The historic town of Jim Thorpe was formerly known as Mauch Chunk, A Leni Lenape Indian name which means "Mountain of the Sleeping Bear." The town is a mixture of Victorian architecture and unique businesses... a graceful blend of yesterday with today. The scenery is breathtaking as the mountains present a new face every season. The steep hillsides, narrow streets, and terraced gardens earned Mauch Chunk the nickname “The Switzerland of America.”

The formation of the Lehigh Valley Railroad in the 1850s brought prosperity to the area as it carried anthracite coal and other goods to market and promoted Mauch Chunk as an excursion destination. In the 1870s, competition came with the arrival of the Central Railroad of New Jersey and a second mainline that paralleled the LVRR through the region. The recently renovated former Central Railroad of New Jersey Station is the focal point of tourism in the town today.

In the early 20th Century, the area began to experience a decline. Coal had lost its industrial importance and the results were felt in Mauch Chunk. This was followed by the decline of railroading across the country, which resulted in a further economic plight in Mauch Chunk.

A solution came in 1954. The widow of Olympic athlete Jim Thorpe offered her husband’s name in exchange for a memorial. The citizens voted and gave their town a new name: Jim Thorpe. A 20–ton monument marks his burial place on the east side of Jim Thorpe, the town.

In 1976, over 300 properties were nominated as part of the “Old Mauch Chunk Historic District.” Many buildings are now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today, the picturesque town of Jim Thorpe boasts tens of thousands of visitors during all seasons of the year and is justifiably proud of its heritage and ability to survive adversity.

The decline of railroading in the area has also rebounded from a low point in the 1970s when the CNJ and LV lines were merged. The Reading and Northern Railroad became a key player in 1996 with the purchase of the surviving line to Scranton. Building a new track over an unused bridge just north of Jim Thorpe created a direct rail-link to this line, and provides the route for the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway passenger train rides.

Visit Jim Thorpe and ride the train. It is truly a town where yesterday blends into today!