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The Morning Call: Take a day trip back to Colonial Bethlehem
May 4th, 2017 | In The News
Written by Jodi Duckett for The Morning Call
What was it like to be a blacksmith? How do you cook over an open hearth? What kind of birds call the Lehigh Valley their home?
Families can experience what it was like to live during the Colonial era at Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites’ Community Heritage Day. The free event runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Activities in the downtown Colonial Industrial Quarter include:
*Live bird presentation: See red-tail hawks, turkey vultures, owls, and pigeons up close and learn about bird habitats, food, hazards and behavioral adaptation; 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
*Guided birding hike: Receive a free pack with binoculars and other supplies then hike a trail near the Colonial Industrial Quarter. Hear from a Wildlands Conservancy naturalist how to identify birds, birds’ nests or cavities, food sources and other signs of bird activity; noon and 3 p.m.
*Demonstrations: See what it was like to be a blacksmith at the 1750 Smithy. Learn open-hearth cooking techniques. See the 18-foot waterwheel in action at the 1762 Waterworks. Watch as Susan Newquist and Lucy Cadwallader bring “hairwork” to life using horse and human hair to craft jewelry.
*STEM activities: Test your engineering and science skills with activities developed by the DaVinci Science Center. Use logs to build sturdy cabins. Construct an arch to learn about strong stone buildings. Experiment with dying a piece of cloth, and create your own dye colors.
*Colonial games: Master fun games like Buzzsaw, Graces, Hoops and Bucket Brigade.
*Tin-punching activity: Make decorations that you can take home.
*Photo exhibit: Black and white photos feature hairstyles of Bethlehem residents throughout history.
*Heritage trail: Explore the Monocacy Valley by following the creek that brought Burnside Plantation, Illick’s Mill and the Colonial Industrial Quarter to life.
*Food: Hot dogs, popcorn and water will be available for purchase.
Info: www.historicbethlehem.org
