PA Museums

Exploring the Wayne County Historical Society Museum

Collage of four scenes from the Wayne County Historical Society Museum in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, featuring a scale model of the Stourbridge Lion locomotive, a display of ornate cut glassware made in the county, a Delaware & Hudson Canal Company gravity railroad passenger car, and the exterior of the historic 1860 museum building.

Visiting the Wayne County Historical Society Museum in Honesdale is like stepping into a living timeline of the county’s people, industries, and innovations.

Portrait of Philip Hone, first president of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company and namesake of Honesdale, on display at the Wayne County Historical Society Museum in Pennsylvania, accompanied by interpretive text about his role in the canal’s early history.

Housed in the former headquarters of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company, the museum preserves stories that shaped both local and national history.

Plaque mounted on the exterior of the Wayne County Historical Society Museum in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, designating the Delaware and Hudson Canal as a Registered National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1968.

With its mix of historic artifacts, interactive exhibits, and one-of-a-kind collections, it offers an engaging experience for history lovers of all ages.

Front view of the Stourbridge Lion replica locomotive on display at the Wayne County Historical Society Museum in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, featuring a bold yellow lion face design on the black boiler with red wheels visible beneath.

Directions | Hours | Admission Fees

The Wayne County Historical Society Museum is located at 810 Main Street, Honesdale, PA 18431.

The museum is open Wednesday – Saturday 11 am. – 4 pm.

Wayne County Historical Society Museum sign in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, mounted on the historic 1860 Delaware & Hudson Canal Company building, listing museum, research library, and gift shop hours from Wednesday through Saturday.

Admission fees are: Adults – $5 | 18 and under – free.

Exterior view of the Wayne County Historical Society Museum in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, housed in the former 1860 Delaware & Hudson Canal Company headquarters building, with a museum sign hanging above the sidewalk along Main Street.

What You’ll see at the Wayne County Historical Society Museum

One of the highlights of a visit is the award-winning Movin’ Energy: The History of the Delaware and Hudson Canal 1828–1898 exhibit.

Exhibit at the Wayne County Historical Society Museum in Honesdale, Pennsylvania featuring a portrait, historic photos, and interpretive panels beneath a banner titled “Movin’ Energy: The History of the Delaware and Hudson Canal 1828–1898,” inside the former 1860 headquarters of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company.

This exhibit is housed in the 1993 addition that was built to showcase the full-size replica of the Stourbridge Lion, the first locomotive to run on commercial track in the United States, which made its maiden run in Honesdale in 1829.

Full-size replica of the Stourbridge Lion locomotive on display at the Wayne County Historical Society Museum in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, featuring a black iron body with red wheels and a yellow lion emblem on the front boiler.

Nearby, the D&H passenger gravity car known as the Eclipse is displayed, complete with its hand-stenciled ceiling and decoratively carved wood interior.

Delaware & Hudson Canal Company gravity railroad passenger car on display at the Wayne County Historical Society Museum in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, with interpretive signs, a bench, and a cutout figure of a conductor holding a red flag.

Another fascinating section of the museum is the Katz Company exhibit, which tells the story of a clothing manufacturer that operated in Wayne County for over 90 years and became a nationally recognized brand.

Exhibit panel at the Wayne County Historical Society Museum in Honesdale, Pennsylvania titled “From Underwear to Sleepwear to Everywear,” showcasing the history of the Katz Underwear Factory/Katz Inc. from 1898 to 1991, with historic photos, vintage advertisements, and product displays.

The exhibit highlights everything from the company’s early days making underwear to its later expansion into sleepwear and fashion apparel.

Historic Delaware & Hudson Canal Company gravity railroad passenger car displayed inside the Wayne County Historical Society Museum in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, with a life-size cutout of a conductor holding a red flag and interpretive signage nearby.

For those interested in even earlier history, the Vernon Leslie archaeology collection features more than 4,600 artifacts.

Vernon Leslie Collection exhibit at the Wayne County Historical Society Museum in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, displaying hundreds of Native American arrowheads and stone tools arranged on a large map tracing the Delaware River and surrounding region.

This collection interprets the Native American history of the Upper Delaware Valley, shedding light on Lenape traditions, hunting techniques, and community life.

“Life of the Lenape” exhibit at the Wayne County Historical Society Museum in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, featuring maps, illustrations, and interpretive panels about Lenape traditions, creation stories, and daily life, accented with replica arrowheads and arrows.

Adding a military dimension to the museum is the General Lyman Lemnitzer exhibit.

Banner on display at the Wayne County Historical Society Museum in Honesdale, Pennsylvania honoring General Lyman Lemnitzer, a Wayne County native and four-star U.S. Army general, as part of an exhibit recognizing local military heroes.

A Wayne County native, Lemnitzer rose to the rank of four-star general in the U.S. Army, and the exhibit showcases his remarkable career and contributions.

Exhibit at the Wayne County Historical Society Museum in Honesdale, Pennsylvania showcasing the military uniform of General Lyman Lemnitzer, a four-star U.S. Army general and Wayne County native, displayed in a glass case alongside photos, flags, and memorabilia honoring his service.

Another must-see stop is the Wayne County Glass Exhibit.

Display of ornate cut glassware produced by T.B. Clark & Co. in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, showcased at the Wayne County Historical Society Museum, with vintage advertisements and historic photos of the glassworks factory in the background.

This display features over 160 examples of cut and pressed glass, all produced locally between the 1820s and the 1980s, and illustrates the county’s important role in Pennsylvania’s glassmaking industry.

Intricately cut glass lamp made by the Keystone Cut Glass Company on display at the Wayne County Historical Society Museum in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, with a historic black-and-white photo of factory workers in the background.

Together, these exhibits paint a rich portrait of Wayne County’s past, from its Native American roots to its industrial accomplishments and military heroes.

Exhibit panel at the Wayne County Historical Society Museum in Honesdale, Pennsylvania about the Stourbridge Lion, featuring an illustration of the locomotive and text describing its historic 1829 trial run as the first steam locomotive to operate on rails in the United States.

Final Thoughts

A visit to the Wayne County Historical Society Museum is both educational and inspiring, offering a deeper appreciation for the county’s enduring legacy.

Colorful model canal boats on display at the Wayne County Historical Society Museum in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, part of an exhibit highlighting the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company’s history inside their former 1860 headquarters building.

Whether your interest lies in railroads, industry, Native American culture, or military history, this museum has something memorable to offer.

Display at the Wayne County Historical Society Museum in Honesdale, Pennsylvania featuring a 1959 Time magazine cover with General Lyman Lemnitzer, a Wayne County native and four-star U.S. Army general, along with historic photos highlighting his military career.

Nearby Attractions

The Stourbridge Line is a magnificent sightseeing train excursion that runs along the banks of the Lackawaxen River, between Honesdale and Hawley in Wayne County.

A collage of four photos from the Stourbridge Line sightseeing excursion in Honesdale, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, featuring a black and yellow Pennsylvania Railroad locomotive 9880, scenic river views along the forested Lackawaxen River, the train curving through wooded terrain, and passengers seated inside a vintage railcar with blue upholstered seats.

The Dorflinger Factory Museum in Wayne County showcases exquisite historic glassware and the legacy of master glassmaker Christian Dorflinger within the confines of his original glass factory.

Collage of four photos from the Dorflinger Factory Museum in Wayne County, PA, featuring the main glassware exhibit hall, the museum entrance, a display of amber and green cut glass pieces, and a presidential table setting with glassware designed for Abraham Lincoln.

The Dorflinger Glass Museum in Wayne County, housed in Christian Dorflinger’s former home, displays over 1,000 pieces of brilliant-cut glass just a mile from the Dorflinger Factory Museum.

Collage of four scenes from the Dorflinger Glass Museum in Wayne County, PA, featuring ornate glass display cases, intricate cut-glass pieces, a green cut-to-clear punch bowl set, and the exterior of the museum building.

Irving Cliff is a fabulous roadside scenic overlook that sits high above Honesdale, the Wayne County seat.

Collage of four photos taken at Irving Cliff in Wayne County, PA, featuring panoramic views of Honesdale from the scenic overlook, a double-bridge crossing the Lackawaxen River in the heart of town, and an informational sign detailing the connection between Washington Irving and the historic Irving Cliff Hotel.

Tanners Falls is a 20 foot-tall, multi tiered roadside waterfall, located on State Game Lands 159 in Wayne County.

A stunning visual narrative is told through a collage of five images showcasing Tanners Falls in Wayne County, Pennsylvania. The images depict the dynamic flow of the falls, the rugged beauty of the layered rock formations, and the rustic charm of the bridge that arches over the river. Each picture captures a different angle, highlighting the waterfall's power and the tranquility of the surrounding forested area, bare of leaves. The ruins of an old tannery add a touch of historical mystique to the natural splendor of the site, inviting viewers to contemplate the past amidst the beauty of the falls.

The D&H Canal Park in Wayne County is a 16-acre site where visitors can explore 19th-century canal history amid the natural beauty of the Lackawaxen River valley.

Collage of four photos from the D\&H Canal Park in Wayne County, Pennsylvania, featuring the replica canal boat, the historic Daniels Farmhouse beside Lock 31, a scenic view of the Lackawaxen River, and the park entrance sign advertising the Canal Festival.

Uncovering the Pennsylvania Roots of “Winter Wonderland” shows you the inspiration for one of the most beloved holiday songs of all time, Winter Wonderland, located in the heart of Honesdale.

Collage highlighting the Pennsylvania origins of "Winter Wonderland," featuring a historical marker honoring lyricist Richard "Dick" Smith, a photo of Smith at the piano, his childhood home in Honesdale, and the iconic sheet music cover depicting a winter scene.

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