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Carbon County offers an abundance of wonderful cultural opportunities. Visitors can browse through the numerous museums and sites that showcase the historic towns and the musical and artistic talents of the area.

A must see is the picturesque town of Jim Thorpe. You can learn about the history of Jim Thorpe at the Mauch Chunk Museum and Cultural Center, which is housed in the former St. Paul's Methodist Church - itself an excellent example of Victorian Ecclesiastical architecture. The church features artifacts and photos of the history of Jim Thorpe, which embraces coal mining, canals, Lenape Indians and the town's namesake, the famous Native American football hero and Olympian. The museum also features working models of a canal lock and the famous Switchback Gravity Railroad.

The history of the coal miners can be found at the Old Jail Museum and Heritage Center which housed the Molly Maguires - miners hanged for their alleged subversive activities in trying to improve working conditions - before their execution. The Molly Maguires were accused of murder, though many considered the accusations unfounded. One of the men placed his hand against the wall of his cell prior to his execution and claimed that the handprint would remain there forever as a symbol of his innocence. It is still visible in Cell 17, although the wall has been washed and painted over. The 72-room structure includes 29 cells, a warden's apartment and a 16-cell dungeon. It served as the county jail until 1995.

The No. 9 Coal Mine Museum in Lansford does an excellent job of taking you back into the area's coal mining past. When the mine closed in 1972, it was the world's oldest operating deep anthracite mine, having been started back in 1855. The museum was created by the Panther Creek Valley Foundation as a tribute to the many men who gave much of their lives to the anthracite industry, including those killed and injured.

The Asa Packer Mansion was the home of Industrialist Asa Packer. Packer had interests in mining, canal boats and the Lehigh Railroad. He founded Lehigh University and ran for President of the United States in 1868. The mansion was built in 1860 by European craftsmen, and to this day remains the same as it was in 1878. The mansion's contents also remain as the Packer's left them. The library holds a desk, chair and bookcase from Gen. Robert E. Lee, while the drawing room is accented by a crystal chandelier from the movie Gone with the Wind. Throughout the house visitors can marvel at the hand-carved furniture, paintings, sculptures, china and gold-leaf walls.

A visit to Jim Thorpe wouldn't be complete without stopping by St. Mark's Episcopal Church. Built in 1869, St. Mark's is an ornate, Gothic Revival church that features an altar made of white Italian marble. The stone carving behind the altar is a replica of one in St. George Chapel in England's Windsor Castle. Tiffany stained-glass windows and one of the oldest working elevators in the nation accent the church, which is still in use today.

Of course, Carbon County has more to offer than just historical sites. The Mauch Chunk Opera House is quickly reclaiming its historical stature as the center of the arts in Jim Thorpe. The opera house is home to its own resident troupe as well as the many groups that produce plays in the area. While it is known for the Laurel Festival of the Arts, troupes from Allentown and surrounding areas also use the theater for productions. The Opera House serves as a base for many artistic and cultural events in Jim Thorpe: as an art gallery, a reception site for exhibitions and even children's art clinics. The Opera House is now coming back to its place as the center of the arts in Jim Thorpe.

The joy of music is promoted in the area by The Bach and Handel Chorale Inc. This group was founded in 1984 to celebrate the births of Bach and Handel. The chorale has performed with orchestras in Philadelphia. The group's existence is one of the reasons Jim Thorpe was chosen as the site for the festival.

The group also presents four major concerts annually - Fall, Christmas, Palm Sunday and Spring (which is usually their largest, complete with festival orchestra). The intensive schedule doesn't seem to daunt group members, who come from locations as far as New Jersey to perform.

Carbon County also offers numerous art studios and classes. The Carbon County Art League is an emerging organization that is taking part in the incredible artistic growth of the Jim Thorpe area. Presently it sponsors exhibits of local artists - some quite famous, such David Price and Shozo Nagano.

Exhibits are displayed in the Mauch Chunk Museum and Cultural Center, the Mauch Chunk Opera House and other locations in the community. Businesses and business organizations such as the Rotary Club usually co-sponsor events; some exhibits are displayed at the Palmerton Library. Exhibitions also have accompanied other events, such as the Concert Series or performances at the Mauch Chunk Opera House.

The Shozo Nagano Open Studio is one of many area art exhibits. The gallery presents acrylic paintings on shaped canvas by Shozo, who is internationally famous for his three-dimensional oil paintings. Another studio featuring a well-known artist is the David Watkins Price Artist Studio. It is operated by owner/artist David Price who is nationally known for his watercolors, prints and graphic designs. He is also involved in the evolution of Jim Thorpe's historic and artistic center. The studio of artist Joel Le Bow is located in the area as well, with The Hazard House Gallery exclusively featuring his acrylics and watercolors.

Other art galleries include The Anita Shapolsky Art Foundation, which presents exhibitions of contemporary art and sculpture. Also, the Maria Feliz Gallery and Sculpture Garden which is a lovely little gallery presenting contemporary work in various media. Featured at this gallery is the sculpture garden in the rear that is nestled against the mountainside of Jim Thorpe. Local and regional artists, including some from New York City, exhibit here.

For links to local sites, visit our resources page.