Historic places in Bethlehem

11 historic buildings, sites and memorials in Bethlehem.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

See
1758 Sun Inn
The 1758 Sun Inn is a restored 18th-century inn that once hosted guests such as George Washington and Marquis de Lafayette. It has been fully restored and now offers guided tours, which provide a rich history of 1700s Bethlehem. It can also be rented and catered for private gatherings. The courtyard also hosts a summer concert series.
See
Colonial Industrial Quarter
This area contains a few of Bethlehem's early buildings, like the 1761 Tannery, 1762 Waterworks (a National Historic Landmark), the 1869 Luckenbach Mill, and the Miller's House Garden (an 1870 Victorian garden). The area is right along the Monocacy Creek, so it's a great place to take a walk or even fish, right downtown (if you have a license).
Free
See
Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts
An interior designer's dream come true, the Kemerer Museum is dedicated to the history of decorating. There are various rooms dedicated to periods in history, with textiles, china, paintings and more. The Victorian gardens on the ground provide a welcome spot to relax.
Thu-Sat 10AM-5PM, Sun noon-5PM
Drink
Keystone Pub
A pub remodeled from a historic inn. Monday night is Wing Night, featuring 40-cent wings. Good bar food. Great place for a drink.
11AM-2AM
See
Moravian Museum of Bethlehem
For those interested in learning a bit about the history of Bethlehem, or the Moravian people or faith, this should be a stop on your tour. It's housed in the oldest building in Bethlehem, the 1741 Gemeinhaus. It's only open on the weekends, however.
Fri-Sun noon-4PM
Do
Musikfest
Musikfest is an annual 10-day music festival that takes place in the beginning of August. Over a million people visit the festival every year. All of the hundreds of concerts, save the headlining acts, are free of charge, and take place at various "platzes" set up around the historic district. Past performers include Ray Charles, The Beach Boys, Lynyrd Skynyrd, George Clinton and Ludacris. The food is top-notch (if expensive) as well, with everything from fried Oreos to gyros, and there are activities for children as well. Check out the polka tent for the festival's only dance floor and the famous "Chicken Lady," a local legend.
Free
See
National Museum of Industrial History
A Smithsonian affiliate dedicated to preserving America's rich industrial heritage. Exhibits on steel-making and manufacturing.
Wed-Sat 10AM-5PM$12
Eat
The Cup at the Bethlehem Dairy Store
The Dairy Store, sometimes called "The Cup" is the hot spot for ice cream, with 80 years of history and over 25 flavors. Lines can get long in the summertime, but it's well-worth the wait.
$2-5
Do
Wind Creek Bethlehem
formerly Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem
A casino (established 2009) with 3,000 slot machines, 89 tables, a 300-room hotel (May 2011) and 200,000 square feet of retail space on the formerly-industrial South Side. Part of a larger complex which includes the Museum of Industrial History (opened mid-2016) and which, when completed, will have over 40 stores at The Shoppes at Sands, 6 restaurants, 2 night clubs, a cineplex, 46,000 square feet of convention space, 18 meeting rooms and a concert hall.
See Not mapped
Historic Bethlehem Walking Tours
Tours begin at the Visitor's Center and highlight the important historic sites.
Apr-Nov 24: Tue-Sun 2:30PM
See Not mapped
Old Bethlehem Walking Tour
Tours run Nov 26-Dec 30. Sights include 18th-century buildings and other historic sites.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Bethlehem (CC BY-SA 4.0).