We started the day by visiting the Steamtown National Historic Site. It is cared for by the National Park Service and is free of charge to the public, except for the train rides.

Steamtown occupies about 40 acres of the Scranton railroad yard of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad (one of the earliest rail lines in northeastern Pennsylvania). The collection consists of locomotives, freight cars, passenger cars, and maintenance-of-way equipment from several historic railroads.

This historical site preserves and interprets the legacy of steam-era railroading. We chose to experience it by riding in a passenger car. Several volunteers dressed in uniform made it a living history experience. We highly recommend this place for a visit!

Next, came the reason for coming to Scranton in the first place: A visit to the Harry Houdini Museum. Master Magician Dorothy Dietrich was our hostess the entire time. What a treat! She told us all about Houdini and his times.

Dorothy is best known for catching a bullet with a metal plate in her mouth. She’s also known for escaping from a straight-jacket while hanging upside down from a crane which is holding her with a rope that is burning to shreds. We saw the video. Wow! She’s a brave soul!

We were not allowed to take photos or videos at the museum unless it was okay with Dorothy. That worked out fine especially when Ellen got called on stage to perform with Dorothy. They made a great act together.

Then it was off to dinner at Cooper’s Seafood House (est. 1948). Not only is it a great place to dine, but the atmosphere of fun and frolic is all around. There are various dioramas of fantasy worlds. There’s bound to be a pirate statue in every room. This place is huge!

Check out Gilligan’s Island diorama. Then there’s Ellen with a big space robot!