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Moravian Church Settlements–Bethlehem
This past summer Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites, along with partners including City of Bethlehem, Bethlehem Area Moravians, Central Moravian Church and Moravian University, achieved a longtime goal and dream as the Moravian Church Settlements–Bethlehem was added to the World Heritage List, a culmination of two decades of dedication and hard work focused on preserving the city’s rich history and having the influence of the Moravians recognized on the international stage.
Moravian Church Settlements–Bethlehem, along with Gracehill, Northern Ireland and Herrnhut, Germany, were added to the prestigious list at the World Heritage Committee Meeting in New Delhi, India, on July 26, 2024, and now join Christiansfeld, Denmark, (inscribed in 2015) as a single World Heritage site. The uniting of these four locations into one World Heritage site is designed to highlight both the outstanding universal value of these well-preserved Moravian communities, as well as the Moravian Church’s influence around the globe. The living culture traditions of the Moravians, including their timeless values of education, equality, innovation and spirituality, have helped shape their communities for centuries.
The Moravian Church Settlements–Bethlehem inscription became official on Oct. 17, 2024, when a group of federal and international dignitaries visited Bethlehem for a ceremony that officially recognized Moravian Church Settlements–Bethlehem as the 26th UNESCO World Heritage Site in the United States. The ceremony marked the culmination of a 20-year effort, with the Moravian Church Settlements–Bethlehem World Heritage Site standing out due to the fact that it is the United States’ first transnational inscription since it is linked with the sites in Denmark, Germany and the United Kingdom to highlight the influence of the Moravians around the world.
The Moravian Church Settlements–Bethlehem World Heritage site spans 10 acres and includes nine structures, four ruins and God’s Acre cemetery, all within the already designated Historic Moravian Bethlehem National Historic Landmark District.
World Heritage Designation Sites
Properties
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
World Heritage International Recognition of Transcription takes place in Bethlehem.
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:
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Historic 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!
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World 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 January 2025, the World Heritage List contains 1,223 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.
