Located at the confluence of the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers, 58 miles north of Philadelphia, this city currently has 26,300 residents, and played an important role in the settlement of the region. Thomas Penn, son of the Pennsylvania Colony founder William Penn, founded Easton in 1752 as the administrative center for the new Northampton County. The town was laid out with the same concept used in Philadelphia: a grid around a “great square.” In this square, on July 8, 1776, residents heard a public reading of the Declaration of Independence.

In the nineteenth century, Easton’s location at two rivers, the Morris Canal, and five railroads gave it easy access to the region’s major cities and coal mines, enabling it to become one of the country’s first industrial centers.

During these boom times, Lafayette College was founded (1832), and the many distinctive homes and other buildings that now comprise Easton’s historic districts were constructed. Visitors can take a walking tour through the historic downtown, to see the 1753 Bachman Tavern, and “Millionaires Row” lined with Victorian homes. Rides on mule-drawn boats along Easton’s canals are available at Hugh Moore Park, and paddleboats and canoes can be rented.

Two Rivers Landing, in downtown Easton, houses the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Visitor Center, the Crayola Factory, and the National Canal Museum. The Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Visitor Center has exhibits depicting the region’s history, cultures, canal system, and industries. The Crayola Factory isn’t where the famous colored crayons and markers are made. Instead, it lets visitors see how they are manufactured. It includes projects and activities for children.

The National Canal Museum has exhibits depicting the history and technology of nineteenth-century canals and inland waterways. Hands-on exhibits include operating a lock model, and a model boat that can be piloted through the lock.

Easton can be reached by car via US-22, or by bus.