Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites Looking for Stories & Items Tied to Bethlehem’s Rich Hospitality History

February 5th, 2025

Submissions will be included in the ‘Checking In’ exhibit on display through July 31.

Since opening last year, Checking In: Bethlehem’s Alluring Accommodations has given guests a unique glimpse into Bethlehem’s 280-year-old legacy of hospitality. Now, Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites (HBMS) is inviting members of the community to be part of the exhibition, which has been extended through this summer, by sharing any stories or items they have that might shed light on what life was like at the city’s 19th and early 20th-century hotels and lodging establishments.

On display at the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem, 66 W. Church St., and Kemerer Museum of
Decorative Arts, 427 N. New St., through July 31, Checking In focuses on Bethlehem’s rich
lodging history starting with the construction of the First House, a log structure built to house the
Moravians when they settled Bethlehem in the 1740s. As guests travel through the Checking In
exhibit they will explore iconic establishments like the Crown Inn, Sun Inn, Golden Eagle Hotel
and the Historic Hotel Bethlehem, as well as learn about some of Bethlehem’s most famous
visitors.

“If anyone has a family member or ancestor who worked in or stayed at one of Bethlehem’s
hotels or inns in the 1800s or early 1900s, we’d really like to hear from them,” said Historic
Bethlehem Museums & Sites Manager of Programs & Volunteers Charlotte Filiciotto. “As part of
our relaunch of Checking In, we are inviting the community to share stories, images and objects
related to Bethlehem’s rich history of hospitality. This could be anything from a checkout receipt
or letter from a hotel guest, to an item from the early days of Historic Hotel Bethlehem that has
been passed down through the generations. These personal contributions from our community
will really help to enhance the exhibition and museum experience for everyone who visits in the
coming months.”

Anyone interested in submitting a story or object for inclusion in Checking In, which is presented
in part by Historic Hotel Bethlehem, can start the process by submitting their details on the
Checking In page on HBMS’ website. HBMS is accepting rolling submissions through March 1.
All accepted objects will be placed on loan for display at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative
Arts or Moravian Museum of Bethlehem and returned to the lender when the exhibit closes.

“Historic Hotel Bethlehem has a storied past that begins with its construction in the early 1920s,”
said Historic Hotel Bethlehem Managing Partner Bruce Haines. “Few people, however, realize
that the site the hotel is on has a history that dates all the way back to the building of the
Moravians’ First House in 1741. We occasionally hear stories in passing from our guests and
others in the community about the hotel and the site’s history, so we are looking forward to
some of these making their way into this exhibition. We encourage everyone to stop and see
Checking In for an enlightening and totally different take on our city’s history.”

Checking In Combo Ticket Offers a Sensational Deal
Looking for the best deal when it comes to exploring Bethlehem’s rich history of hospitality?
Purchase the Checking In Combo Ticket that includes admission to the exhibit, plus a
self-guided tour, complimentary Christmas City Spirits Tasting and Sun Inn Tasting Glass at the
Sun Inn.

Originally built by the Moravians in 1758, the Sun Inn was well known in Colonial times for its
food, hospitality and comfortable accommodations, playing host to a Who’s Who of
distinguished guests including George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Ben Franklin, John
Adams and the Marquis de Lafayette. Today, it is renowned for its unique atmosphere, fabulous
food and special events. The Checking In Combo Ticket, which is on sale now for only $30, is
available for ages 21 and older. Ticket holders can visit the Sun Inn for their tasting and glass
during any Sun Inn operating hours. Hours are 12-9 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday.

About Checking In
The journey through Checking In begins at “check-in” at the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem,
where guests will find themselves transported back 275 years to the fictional Moravian Inn as
they visit the guestrooms and learn about the different types of visitors who traveled to and
through the region during that time. The journey continues at the Kemerer Museum of
Decorative Arts, where attendees will find themselves transported to Bethlehem circa 1870
when the Golden Eagle Hotel was in its prime, as well as learn about the ways hotels created a
sense of grandeur and explore late-19th-century style, accessories and culture. They’ll also
have the opportunity to learn about Prohibition-era Bethlehem and visit the Kemerer Museum’s
very own speakeasy.

Checking In is open Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to
4 p.m. Admission tickets, which include admission to both the Moravian Museum and Kemerer
Museum of Decorative Arts, are on sale now at historicbethlehem.org.

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