In 2022, Destination Freedom: The Underground Railroad Walking Tour became part of the National Park Service’s National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom; its mission is to honor, preserve and promote the history of resistance to enslavement through escape and flight. With this addition, Lackawanna County now has two affiliated National Park Services within its borders, Destination Freedom: The Underground Railroad Walking Tour and Steamtown National Historic Site.
Destination Freedom: The Underground Railroad Walking Tour at the Waverly Community House examines the complex history of a small village centered around its role in the Underground Railroad. The tour is an interactive program that explores the lives of the small village’s abolitionists and formerly enslaved settlers. It is the only program centered around the Underground Railroad and local Civil War-era history of its kind in the area.
As a public-oriented program, Destination Freedom aims to tell the story of Waverly by exploring the town itself and using the experiences of 19th century Waverly residents to better understand the world around us today. The Tour guides visitors through the historic Black community to see homes, schools, churches and other gathering areas of freedom seekers and the allies who helped them fight injustice.
School groups can book ahead with a local expert who will help planners build a customized itinerary of Waverly and the Destination Freedom Walking Tour.
All aboard! Step back in time at Steamtown National Historic Site, located in downtown Scranton, PA and learn, see, and experience how steam-powered engines drove the Industrial Revolution. Lackawanna County’s history, much like the steam engine locomotive, is coal-powered. You can learn the history of the steam engine, see the giant locomotives that helped expand our nation, hear the sensational true stories of those that rode, worked for, and built these beautiful machines. You will feel the weight of history as you tour this national museum and will be amazed at the ingenuity of the engines and the turntable.
Don’t forget to book a ticket! Steamtown offers rides and excursions of various lengths to several different destinations along with seasonal rides including their Fall Foliage Excursions and Holiday Express Excursions.
Information provided by Lackawanna County. For more details, visit https://www.visitnepa.org.
