We're off this morning on a family field trip to Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. Much like Istanbul is formerly Constantinople (and Byzantium), Jim Thorpe began its existence in 1818 as Mauch Chunk (from the Lenape Màxkwchunk, which translates to "Bear Mountain.")
How Mauch Chunk became named Jim Thorpe is complicated and still mired in controversy.
But, controversy aside, it should be fun to check out this scenic mountain town today. I'm sure it doesn't look anything like the old Tosh's Department Store postcard pictured above.
Update
If you're wondering how the trip turned out, check out the Jim Thorpe Learning Guide on my wife's blog. (Plus, see me wearing my 1970s Eagles hat.)
I hope it does look like this postcard!
ReplyDeleteCheck out the Opera House. It's supposed to be haunted!
ReplyDeleteAnd I thought they'd changed the name back to Mauch Chunk, or at least they were trying to.