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Historic Bethlehem group $1 million shy of goal to preserve Moravian world heritage sites
January 23rd, 2025 | In The News
Written by Lindsay Weber
Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites, a nonprofit that oversees several locations that make up Bethlehem’s UNESCO-recognized historic Moravian world heritage site, has raised more than $6 million to enhance and preserve several Moravian structures.
A capital campaign called Taking the World Stage, which is $1 million short of its $7.25 million goal, has helped fund improvements at several of the structures that make up the world heritage site, including Bethlehem’s oldest building, the 1741 Gemeinhaus.
“The Taking the World Stage campaign is about more than just preserving history. It’s about creating a dynamic future and inspiring people of all ages by showcasing the stories of resilience, innovation and community that Bethlehem has to offer,” Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites President & CEO LoriAnn Wukitsch said in a written statement.
Bethlehem’s Moravian sites, which span nearly 10 acres and includes nine structures, four ruins and God’s Acre Cemetery, were officially recognized by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee as a world heritage site last summer. The Moravians, a Protestant group whose history traces back to what is now the Czech Republic in the 1400s, arrived in Bethlehem in 1741. Bethlehem Museums and Sites oversees several of the World Heritage site structures, though some are owned by the City of Bethlehem and Moravian University.
A remaining $1 million is needed to complete work on the Grist Miller’s House, which, after sitting unoccupied for decades, is expected to open to visitors in the spring.
Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites in 2023 announced plans to reopen the structure, which is one of the earliest private Moravian family homes. It will become a demonstration space to teach visitors about Colonial trades and crafts, and feature an exhibit on the history of the mill and life of the miller and his family.
City officials expect the UNESCO World Heritage sites to be a boon to tourism in Bethlehem.
Read on the Morning Call website.
