10 Most Historic Small Towns to Visit in The Poconos
The Pocono Mountains aren’t just about ski slopes and summer cabins. This corner of northeastern Pennsylvania has roots that run deep, from the country’s first railroads to conservation landmarks that shaped US forestry. You might hear church bells echo between brick storefronts, smell wood smoke curling from chimneys on a cool evening, or feel the worn cobblestones under your shoes as you pass buildings that have been standing for more than a century. It’s the kind of place where a “quick stroll” can turn into an afternoon because you keep finding another little something you want to see.
Jim Thorpe
One of the first things you’ll notice about Jim Thorpe is how the mountains seem to lean right over the rooftops. The town began in 1818 as Mauch Chunk, a coal and railroad hub that poured its wealth into ornate Victorian buildings. Step into the Asa Packer Mansion and you’ll see polished wood banisters, elaborate decor, and views the railroad tycoon once enjoyed.
A few blocks away, the Mauch Chunk Opera House still hosts live performances in a space that smells faintly of sawdust and history. If you’re more into the outdoors, trails in Lehigh Gorge State Park start just outside town. The name change in 1954 honored Olympic athlete Jim Thorpe, and his memorial is one of the most photographed spots in the region.
Stroudsburg
Instead of rushing through on your way to the Delaware Water Gap, slow down and listen. Buskers sometimes play outside the cafés, mixing guitar chords with the smell of roasting coffee. Founded in 1815, Stroudsburg blends 19th-century architecture with a lively collection of shops and galleries. Old Engine Works Marketplace is a bit of a one-stop-shop, with 22,000 square feet of antiques, collectibles, and other such treasures in a restored historic building.
The Sherman Theater, open since 1929, still fills its seats for live music. Back in its stagecoach days, Stroudsburg was a key stop between New York and Pennsylvania. It still feels like a crossroads, just with better coffee. For a real taste of this town today, head to Farmhouse Main Street featuring all-day brunch and local, organic ingredients.
Milford
Milford wears its conservation heritage proudly. This 1796 town was home to Gifford Pinchot, the founder and first chief of the US Forest Service, and his estate, Grey Towers National Historic Site, is as grand as it is green. Towering stone walls lead to gardens and trails, as well as a visitor center, museum, and gift shop.
History here isn’t confined to indoors. Raymondskill Falls, the tallest in Pennsylvania, roars just outside town. At the Pike County Historical Society's Columns Museum is a relic that surprises almost everyone: the blood-stained flag from President Lincoln’s box at Ford’s Theatre, which was used to cushion his head after he was fatally shot.
Honesdale
Steam changed everything in Honesdale. In 1829, the Stourbridge Lion became the first steam locomotive to run on commercial tracks in the US, earning the town its title as the “Birthplace of the American Railroad.” You can see a full-scale replica at the Wayne County Historical Society Museum, where the creak of the wooden floors adds to the experience.
Walk Main Street and you’ll pass the Gothic Revival Grace Episcopal Church, its stone walls cool to the touch even in summer. The Lackawaxen River winds nearby, and if you’re here in August, the Wayne County Fair has been filling the air with music and the smell of fried dough for well over 150 years. Just try walking past without grabbing a funnel cake.
Hawley
The Hawley Silk Mill dominates the skyline, its bluestone walls once sheltering humming machinery and now echoing with footsteps from shoppers and gallery-goers. Hawley’s history runs along the old Delaware and Hudson Canal, and you can still trace the route that once carried coal and goods through the region. The Hawley Train Station offers another window into the past as well as a unique activity. Electric railbikes take visitors on a scenic and historic tour of the area around Hawley and along the Lackawaxen River.
Evenings often end at the Ritz Company Playhouse, where local performers have been treating audiences to a range of performances for more than 50 years. A short stroll brings you to Bingham Park, a favorite for picnics and community events, and if the weather cooperates, a walk by Lake Wallenpaupack as the sun turns the water copper then indigo is a scene you’ll want to capture before calling it a night.
East Stroudsburg
Before it was East Stroudsburg, it was Dansbury. That name changed in 1870, but the East Stroudsburg Railroad Station, built in 1864, still stands as a reminder of the borough’s early days. Now the Dansbury Depot, it serves as a community gathering space, hosting markets and festivals throughout the year.
The archives at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania hold decades of local history, their pages smoothed by countless hands. Step outside town and you’re practically in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, where river trails and overlooks make it easy to switch from town life to wilderness in minutes.
Delaware Water Gap
Imagine arriving here in the late 1800s, stepping off a train from New York or Philadelphia, then strolling past grand hotels with wide verandas designed for sipping lemonade in the mountain air. That resort era has faded, but the Dutot Museum and Gallery preserves the story with exhibits on the town’s Golden Age and its role as an early mountain getaway in the Northeast, as well as an art gallery with rotating local exhibits.
Today’s visitors swap parasols for hiking boots, exploring trails that wind into the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. The Appalachian Trail also passes directly through town, offering quick access to ridge-top views and waterfalls. Evenings often include live music at the Deer Head Inn, the country's oldest continuously running jazz club. Book a room at the inn and drift off to sleep to the sounds of the Poconos.
Palmerton
Built in 1912 as a planned community for New Jersey Zinc Company workers, Palmerton still shows its company-town roots in its grid of streets and central park. The Palmerton Heritage Center shares the town's industrial history, while the Lehigh Gap Nature Center offers a different story, one of environmental recovery. From certain trails, you can see hillsides that were once bare from mining now dotted with green. In winter, skiers head to Blue Mountain Ski Area, but even in the off season, Palmerton is easy to explore on foot, as well as mountain bike trails, an adventure park, and summer après at Slopeside Pub & Grill.
Mount Pocono
The Mount Pocono Camp Meeting Association grounds have been hosting gatherings since the late 1800s, from religious services to community concerts. This was once a summer-only destination, with boarding houses drawing families from Philadelphia and New York long before highways made the trip easier. Visitors arrived by train to enjoy cool mountain air and long days of porch-sitting.
Nearby Big Pocono State Park serves up sweeping views and crisp air scented with pine. Trails lead to overlooks where hawks circle overhead, and in autumn, the hills turn a patchwork of gold and crimson. When you've worked up an appetite, there are a number of restaurants in town with a surprising range of flavours. Choose from classic Mexican and South American dishes at Mi Casa, sushi at Mt. Palace, or upscale, seasonal fine dining at The Water's Edge.
Tannersville
Long before the outlets and the waterparks, Tannersville was a tanning and lumber town. The Tannersville Cranberry Bog Preserve, more than 10,000 years old, lets you walk through wetlands where the ground has a gentle spring underfoot. Boardwalk trails wind past pitcher plants, mosses, and rare orchids that thrive in the acidic soil.
The Crossings Premium Outlets offer a modern counterpoint, with 100 brand name and designer outlet stores, while Camelback Resort keeps visitors busy year-round with skiing, tubing, zip lines, and water slides. In summer, nearby farm stands overflow with sweet corn and peaches, giving you a taste of the local harvest. You could fill a weekend here without ever leaving town limits, though the mountains will tempt you to explore.
In the Poconos, history isn’t sealed off in quiet museums. It hums in the opera houses, rides the rivers, and lines the streets with buildings that outlasted the industries that built them. You might come for the waterfalls or the hiking trails, but it’s the unexpected details - a century-old playbill, a worn stone step, a handwritten sign over a shop door - that will stay with you long after you’ve headed home.
