The D&L Blog

The D&L will celebrate the National Park Service (NPS) Centennial this month. Established by Congress in 1988, the D&L it is one of 49 National Heritage Areas in the U.S. that tell the vibrant story of the nation’s evolution and culture. The NPS turns 100 on August 25 and will kick off a second century of stewardship of America’s national parks and engaging communities through recreation, conservation, and historic preservation programs. This year, the NPS invites the public to discover the national parks and programs in their own backyard.

Part of the NPS family, the D&L commemorates and preserves the nationally significant historic transportation route of rivers, canals, and railroads that brought anthracite coal from mines in Carbon and Luzerne counties, to the early industries of the Lehigh Valley and markets in Bucks County and Philadelphia. Residents of the D&L’s five county region, including Bucks, Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon and Luzerne counties, can celebrate the NPS Centennial locally on the D&L Trail or at the National Canal Museum in Easton.

National Canal Museum visitors can celebrate with discounted admission on August 25. The D&L is listed on the NPS Passport and the stamps can be acquired at the museum. In recognition of the centennial, tickets to the National Canal Museum will be “buy one get one free” on August 25 for visitors who bring their NPS Passport with a D&L stamp, visit to receive the D&L stamp or buy a new NPS Passport available at the NCM for $9.95.

D&L Trail supporters can celebrate with a $10 discount on registration for the D&L Heritage Half Marathon Run or Walk by registering online from August 25 until August 31 at midnight at http://race.delawareandlehigh.org.  The discount code “NPS” will allow participants to register for $70 instead of the current $80 cost. Runners and walkers will enjoy the region’s most scenic course with a gently sloping 204-foot net elevation drop and probable tailwind. More information for runners can be found at: http://race.delawareandlehigh.org/runners/. More information for walkers and a link to walker training plans can be found at: http://race.delawareandlehigh.org/walkers/.