Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm was established in the 1760s. This spot is the oldest location on this list, and happens to be the closest to The Swiftwater, with only a 16-minute drive! The Depper family arrived in the United States from Germany in the mid-1760s and settled in Stroudsburg shortly thereafter. From there, four more generations of Depper’s lived on the farm, until it was sold to the Hess family in 1913. The Hess’s, Thomas and Anna, continued the farm, also turning it into a bed and breakfast throughout the Great Depression. Unlike the rest of the country, the Hess’s chose not to make any modern upgrades. After Thomas passed away, the farm was sold to Alice and Wendell Wicks in 1958.
Shortly after purchasing the property, the Wicks began to learn of the significance of the farm. That is when the family decided to recondition the property. In July of 1963, the Quiet Valley Farm Museum was officially opened. In 1974, Quiet Valley was changed to become Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm and has operated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Alice continued to be involved in the museum until she retired at the age of 85. Now, the property is open to visitors year-round, hosting various special events and fundraisers. If you choose to visit in the summer, be sure to go on one of the farm tours, with guides dressed in period clothing to portray members of the families that lived on the farm in the past.
If you are interested in learning the history of coal mining in Pennsylvania, this is the place for you! Located in Lansford just 1 hour from The Swiftwater, the No. 9 Coal Mine was first opened in 1855. By 1857, miners reached the first coal vein. Within a year, the mine produced over 90,000 tons of Anthracite coal, which is the highest ranking of coals that is mostly found in northeastern Pennsylvania. The No. 9 Mine continued its operations until mid-1972. For 20 years, this mine was left abandoned until local group Panther Creek Valley Foundation took it over. Panther Creek Valley Foundation began restoration initiatives in 1995, then opened the property to visitors in 2002.
On your visit to No. 9 Coal Mine, be sure to dress appropriately as the mine sits at 50˚ year-round. When you arrive, be prepared to ride on the rail 1,600 feet into the mountain. Then, you will walk on a guided tour, examining the original mine shaft, walk the mule-way, and more. After your tour, you can explore the museum in the old “wash shanty” that was built during World War 1. It is important to note that the mine is closed during the winter and will reopen in April.
A 46-minute drive from The Swiftwater will bring you to The Asa Packer Mansion, which was built in Jim Thorpe, formerly Mauch Chunk, in 1861. This mansion was built as the home of Asa Packer, who is a major part of the Pocono Mountains and Lehigh Valley history. Packer and his family moved to the area in 1833, where he began working in the canal industry. In 1851, Asa Packer made a financially bold move by purchasing the majority of the stock in the Delaware, Lehigh, Schuylkill and Susquehanna Railroad, later called the Lehigh Valley Railroad. By 1865, Packer was fortunate enough to have the means to donate $500,000 and 57 acres of land for the establishment of Lehigh University.
The legacy of Asa Packer lives on in Lehigh University, the history of railroads in the area, the mansion he had built, and more. On your next visit to this National Historic Landmark, you will be met with the opportunity to explore the mansion and its grounds while learning more about the Packer Family. The Asa Packer Mansion is open to visitors on weekends from April through the beginning of December, with some weekday hours throughout parts of the summer and fall. The Swiftwater highly recommends visiting in October for the Fall Foliage Festival! Doing so is a great way to see more than one thing the Poconos has to offer, all in one day!
This jail, formerly the Carbon County Jail, first opened in 1871. Just like the last spot, this jail is located in Jim Thorpe! If you love the spooky side of history, this is especially the place for you. The Old Jail Museum is home to the infamous handprint that never goes away. The Carbon County Jail was in operation from 1870 to 1995. In this jail, there are a total of 27 cells in addition to a solitary confinement area in the basement. In addition to the cells, there were living quarters for the warden. The best-known bit of history regarding the Old Jail Museum involves the Molly Maguires. The Molly Maguires were a secret society from Ireland, considered to be responsible for attacking Pennsylvanian coal mines. Over the course of three years in the 1870s, seven Molly Maguires were hung in the gallows.
Prior to their hanging, each of the men claimed their innocence, stating that they were falsely accused of murder. One of the men used dirt from the floor to place his handprint on the wall of his cell. While doing so, he claimed that the handprint would prove his innocence. To this day, the handprint is still visible for visitors to see. The reason this is so incredible is because the wall was cleaned numerous times in addition to being repainted and even replastered! While it is closed in the winter, be sure to stop by the Old Jail Museum on your next trip to the Pocono Mountains to learn more about its history and see the handprint for yourself!
The Grey Towers were built in 1886 in Milford, a 57-minute drive from The Swiftwater, by James and Mary Pinchot as a summer estate. Their son, Gifford, born in 1865, later lived on the estate, where he accomplished many great feats. From 1898 until 1905, Gifford served as the fourth Chief of the Division of Forestry, which is part of the United States Department of Agriculture. Then, in 1905, he and his friend, President Theodore Roosevelt, established the United States Forest Service, which he became the head of until 1910.
Later on, Gifford was elected two times as the Governor of Pennsylvania, serving from 1923-1927 and again from 1931-1935. In 1963, Gifford’s family donated the estate to the U.S. Forest Service. Since then, the estate has been a National Historic Landmark called Grey Towers National Historic Site. You can visit Grey Towers National Historic Site to learn and see more throughout the entire Pinchot estate. They provide both mansion and grounds tour to visitors.
Be sure to head back to The Swiftwater to relax after your history-filled day! If you are hungry, you can head just down the sidewalk to Desaki for an incredible hibachi experience or grab a bite to eat with a hand-crafted cocktail at Olivet. If you choose to stay with our concierge level, you can also head to the dedicated concierge lounge to grab a book and enjoy the views from the floor to ceiling windows. However you wind down after your day of exploring the best historical spots in the Poconos, you’ll find plenty of wonderful options at The Swiftwater!
