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Walk through history as we guide you to things to learn, places to discover, and events that help connect us to our rich heritage.
Current overview
2024: On July 26, Moravian Church Settlements was inscribed on the prestigious World Heritage List at the World Heritage Committee meeting in New Delhi, India.
2023: In February, the U.S. Department of Interior submitted the multi-country nomination to the UNESCO World Heritage List of historic “Moravian Church Settlements” in Bethlehem, U.S.; Gracehill, Northern Ireland/UK and Herrnhut, Germany. An international panel began a complete review and evaluation of the nomination Dossier.
World Heritage Designation
Properties
- God’s Acre
- 1741 Gemeinhaus
- 1744-1772 Single Sisters House
- 1746 Bell House
- 1751 Old Chapel
- 1768 Widows’ House
- 1803-1806 Central Moravian Church
- 1761 Tannery at Colonial Industrial Quarter
- 1762 Waterworks at Colonial Industrial Quarter
- Archeological remains of the Butchery, Oil Mill, Dye House & Pottery in the Colonial Industrial Quarter
Properties that Continue the Story
- 1752 Apothecary
- 1758/1765 Nain-Schober House
- 1758 Sun Inn
- 1782/1834 Grist Miller’s House
- 1810 Goundie House
- Burnside Plantation
- 1869 Luckenbach Mill (constructed on the remains of the 1755 mill)
- Reconstructed Springhouse (near original 1760 springhouse)
- Reconstructed Blacksmith Shop (on foundation of the 1750/1761 Smithy)
Bethlehem World Heritage Commission
Officers
- Mayor J. William Reynolds, Chair
- Curtis Barnette, Vice Chair
- Charlene Donchez Mowers, Senior Advisor
- Don Cunningham, Treasurer
- Daniel McCarthy, Secretary
Members
- Phillips Armstrong
- Charles Dent
- Robert Donchez
- Jean-Claude Dubacher
- Tim Fallon
- Dr. Bryon Grigsby
- Bruce Haines
- Dr. Joseph Helble
- Tony Ianneli
- Lamont McClure
- Alex Michaels
- Mike Perrucci
- Rev. Janel Rice
- Dr. Jack Silva
- David Shaffer
- Dan Soos
- Congresswoman Susan Wild
- LoriAnn Wukitsch
Latest World Heritage Updates
Journey to World Heritage: A Timeline
Moravian Church Settlements were inscribed on the prestigious World Heritage List at the World Heritage Committee meeting in New Delhi, India.
United States submits multi-national nomination to World Heritage List.
The multi-country Tentative List Form which includes Bethlehem, Gracehill, and Herrnhut was submitted and is now officially on the World Heritage website.
Transnational Working Group meetings were held in Northern Ireland in March and Denmark in July.
A Transnational Working Group meeting of the four historic Moravian communities was held in Herrnhut.
German Minister Müntefering visits Bethlehem. The four countries agree to work together with the U.S. as the lead on the nomination.
Representatives from Gracehill, Herrnhut, Christiansfeld and Bethlehem gathered in Bethlehem to sign the Voluntary Association Agreement to jointly prepare the nomination dossier.
Historic Moravian Bethlehem works with representatives of Gracehill, Northern Ireland/UK and Herrnhut, Germany to prepare a transnational, serial nomination to the World Heritage List. This is the first multi-country nomination for the U.S.
The U.S. Tentative List was reviewed and approved by the World Heritage Committee and Historic Moravian Bethlehem is now listed along with the other U.S. sites on the World Heritage website for nomination to the World Heritage List.
Historic Moravian Bethlehem was honored with placement on the US Tentative List for eventual nomination to the World Heritage List.
The Moravian settlement of Christiansfeld, Denmark, founded 30 years after Bethlehem, was inscribed on the World Heritage List.
Historic Moravian Bethlehem was designated a National Historic Landmark District, one of eight in Pennsylvania and about 200 in the United States.
The journey to international recognition begins.
Visit a World Heritage Site!
Top 10 Things to Know
What is World Heritage and what does inclusion on the UNESCO list mean for the Lehigh Valley and the City of Bethlehem? Here are the Top 10 things you need to know:
Learn MoreHistoric Moravian Bethlehem Story
Learn more about the unique and storied history of Historic Moravian Bethlehem. Our city, located in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, changed the course of our nation and its culture. We invite you to experience more about Bethlehem's rich and fascinating history.
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Resources & Links
Want to learn more about UNESCO, World Heritage, and sites in the United States and around the world? Find all you want to know right here!
Learn MoreWorld Heritage Frequently Asked Questions
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What is World Heritage?
World Heritage represents places on Earth having outstanding universal value for humanity and as such, have been inscribed on the World Heritage List to be protected for future generations to appreciate and enjoy. As of July 2023, the World Heritage List contains 1223 cultural, natural and mixed properties.
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What is UNESCO?
UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It is one of the specialized agencies of the United Nations which contributes to the building of peace, the reduction of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through the implementation of programmes in the field of education, natural and social sciences, culture, communication and information.
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What does it mean for a site to be inscribed on the World Heritage List?
Once a country joins the 1972 Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage and has sites inscribed on the World Heritage List, the resulting prestige often helps to raise awareness among the general public and the state authorities of heritage preservation. Greater awareness leads to a general rise in the level of the protection and conservation given to heritage properties. A country may also receive financial assistance from the World Heritage Fund and expert advice from the World Heritage Committee to support activities for the preservation of its sites.
