Pocono Indian Museum: A Journey into Lenape History

The Pocono Indian Museum offers a glimpse into the lives of the Delaware Indians, also known as the Lenape, who once called the Pocono Mountains home. The museum traces the history of the Lenape people, also known as the Delaware Indians, back to 10,500 BC, displaying ancient artifacts, weapons, and tools in chronological order. The museum is housed in one of the oldest frame structures in the Pocono Mountains, originally built in 1840 by John Van Campen Coolbaugh. The building has a rich history, having served as a boarding house, a stop for stage coaches, a safe house on the Underground Railroad during the Civil War, and even a speakeasy during Prohibition. Inside, visitors can explore exhibits featuring artifacts such as prayer pipes, clay pottery, and vintage photographs. A self-guided audio tour enhances the experience, providing detailed information about each exhibit. Exhibits showcase how the Lenape made pottery, clothing, tools, and weapons, as well as the foods they ate and the plants and herbs they used for medicine. Visitors can also walk through a rendition of the bark houses built for shelter. The museum also features an exhibit on herbal remedies, showcasing the traditional medicinal plants used by the Delaware Indians. The Pocono Indian Museum is dedicated to showing the history of the Delaware Indian. The museum also has a gift shop with Native American-themed jewelry, dreamcatchers, and clothing.