The Journey to World Heritage Site Status

April 11th, 2023

Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites along with the City of Bethlehem, Bethlehem Area Moravians, Central Moravian Church, and Moravian University — with the additional support of Northampton County — has spent more than two decades working to add Historic Moravian Bethlehem to the UNESCO World Heritage List

Now, Historic Moravian Bethlehem, a National Historic Landmark District called “Moravian Church Settlements – Bethlehem,” is one step closer to becoming a World Heritage Site.

Here are our 7 steps to attaining UNESCO World Heritage Site status

1.) Historic Moravian Bethlehem named a National Historic Landmark District in 2012

2.) Historic Moravian Bethlehem named to the U.S. Tentative List in 2016

3.) Site must be nominated

4.) Nominated February 1, 2023 as a single Moravian Church Settlements World Heritage Site to include Historic Moravian Bethlehem; Herrnhut, Germany; and Gracehill, Northern Ireland/UK; to join Christiansfeld, Denmark

5.) Review and selection of Moravian Church Settlements for inscription (earliest July, 2024)

6.) Inscription – Big community ceremony

7.) Go operational

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