The Chamber of the Northern Poconos

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Local Attractions

Located in the breathtaking Northern Pocono Mountains, this community is encompassed by lakes, streams, quaint villages, and historic downtowns.

In 1749, about 300 Indians from the Onondaga, Mohawk, Cayuga, Oneida, Tuscarora, Seneca, Shawnee, Delaware, and Mohican realized that the European settlers were pushing them away from their ground conveyed to the Government a strip of land containing what is now ten counties, including Pike and Wayne.

Transportation was an important part of the history of Honesdale. In 1828, the Delaware and Hudson Canal, a 108-mile waterway was completed to carry coal between Honesdale and New York.

At the same time as the canal was being built, another form of transportation was in the making. The Stourbridge Lion, which was the first locomotive on rails to be operated by steam was built and tested in Honesdale. After a successful three-mile excursion with a return from nearby Seelyville, Honesdale became known as the “Birthplace of the American Railroad” thanks to the Stourbridge Lion. The Wayne County Historical Society Museum contains a full-scale replica of the Stourbridge Lion, and the museum is located in what was once the D&H Canal Co. office.

A 52 Weeks of Fun Fascinating Fact about Honesdale

On August 8, 1829, the Stourbridge Lion started in Honesdale, ran three miles to Seelyville, and returned; Honesdale, therefore, is known as the birthplace of the American Railroad.

Upcoming Events

• The Chamber of the Northern Poconos
• Honesdale , PA
• 570-253-1960
• The Chamber of the Northern Poconos