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The Best Things to Do in Historic Bethlehem, PA!
August 7th, 2023 |
Make the most of your visit to Historic Bethlehem, PA! The city was established by Moravian settlers in 1741 and then became a major steel producer during the Industrial Revolution. Today, Historic Moravian Bethlehem is a National Historic Landmark District, short-listed for nomination to the World Heritage list. Museum, tour, and program hours vary. Please call the Schropp Dry Goods Shoppe at 610-691-6055, or toll free at 1-800-360-TOUR when planning your visit and review the various options below.
Start at the Schropp Dry Goods Shoppe
Learn everything you need to know about the activities going on in Historic Bethlehem, purchase your tickets, schedule your tours, and shop in our gift shop for that perfect memento from your trip in Bethlehem!
The majority of our historic sites are within walking distance from the Visitors Center and many of our tours meet and begin there as well.
Adjacent to the Schropp Dry Goods Shoppe is the 1810 Goundie House – featuring a pop-up shop from Marche Maison! Shop unique gifts, home decor, jewelry, vintage items, handmade, and so much more.
Visit the oldest building in Bethlehem – the 1741 Gemeinhaus
The 1741 Gemeinhaus, home of the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem, was designated a National Historic Landmark as birthplace and residence of Lewis David von Schweinitz, the Father of American Mycology.
Take a tour and discover the remarkable stories behind Bethlehem’s founders at the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem, including early Moravian medicinal practices, communal living, missionary work, and a progressive educational system.
Explore the History of Bethlehem Steel
Steel produced by Bethlehem Steel was used in the construction of some of America’s greatest landmarks, including the Golden Gate Bridge and the Chrysler Building. This one-hour walking tour features up close views of the former steel plant with a walk on the Hoover-Mason Trestle (weather permitting) and treats guests to an in-depth look at the steel making process and the roles these laborers played in our country’s history.
Purchase the Value Package for admission to the National Museum of Industrial History and explore over 200 artifacts from across the world that tell the tale of America’s industrial might and the evolution of industry over time.
Take a Walking Tour – or two!
HBMS offers several walking tours designed to immerse you in history! Check out what we have going on year-round and seasonally.
Heritage Trail: Walk, jog, or bike along the Historic Bethlehem Heritage Trail! Experience Bethlehem on your own time at your own pace with the use of handheld audio devices. The Heritage Trail can be completed year-round.
Old Bethlehem Walking Tour: This tour covers 275 years of Bethlehem history speaking on the 1741 Gemeinhaus, 1762 Waterworks, 1758 Nain-Schober House, and the 1752 Apothecary.
Church & Chapel Tour: Learn about the history of Bethlehem’s oldest buildings of worship, the Gemeinhaus, Old Chapel, and Central Moravian Church Sanctuary that are still inspiring visitors today.
1752 Apothecary Tour: Learn how the Moravians treat the infirm and ailing & what types of medical practices were established in early Bethlehem. Explore the Apothecary that ran from 1743-1952 and represents what is left of the oldest continually operated drug store in the United States.
Moravian Story Walking Tour: Take a walk through history with one of our certified guides to discover the story behind Bethlehem’s founders: the Moravians! Learn what made the Moravian community so unique and what aspects of their daily lives are reflected in the historic buildings still standing today.
John Adams Bethlehem Walking Tour: See Bethlehem through John Adams’ eyes and discover the role historic Bethlehem played during the American Revolutionary War.
Colonial Industrial Quarter Walking Tour: Explore the Colonial Industrial Quarter and learn how it has changed throughout the centuries and how Moravian settlers used trade skills to become self-sufficient.
Death & Dying Cemetery Tour: Learn about the early Moravians and their funerary traditions while you take a stroll through the oldest cemetery in Bethlehem, God’s Acre.
