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Local Business Leaders Hosted by B. Braun and Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites
June 4th, 2024 | In The News
On May 29th, B. Braun of America Inc. and Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites hosted local business leadership at the 1869 Luckenbach Mill to learn more about the importance of the Taking the World Stage Campaign. Local business leaders were invited to join us to learn both why and how we, as community leaders, can ensure that our region is prepared for this exciting future.
Zabeth Teelucksingh, an expert in heritage tourism, joined as a guest speaker at the event. Teelucksingh is the president of Global Philadelphia and helped make Philadelphia the first World Heritage City in the U.S.
“We’ve always had the history, but now we will have a platform – and a megaphone – to share it.”
– Jean-Claude Dubacher, Chairman of the Board of Directors for B. Braun of America, Inc.
Jean-Claude Dubacher, on behalf of B.Braun of America, Inc. pledged support of the Taking the World Stage Campaign and the Grist Miller’s House and Overlook on History.
Expert Tellucksingh, spoke on what World Heritage Site status could mean for the area, generating significant economic development benefits and fueling international travel and tourism. This potential inscription would elevate Bethlehem’s status on the global stage, enhance our region’s prestige and generate pride and sense of place among the nearly 700,000 people who call Lehigh Valley home.
“Getting a World Heritage inscription in America is like winning the Super Bowl of culture.”
– Zabeth Teelucksingh, President of Global Philadelphia
During the evening, local leaders learned about Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites’ Taking the World Stage Campaign and the preservation efforts for the 1782/1834 Grist Miller’s House. The Grist Miller’s House has been held up by steel beams for the past two decades and work is beginning to restore the building located in the Colonial Industrial Quarter. Attendees were shown the renderings of the restored building and the proposed connector between the Grist Millers’ House and the Luckenbach Mill, learning about the Overlook on History and the Ralph G. Schwarz Center for Colonial Industries. Christine Ussler from Artefact, Inc., who is the architect of record for the Grist Miller’s project and David Scott Parker, who designed the Overlook on History to honor Ralph Schwarz were both on hand for the event.
“We have a story to tell. And as leaders in this community, we have a responsibility to participate and take full advantage of the honor.”
– Rob Albert, CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of B. Braun of America, Inc.
If inscribed, Moravian Church Settlements-Bethlehem is poised to join only 25 UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) World Heritage sites in the United States, including Independence Hall, the Statue of Liberty, and the Grand Canyon. Globally iconic World Heritage sites include the Great Wall of China, the Pyramids at Giza, the Acropolis in Athens, and the Sydney Opera House. There is no higher designation in the world to illustrate meaningfulness to humankind and acknowledge our sense of community.
Moravian Church Settlements-Bethlehem preserves and advances the ageless values of education, equality, industry, integrity and spirituality that have been part of the community since 1741. The centuries-old architecture and town planning, including 14.7 acres, 10 structures, and several ruins, reflect and tribute to the resilience of a timeless community built on universal human ideals.
“Future generations should learn about the ingenuity of the Moravians and preserve our treasured historic resources.”
– LoriAnn Wukitsch, President & CEO of Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites
The nomination is part of the United States’ first transnational, serial nomination for World Heritage. The multi-country “Moravian Church Settlements” nomination includes Herrnhut (Germany) and Gracehill (Northern Ireland, UK). This is an extension of the World Heritage Site Christiansfeld, a Moravian Church settlement.
Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites (HBMS) has been caring for many of the historic buildings and ruins in Bethlehem since 1939. HBMS is working diligently to ensure that we have a world-class visitor experience in place should the World Heritage Council officially recognize our community. The support of the private sector is critical to supplement public funds that have already been dedicated.
