Zane Grey House and Museum, Pennsylvania

Author Zane Grey, the “Father of the Western Novel”, owned the property in Lackawaxen, Pike County, Pennsylvania from 1905 until his death in 1939.  It was at this house that Grey wrote his most famous novels Riders of the Purple Sage.  After Grey’s death, his wife, Dolly, sold the house to one of their long-time friends who operated the house as the Zane Grey Inn and Museum until 1989 when the property was sold to the National Park Service.  Lawhon & Associates, Inc. conducted a Phase II archaeological identification study in support of the “Cultural Landscape Treatment Plan” in the rear lawn of the Zane Grey Museum.  The survey was conducted for the National Park Service, Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreation River New York/Pennsylvania.  The proposed project was the installation of a walking path through the grounds, installation of accessible ramps into the museum, and restoration of the grounds to historically accurate landscape.  Lawhon archaeologists excavated twenty-three shovel tests were excavated from 60 to 100+ cm below surface level.  One hundred and sixteen artifacts were recovered from sixteen positive shovel test units. Artifacts recovered included metal, brick, ceramic, wire and chipped-stone flakes and debitage. No diagnostic artifacts were recovered.