Wilkes-Barre Walkitecture Tour: A Self-Guided Stroll Through the City’s Rich Past
Take a walk through downtown Wilkes-Barre and uncover the historic sites that shaped Northeastern Pennsylvania. The Wilkes-Barre Walkitecture Tour is a self-guided, 2.2-mile walking route featuring 24 stops that highlight the city’s beautiful architecture, deep-rooted history, and local landmarks.
The tour begins at the Frederick Stegmaier Mansion on the corner of West Ross and South Franklin Streets. From there, you’ll pass by the historic campuses of Wilkes University and King’s College, admire the neoclassical design of the Luzerne County Courthouse, and explore Wilkese-Barre’s River Street Historic District, lined with stately mansions from the coal era along the scenic Susquehanna River. The final stop is The Zebulon Butler House, the oldest home in the city, whose story dates back to 1773. Step into Wilkes-Barre’s past as you walk, taking in the stories and structures that defined the region’s cultural and economic growth.
Download the App and Explore More
To enhance your experience, download the free Wilkes-Barre Walkitecture app from the App Store or Google Play. The app features an interactive map, historical background, photos, and even augmented reality components that bring Wilkes-Barre’s history to life. The app pairs perfectly with the official Walkitecture booklet, available at select locations downtown.
Whether you’re a local looking for a fresh way to explore your hometown or a visitor interested in learning something new, this tour is a fantastic free thing to do in Wilkes-Barre.
The Wilkes-Barre Walkitecture tour is an initiative by the Wilkes-Barre City Health Department and is supported in part by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Historical content was curated by the Wilkes-Barré Preservation Society.
Historic Sites Along the Route
