Wanderlust World Wanderlust World A group of French exiles settled just outside of town in an Azilum, which means asylum, in 1793. The exiles had left France to avoid imprisonment from the king to escape the purge of mulatto and slaves. According to lore, two children born of Marie Antoinette, then-queen of France, settled there with the other exiles. Over time, several small shops, a chapel and school house were built and dairies, farming and sheep herding served as the original central economy.
Later, farming gave rise to a grist mill, blacksmith and distillery. There was also limited mining of potash and perlash. Over time, the emigres drifted away and helped settle the nearby towns of Wysox, Wyalusing, Athens and Towanda, itself. Once more than a 400-acre community, not a single structure remains at Azilum. The history is little known for good reason--there's nothing left of it to see except a sign denoting it as part of the Pennsylvania trail of history.
The museum was initially built in 1871 as the county jail. After more than a century as the county jail, the Bradford County Commissioners voted in 1998 to renovate the three-story building into the county museum. On display are artifacts, photographs, paintings and displays of the areas early industrial and military roots.
Wood-planked covered bridges traversing rivers and streams are a tourist attraction throughout Pennsylvania, particularly those that have been refurbished or maintained over the years. Knapps covered bridge is no different. Little is known about the history of the bridge or for whom it was named but it is a uniquely built Burr-Arch timber bridge constructed around 1860 and is said to be the highest covered bridge in the state. Knapps bridge is built at the foot of Knapp's Hill and passes over Sugar Creek.
Towanda's early industrial development can likely be traced to its proximity to the natural transportation route of the Suquehanna River. As the longest river on the East Coast, the river gave the town boat access to transport its agricultural and minin products to points throughout the state. The river, which originates at Ostego Lake in New York flows through Sunbury and Harrisburg and empties into the Chesapeake Bay at Baltimore. All told, the river flows 410 miles.
The Lanard-Hornbrook County Park on the banks of the Susquehanna River is a popular family destination for camping and other recreational activities on the north side of town. It includes three pavilions for picnics and has a boat launch for sailing and fishing. The Towanda Library has been loaning books since 1898 and is the meeting spot for local knitting groups. The town also hosts a quaint farmers' market.