How in the World Will the New World Heritage Designation Help the Lehigh Valley Economy?

July 29th, 2024 | In The News

Written by Paul Muschick for lehighvalley.org

The Lehigh Valley was recognized with a global honor when the Moravian Church Settlements of Bethlehem were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 26. 

The site stands among 26 U.S. locations, including Independence Hall and the Statue of Liberty, that are recognized for their cultural and historical significance.  

Covering 10 acres and multiple buildings, the Lehigh Valley site tells the story of the Moravian religious missionaries who settled Bethlehem in 1741 on a social and economic experiment that resulted in a legacy of innovation, town planning, and architecture.

The designation is expected to significantly boost cultural tourism to Bethlehem, attracting visitors from around the world. Those visitors will bolster the Lehigh Valley’s economy in multiple ways.

Their patronage of local businesses during their stay is just the start. Tourists will be exposed to the Lehigh Valley’s other attractions and high quality of life, a critical factor people consider when choosing where to live, work, or start a business.

“This is simply an incredible development for Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley. This designation will help to make even more people across the world aware of our region’s rich history and authentic assets,” said Don Cunningham, President and CEO of Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp. (LVEDC), who is Treasurer of the Bethlehem World Heritage Commission.

“It’s due to the hard work and dedication of people like Charlene Donchez Mowers and Hank Barnette and the financial commitment of Northampton County and the City of Bethlehem that this long-standing goal has been achieved,” Cunningham said.

Northampton County funded the majority of the assessment and submission work for the region’s application, with County Executive Lamont McClure and County Council allocating $600,000.

Globally, there are 1,123 World Heritage sites in 68 countries.

“Our community has long cherished and preserved Moravian Church Settlements — Bethlehem, and we are honored to receive this global recognition,” said Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds. “The designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site is a profound testament to the unmatched historical and cultural significance of Bethlehem and the enduring legacy of the Moravian Church.” 

Bethlehem’s designation is part of a transnational site that demonstrates the universal value of Moravian Church settlements globally. The site includes Gracehill in Northern Ireland/United Kingdom; Herrnhut, Germany; and Christiansfeld, Denmark, which previously had been designated a World Heritage location in 2015.

Bethlehem’s site is made up of nine structures, four ruins, and God’s Acre cemetery, which all already are in the Historic Moravian Bethlehem National Historic Landmark District. Included are the 1741 Gemeinhaus, the oldest building in Bethlehem, which houses the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem, and the 1762 Waterworks, an ASCE Historic Civil Engineering and American Water landmark that was America’s first pumped municipal water system, located in the Colonial Industrial Quarter.

Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites spent more than two decades working to add Historic Moravian Bethlehem to the World Heritage List, joined by the City of Bethlehem, Bethlehem Area Moravians, Central Moravian Church, and Moravian University. 

The designation “is a testament to everyone who has walked the grounds and made the Moravian settlement a part of Bethlehem’s foundation,” said LoriAnn Wukitsch, HBMS President & CEO. “Our heartfelt gratitude extends to the supporters and volunteers dedicated to this decades-long process. The recognition underscores the importance of preserving these historic sites for future generations, and we are honored to join our international partners in showcasing the impact of the Moravian settlements on our world’s cultural and historical landscape.”

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