Fee Free Days, Weekends Announced at Steamtown NHS

Date: May 24, 2010

SCRANTON, Pa. – During these tough economic times, Steamtown National Historic Site, downtown Scranton, Pa., will waive Entrance Fees on the following weekends: June 5-6 and August 14- 15, 2010. The National Park Service wants to reinforce that our national parks are places for everyone to have fun, reconnect with nature and history, and build a sense of ownership and stewardship toward parks and the environment. These fee-free weekends will be in addition to fee-free days on National Public Lands Day, September 25, and Veterans Day, November 11. The “Fee Free Days” at Steamtown will provide complimentary admission to the Park grounds, museums and scheduled walking tours, but will not include train rides and/or other amenity fees charged by the Park.

Steamtown National Historic Site is the only place in the National Park System where the story of steam railroading and the people who made it possible is told. In addition to the indoor and outdoor exhibits available at the site, visitors may join a scheduled Locomotive Shop tour. For a small fee - $3 for all ages 6 and older – visitors may also ride the “Scranton Limited” short train ride inside the railroad yards. On August 14, the Park staff will offer a steam passenger excursion to Moscow, Pa., with a reduced ticket price of $15/$13/$9. Reservations are required for all longer excursions and may be made by calling [phone] daily, 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The full 2010 Excursion Schedule is available online by clicking “Train Rides” at www.nps.gov/stea.

Located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, Steamtown is open daily from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. From I-81 follow exit 185 (Central Scranton Expressway); then, follow the brown and white signs to the main entrance at Lackawanna and Cliff Avenues. Details regarding interpretive and educational programs and activities may be obtained by phoning [phone] during regular business hours, or by visiting the Park website at www.nps.gov/stea anytime!

-NPS-