Lackawanna Historical Society, Scranton

About Lackawanna Historical Society

The Lackawanna Historical Society operates from the Catlin House, a Tudor Revival mansion built in 1912 in Scranton's Hill Section. Visitors tour the three-story, sixteen-room residence featuring original walnut woodwork, molded plaster ceilings, brass lighting fixtures, stained glass windows, and six fireplaces, with furnishings from the Catlin and Archbald estates reflecting the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The museum houses exhibit rooms, a research library, and a lecture area. Guided tours run Tuesday through Saturday from 1 to 3 pm, with group tours available by request. The society's collections span from the 1700s to the present and include published works, manuscripts, maps, atlases, documents, and artifacts documenting Lackawanna County and northeastern Pennsylvania's social, cultural, and economic history. The organization presents educational programs for all age groups and maintains research services. Founded in 1886, the society is one of the oldest cultural institutions in the county.