Jim Thorpe

The town was Mauch Chunk, built on anthracite and the gravity railroad that carried it, and its wealth produced a dense Victorian centre stacked up the sides of the Lehigh Gorge - the Asa Packer Mansion of 1861 is preserved with its original contents. In 1954 the declining borough struck an agreement with the widow of Jim Thorpe, the Olympic athlete, to take his remains and rename itself in exchange for the publicity; Thorpe had no connection to the place and his sons later sued unsuccessfully to have him returned to Oklahoma. The gorge below carries a rail-trail and whitewater releases, and tourist trains run from the restored 1888 station.

What to look for

• A Victorian centre in a gorge - built on anthracite money.
• The Asa Packer Mansion of 1861 - preserved with its contents.
• A renaming deal of 1954 - the athlete had no link to the town.
• Rail-trail and excursion trains - from the 1888 station.

When to go

May to October; foliage in mid-October. Half a day.

Before you go

Autumn weekends fill the narrow streets and parking is very limited. Mansion tours are seasonal. The renaming remains contested by Thorpe's descendants. Streets are steep.

Nearby

Lehigh Gorge State Park runs upriver; the Poconos are north.

Key facts