The Newest UNESCO World Heritage Site Nominee Is In Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
THE WEATHER CHANNEL, MARCH 16 —Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, located on the eastern border of the state, was the American hub for the Moravian Church in the 18th century. The historic district of the city, now called the Historic Moravian Bethlehem District, is home to the oldest surviving Moravian buildings in the U.S.
The Moravian Church is one of the oldest Christian Protestant denominations, and dates back to the 15th century. Many Moravians left Germany for the American colonies starting in the 1730s, seeking religious freedom and missionary work. Bethlehem was the ideal relocation because of the region’s Quaker principles and religious tolerance, according to the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
