The Moravian settlements in Historic Bethlehem, featured in Preservation Magazine, are a community that was founded in the 1700s.
The grounds of Historic Moravian Bethlehem and Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites feature more original structures than those at Colonial Williamsburg. In fact, the 1741 Gemeinhaus is believed to be the largest 18th-century log structure in continuous use in the United States.
In 2024, Moravian Church Settlements — Bethlehem earned World Heritage designation due to the outstanding universal value of these historic settlements and the worldwide influence of the Moravian Church.
Historic Moravian Bethlehem’s footprint is 10 acres of the original 18th-century Moravian settlement that served as the center of Moravian activities in America. The region is recognized as a National Historic Landmark District, one of eight in Pennsylvania and about 200 in the United States, and is USA's newest UNESCO World Heritage Site. The designation includes historic Moravian church settlements here in Bethlehem, along with Herrnhut, Germany, and Gracehill, Northern Ireland/United Kingdom.
Historic Bethlehem has also been recognized nationally, receiving the USA Today 10 Best Readers' Choice Award for Best Main Street, celebrating its vibrant downtown and preserved charm.
More than 20 historic sites are preserved and maintained within the community including:
Today, visitors can get a glimpse of what life was like as a member of the Moravian community through a variety of guided tours led by docents in period 1700s-era Moravian dress. The Moravians believed that people of all races, genders, and ethnicities should receive the same education and health care—a mindset that was quite radical for the times. Europeans, African Americans, and Native Americans lived, worked, worshipped, and went to school together, and then were buried side by side right in this historic community.
In addition to year-round offerings, a number of special tours are available throughout the year including the Death & Dying Cemetery Tours, holiday tours including the Christmas City Stroll and Bethlehem by Night bus tour, and more.
Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites is a not-for-profit institution that brings to life three centuries of American history. The story of Historic Moravian Bethlehem follows a community rich with European influence as it makes its mark on colonial America and grows into a city embracing tradition and life. Learn more about the sites and available tours at HistoricBethlehem.org.