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Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites’ Latest Exhibition Explores the City’s Long Hospitality Legacy
October 28th, 2024
“Checking In? Bethlehem’s Alluring Accommodations” runs until January 26, 2025.
Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites (HBMS) has something special for history enthusiasts this fall. The nonprofit’s latest exhibition, “Checking In? Bethlehem’s Alluring Accommodations,” runs until January 26, 2025. Supported by presenting sponsor Historic Hotel Bethlehem, this captivating multisite experience invites visitors on a journey through time, showcasing the city’s most iconic lodgings. Taking visitors from the World Heritage Site Moravian Museum of Bethlehem to the elegant Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts and storied Sun Inn, the exhibition offers a fascinating glimpse into how Bethlehem’s renowned hospitality has welcomed some of history’s most notable figures.
“Our latest exhibition celebrates Bethlehem’s rich history and the warm hospitality of its iconic establishments over the centuries. As we embrace the beauty of the fall season, we invite everyone to explore how our community’s spirit of hospitality has shaped and enriched our local culture,” said HBMS President and CEO LoriAnn Wukisch. “‘Checking In’ also provides visitors with a unique opportunity to experience the Moravian Church Settlements—Bethlehem, now recognized as Pennsylvania’s third cultural World Heritage Site.”
The exhibition’s featured landmarks include:
- Moravian Museum of Bethlehem: Guests will “check-in” at the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem, where they’ll be transported back nearly 300 years to the fictional Moravian Inn. Moving to the guestrooms, visitors will learn about the different types of visitors to Bethlehem and how they were welcomed based on their religious background.
- Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts: The journey continues at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts, where guests will be transported to Bethlehem circa 1870, when the Eagle Hotel was in its prime. Here, guests will learn how hotels created a sense of grandeur and explore late-nineteenth-century style, accessories, and culture. Guests will be astounded to learn that during Prohibition, poker games and gangsters were a common sight in many Bethlehem hotel rooms. Finally, guests will visit The Blind Tiger, the Kemerer’s very own speakeasy. Guests must remember the secret password, “Annie,” to enter the speakeasy.
- Sun Inn: The Sun Inn played a crucial role in shaping Bethlehem and the United States. Its welcoming of esteemed guests such as George Washington, John Adams, and the Marquis de Lafayette highlights its significance in American history. Visitors can experience the Sun Inn, which opened in 1760, and explore various colonial rooms, such as the Gaststube or “Guest Parlor” and the Innkeepers Room.
This family-friendly experience offers guests 21 and older a Checking In Combo Ticket option available for purchase, which includes a Christmas City Spirits tasting experience and a complimentary tasting glass with a recipe.
In addition to Historic Hotel Bethlehem, exhibition sponsors include business sponsors Homewood Suites by Hilton and Shelly’s Building Supply, and hospitality sponsor Bear Creek Mountain Resort.
Tickets are available for purchase on HBMS’s website.
