thorpe, with additional boarding available in Port Clinton and Tamaqua. Then there is the incredible Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway. Ride along the Lehigh River, over bridges, through Glen Onoko, around high-rising cliffs, and into the Lehigh Gorge State Park. All of this while riding in vintage, open-air coaches, many of which were built by Bethlehem Steel in 1932.

Jim Thorpe is one of the prettiest historic towns you will find anywhere.

Planning Your Move to Jim Thorpe or Beyond

If you are considering relocating to Jim Thorpe or making a move out of Pennsylvania, having the right moving company makes all the difference. At O’Brien’s Moving & Storage, we provide reliable residential moving services for local, long-distance, and interstate moves.

Whether you are moving to enjoy the beauty of the mountains or heading to a new destination, our experienced team is here to make your move smooth, efficient, and stress-free from start to finish.