A small group of history enthusiasts have made it possible to revisit Lehighton’s past in a new way.

The Lehighton Area Heritage Alliance has launched the Explore Lehighton Walking Tour on the PocketSights app.

It was created by alliance board member Jason Shupp, who said it was “basically the result of passion, caffeine, and a pinch of digital wizardry.”

The rest of the alliance board gave input on tour stops to start with, then Shupp researched and pulled together photos and brief text to explain each stop.

With the PocketSights Tour Guide App (https://pocketsights.com/tour-guide-app), anyone can set up a free account and create a tour, or set up a paid subscription for more features. There is even a “Pizza & Pierogi Tour” in Hazleton.

Anyone can access the tour from their smartphone by downloading the free “PocketSights Tour Guide” app. It’s available for both iPhone and Android devices.

Once the app is installed, open it up, and search for Lehighton, then select the “Explore Lehighton - Walk Through History” tour and follow along.

Right now the tour includes text and photos only, though the alliance plans to expand to additional stops/tours and provide more in depth details as time allows for its small volunteer group.

You can “Start Tour” and the map will guide you; or if you prefer to use the “free roam mode” then you can drive to and visit the sites at your leisure.

Each tour stop is curated to showcase Lehighton’s rich history, unveiling its unique and fascinating chapters that have shaped the town’s identity over the years.

The alliance plans to add more stops, focusing on the major events of Lehighton’s history first, then expanding to the surrounding townships of Franklin, Mahoning, and East Penn, said Lisa Hopstock Kulp, secretary for the alliance.

“We are the Lehighton AREA Heritage Alliance and are not just focused on the borough, but are interested in the history of our whole 18235 (Lehighton School District) area,” Kulp said. “We are also talking with the Weissport Historical Society to expand the app tour in that area.”

Kulp noted that last year, the alliance also did a Songs and Stories in the Mausoleum presentation about Corner Stores, and added they plan to add a tour to the app for these in the future.

Kulp said there are 11 stops on the 2.2-mile-long, roughly 77-minute walking tour that starts at the old Lehighton Fair (now the school district property and sports fields), then winds through town and finishes at the former Lehigh Stove Works Building on the Bypass, now the new sister location of Three Little Birds Distillery & Hop Hill Brewery Company.

The stops include:

• Carbon County Fairgrounds/Lehighton Fair

• The Boyhood Home of Franz Kline

• The Judge’s Stand

• Colonial Court Manson

• Baer Silk Mill

• Mission of Gnaden Huetten

• Gnaden Huetten Massacre

• Lehighton Engine Company No. 2

• Old Lehighton High School

• Lehighton Library

• Lehigh Stove Works Building

“As generations pass, history gets lost,” Kulp said. “We are trying to keep Lehighton history alive and preserve it. There is a lot of great historical research that has been done over the years. The idea with the app is to make it more accessible to younger generations who prefer to experience history in a digital format.

“Since local history is no longer taught in our public schools, it is up to volunteer groups like us to keep it alive for future generations. Leveraging modern technology that we all carry in our pockets, we embarked on a digital odyssey to ensure that history remains not only accessible but also captivating to all who seek it.”

Todd Weaver, president of the alliance, added, “the history this town has is so enormous.”

The group eventually plans to house its historic memorabilia, Kulp said.

“The majority of our collection is housed at the Borough Annex (old high school) on Third Street,” she said. “This includes a 25-plus painting installation in the auditorium of Lehighton’s key historic sites, created in 2005 by then high school senior, Marcus Long, to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Gnaden Huetten Massacre.

“Since this space is currently not accessible to the public (rented to a private school), this app, walking tours, and our upcoming ghost tours are how we plan to keep our history alive as we determine the best way to proceed with plans and fundraising to secure an accessible home for the collection.”

The alliance meets monthly at various locations around town. To get involved, email lehightonheritage@gmail.com to join the email list for upcoming meetings. If you are a business or individual who owns a historic property and would like to host a meeting, the alliance would love to hear from you.

The mission of the Lehighton Area Heritage Alliance (alliance) is to identify, preserve, promote, and educate the public about the historical legacy of Lehighton and the surrounding area.

It is a small group of volunteers committed to collecting stories and artifacts to safeguard them for future generations. From the Lenni Lenape and Moravians - to the railroad, canal, and trolley cars - to soapbox derbies, Franz Kline, and Bright’s Dept. Store - Lehighton has a story to tell.

The alliance is working toward creating an accessible public space for a heritage center museum to provide educational exhibits and programs.

For more information, visit lehightonheritage.org, email lehightonheritage@gmail.com to join their mailing list, or follow alliance on Facebook @lehightonheritage.