Historic Bethlehem

Bethlehem pulses with concerts, restaurants, arts, and all the local appeal of a college town and is known as the Christmas City. Yet it also sits in just the right spot for an easy drive to New York City, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. Don't take our word for it, national publications regularly list Bethlehem as one of the best communities to live in the U.S., including 2024 when Bethlehem was named one of the Top 100 Places to Live!

Moravian Church Settlements — Bethlehem now a World Heritage site

Above: Brethren's House, built in 1748, today houses the Moravian University Music Department.

On July 26, 2024 Moravian Church Settlements — Bethlehem; Gracehill, Northern Ireland/UK; and Herrnhut, Germany joined Christiansfeld, Denmark (already inscribed in 2015) as a single World Heritage site that represents the outstanding universal value of these historic settlements and the worldwide influence of the Moravian Church.

The City of Bethlehem, Moravian University, Bethlehem Area Moravians, Central Moravian Church, Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites, and Northampton County partnered with one another to help Moravian Church Settlements — Bethlehem join the other three Moravian Settlements and earn World Heritage designation after more than two decades of dedicated work.

Moravian University is just the second university in the United States to be part of a UNESCO World Heritage designation site and only the eighth university in the world to have this very prestigious recognition.

Moravian Church Settlements — Bethlehem was established in 1741 near the confluence of the Monocacy Creek and Lehigh River to house a congregation of Moravian Church immigrants from Europe and to support missionary outreach to Native Americans. This was funded by a General Economy concentrated in the community’s Colonial Industrial Quarter and supplemented by light manufacturing in the Choir Houses. 

Moravian Church Settlements — Bethlehem is the 26th World Heritage site in the United States and only the third in Pennsylvania.

Located in the heart of downtown Bethlehem, the site spans 10 acres. It includes nine structures, four ruins, and God’s Acre cemetery, all within the already designated Historic Moravian Bethlehem National Historic Landmark District — one of only eight Landmark Districts in Pennsylvania and one of just over 200 in the nation.  

Other celebrated World Heritage Sites in the United States include iconic landmarks like the Grand Canyon and the Statue of Liberty. Globally, our World Heritage site in Bethlehem is now in the same prestigious company as the Great Wall of China and the Pyramids of Egypt.

Moravian Church Settlements — Bethlehem

The following locations in Bethlehem’s historic Moravian Church settlements are included in UNESCO’s World Heritage Site designation:

• 1741 Gemeinhaus
• 1746-49 Bell House
• 1744 First Single Brethren’s House, later Single Sisters’ House
• 1752 Single Sisters’ House
• 1772 Single Sisters’ House
• 1751 Old Chapel
• 1748 Second Single Brethren’s House
• 1768 Widows’ House
• 1803-06 Central Moravian Church
• God’s Acre cemetery
• Common Grounds
• Colonial Industrial Quarter
• 1761 Tannery
• 1762 Waterworks

To learn more, visit moravianchurchsettlements.org.

A Small City with a Big Heart

Moravian’s two campuses book end a mile-stretch of Bethlehem’s Main Street, including a so-adorable-it-hurts block of Historic Bethlehem where well-priced vintage stores, art galleries, and local olive oil and chocolate purveyors share the street with inns and buildings that have roots as deep as our country’s humble beginning.

Main Street is a huge reason why over 75,000 people call Bethlehem home—hopefully you will, too. While you're on Main Street, visit America's oldest continuously operating book seller, the Moravian Book Shop, which also happens to be the student bookstore for Moravian University. 

Our Favorite Events

Bethlehem is a constantly-evolving blend of culture and commerce, progress and preservation. What does that mean for you? There’s always something to do. Don't miss these festivals, street fairs, and concerts throughout the year: 

• Musikfest: A free10-day music festival drawing a million visitors each August, named the Best Music Festival in North America by USA Today
• Christmas Vespers: The university's annual service at Central Moravian Church in December
• Celtic Classic: A celebration of Celtic heritage with musical, food, and traditional competitions in athletics, piping, and dance.
• Blueberry Festival: Sample sweet treats like blueberry pies, coffee cake, streusel, or pierogies, while listening to live music and watching the pet parade
• PEEPSFEST: Annual two-day New Year’s Eve festival celebrating the fun and excitement of the PEEPS® Brand at the iconic SteelStacks

Explore the Lehigh Valley

Need a break from Bethlehem? We’re right between Allentown and Easton. Together, we form the Lehigh Valley metropolitan area, home to nearly three-quarters of a million people and eight colleges and universities. In Easton you'll find the Easton Public Market and a lots of new restaurants, bars, and stores that all make for a great afternoon or evening. The Phillies Triple A team, the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs are close by and the Flyers AHL team, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms are a 10-minute drive away in Allentown. Like to hit the slopes? You're in luck because Blue Mountain Resort, Camelback and Jack Frost Big Boulder are just a short drive from campus.