Based on the award winning BBC hit, The Office is a parody of modern American office life. The “mockumentary sitcom” ran for a total of nine full seasons on NBC until 2013, and is now available to stream on Peacock. The show’s stars included Steve Carrell, John Krasinski, Jenna Fisher, Rain Wilson, Mindy Kaling, and B.J. Novak. For those hooked on the show, the self-guided tour of Scranton, Pennsylvania is a must. (Scranton is also the hometown of President Joe Biden.)
The Cast of The Office in the Press Room at the 58th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in The Shrine Auditorium August 27, 2006 in Los Angeles. (Photo Credit: Shutterstock)
Situated in Lackawanna County, Scranton is just an hour and a half by car from New York City, the travel time that was frequently referred to when the show’s characters made the excursion. New York City was the home of Dunder Mifflin Paper Company’s corporate headquarters and where Pam (played by Fischer) studied art.
WAT spend a pleasant Saturday afternoon visiting spots in Scranton that were an integral part of the sitcom. Who could forget the Dundie Awards, visits to Cooper’s Seafood House, or a view of the Electric City Sign. Don’t just watch it, visit it!
The map that is provided by the Lackawana County Northeastern Pennsylvania Visitors Bureau has a total of 19 “On the Scranton Map” destinations as well as 12 “Not on the Map” places to see. All of the locations have been mentioned or featured in The Office.
The Dundee Award (Photo Credit: Marina Kennedy)
We started our tour in the center of town to see the Electric City Sign that towers above Linden Street. This area was ideal for a leisurely stroll where you can also visit a popular bar and grill, The Bog; Scranton Cultural Center at Masonic Temple; Lackawanna County Courthouse; and a the world’s largest statue of the Dundie Award that is displayed at the Scranton City Hall on Washington Street. The statue was presented in 2021 to the city of Scranton by Peacock.
Some of the points of interest that were frequently mentioned in the show do require driving such as Poor Richard Pub; Electric City Trolley Museum; and Steamtown National Historic Site.
(Photo Credit: Marina Kennedy)
If you’re in a particularly adventurous mood and have some extra time in your visit, we highly suggest that you go to places that are “Not on the Map” such as the Houdini Museum on Main Avenue. There you can see a remarkable array of Houdini memorabilia and enjoy a magic show by the famous female magician, Dorothy Dietrich. Michael Scott was a big fan of magic. Other spots that are not mapped include Lake Wallenpaupack, PNC Field, the Anthracite Heritage Museum and the Glider Diner.
It’s nice to know that Scranton is on the Northeast fringe of the scenic Pocono Mountains making it a beautiful area that is fun to explore for a day trip or more. We highly recommend The Office self-guided tour. For more information, go to Visit PA.
Top photo: Bigstock
