Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania

Jim Thorpe was founded as Mauch Chunk in 1918.  The name was derived from the term "bear mountain" in the language of the native Lenape people, an apparent reference to a local mountain that resembled a sleeping bear. Mauch Chunk was the location of one of the trials of the Molly Maguires in 1876, which resulted in the hanging of four men found guilty of murder.

Jim Thorpe's wife Patricia was angry after his death when the government of Oklahoma would not erect a memorial to honor him. When she heard that the small Pennsylvania towns of Mauch Chunk and East Mauch Chunk were desperately seeking to attract business, she made a deal with officials. The towns bought Thorpe's remains, erected a monument to him, merged and renamed the newly united town in his honor, Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. Thorpe had never been there. The monument site contains his tomb, two statues of him in athletic poses, and historical markers describing his life story.

Carbon County Court House

Asa Packer Mansion

Harry Packer Mansion

The church Mrs. Packer built in honor of her husband Asa.

The Train Station

Built in 1849 and situated in the heart of the National Register Historic District, the Inn at Jim Thorpe combines old world charm with modern conveniences.  On our first stop in Jim Thorpe, we ate dinner here and watched a Steelers-Ravens playoff game.  Needless to say, there were no Ravens fans in the pub.

The Stroh Building.  Wonder if they're related to those people from Detroit.

An alley.

Dimmick Memorial Library opened on October 1, 1890.  Friends of the Dimmick Memorial Library sponsor an annual Christmas cookie sale, annual fund drive and nearly weekly used book sales as well as a variety of programs in the Annex.

Katie thinks this looks much like Durbuy, Belgium.  I agree.

Absinthe?  She wouldn't stop.

Good place to have a reserved parking space.