One Square Mile • One Dozen Firsts

One of the things I love most about the Moravian Museum is that it is an excellent example of the interaction between Bethlehem's rich history and the ongoing traditions in Bethlehem today. The museum is within the oldest building in Bethlehem (known as the Gemeinhaus or Community House), which has been a vital part of the community since the city was founded and continues to captivate visitors throughout the year. I love being able to share the rich history of Bethlehem with our museum visitors, and it is a really rewarding experience to talk with so many visitors who leave the museum with a new passion for our city's heritage.

We get a lot of visitors from the U.S. and from around the world, and visitors are always impressed by the history and ingenuity of the Moravian community that founded Bethlehem. For example, visitors are often surprised to hear that the small community of early Bethlehem established a large number of industries within a few years, including the first pumped water system for any town in America. It never ceases to surprise me how many visitors say at the end of the tour that they have a new interest in an aspect of our history that they did not know anything about before their visit.

Something visitors don't always know is that when they visit the Moravian Museum there are many historic buildings within walking distance that we also offer tours for, such as our Single Sisters' House, Nain-Schober House, and the Apothecary building. Our multi-site admission also includes our Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts, so there are a lot of places visitors can experience during their stay! We can schedule appointment tours of most of our sites throughout the week, so visitors who are not staying during the weekend can still experience one of our tours during their stay by contacting our Visitor Center in advance. The Visitor Center also has a useful guide book for purchase if interested in a self-guided exploration of the historic district.

On September 11, 1777, there was a battle fought at Brandywine. It was a huge defeat for the Americans, and as a result, Philadelphia became untenable. Bethlehem was the Continental Army Hospital, so many wounded men were shipped here and their generals also came to check on them. Additionally, the Continental Congress came to Bethlehem from Philadelphia on their way to York. And on the night of Sept 21, the Sun Inn became the epicenter of the entire American Revolution. The government was here, the Continental Congress was here and so were the generals. What’s really cool is that there was a proclamation signed right in this Great Room by the 14 members of the Continental Congress. John Hancock might have sat right where I’m standing. That’s why I am here.

In addition to the Continental Congress, there have been 5 United States Presidents who stayed here: George Washington, John Adams, John Quincy Adams, William Henry Harrison, and Benjamin Harrison. In this tiny little town, this building has housed some really great American people.

I have two tips for when someone visits
Tip 1: Come to the Sun Inn when the Tavern Inn is open, this way you can go upstairs and see the Great Room.
Tip 2: Don’t believe the story of the tunnels. Despite the 1902 book, Brother Albrecht’s Secret Chambers, the Sun Inn does not have any secret tunnels.

NMIH is a place for telling and learning from stories. Children want to know what work was like decades ago and our elders have a place to share their experiences, inspiring younger generations. I love hearing these engaging conversations happening in the museum!

Visitors are surprised to learn about the rich industrial history of the Lehigh Valley, where so many raw materials were harvested and sent on to usher in our nation’s industrial revolution. Iron and steel, textiles, and energy played an enormous role globally and all of this came right out of our own backyard!

Remember to talk to the docents! Many of our docents have worked in industry, engineering, and manufacturing and are happy to share their knowledge with museum visitors. You just might be sparking up a conversation with a research scientist, steelworker, inventor, or an industrial entrepreneur!

The ability to show history in a great, authentic setting.

I think what surprises visitors is that the forge generates 3000 degrees to make the metal pliable to shape any forged projects.

Watch “History Get Hammered”! Take a class and learn how to shape metal, make your own project to take home and enjoy learning more about history, metal forging and yourself!