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Paul S. Bartholomew
by Mary Beth Schwartz
The shepherds went there upon receiving a message from the angel of the Lord. The Magi followed the star in the East to get there to present gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And here in Pennsylvania, you can follow the star on South Mountain to celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus at Christmas City USA, the Lehigh Valley City of Bethlehem.
Bethlehem’s history begins with the self-sufficient community of the Moravians. “On Christmas Eve 1741, a small group of Moravians joined in a stable, holding candles, singing Not Jerusalem, Lowly Bethlehem. On that evening, Bethlehem was christened and founded. The Moravians built their community on a 500-acre tract of land. By 1747, the Moravians had 35 crafts, trades, and industries operating—the largest concentration of pre-Industrial Revolution trades in the American Colonies. The Moravians eventually acquired over 4,000 acres, which would later become the City of Bethlehem,” says Charlene Donchez Mowers, President of Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites.
The mission of Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites is to bring 300 years of history to life “by educating the public about Bethlehem’s rich heritage, by preserving historic sites, and by collecting, preserving, and exhibiting historical and artistic objects that can be used to tell the stories of Bethlehem’s people.”
Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites preserves 20 historic buildings and sites. In 2012, Historic Moravian Bethlehem was named a National Historic Landmark District. First on the list is the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem. “Several historic sites are encompassed in this museum. It includes the 1741 Gemeinhaus, which is the oldest building in Bethlehem. It is believed to be the largest 18th-century log structure in the country. The Gemeinhaus housed the entire Moravian community for several years. It is a National Historic Landmark. Along with the Gemeinhaus, there is the 1758/1765 Nain-Schober House; the 1752 Apothecary; and the recently renovated 1744/1752 Single Sisters’ House,” says Donchez Mowers.
Another part of Historic Moravian Bethlehem is the Colonial Industrial Quarter. This 10-acre site is considered to be America’s earliest industrial park. “Here visitors can see the 1761 Tannery; and the reconstructed 1750 Smithy, where we feature weekly blacksmithing demonstrations. We have archeological remains of the mid-1700s pottery, dye house, butchery, and oil mill. The 1762 Waterworks is a National Historic Landmark, and was America’s first pumped municipal water system. The Colonial Quarter also has the reconstructed 1750s Springhouse; 1869 Luckenbach Mill Learning Center; and the 1780/1830 Miller’s House,” says Donchez Mowers.
North of the Colonial Industrial Quarter is the 1748/1848 Burnside Plantation. On the National Register of Historic Places, this farm in the city features a farmhouse, summer kitchen, corncrib, wagon shed, gardens, apple orchard, fields, and bank barns. It has the only operating high horsepower wheel in the country.
For those who appreciate design elements, there is the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts. It is the only museum in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania dedicated to the decorative arts. The museum is housed in three interconnected homes from the mid-1800s.
“In the heart of the Main Street shopping and restaurant district sits the 1810 Goundie House. This was the first brick residence in the Federal architectural style, and today houses changing exhibits highlighting the history of our city. The Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites Visitor Center and Museum Store is housed in the 1830s Schropp Shop, a dry goods store built by Goundie for his daughter and son-in-law. At our visitor center, you can purchase tickets for walking tours, pick up maps, and buy homemade Moravian Christmas sugar cookies and Moravian stars,” says Donchez Mowers.
Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites offers a variety of tours, exhibits, and programs during the Christmas season. From November 15 through January 4, there is Trees of Christmas Past. During this time period, the historic sites will feature decorated trees, nativity scenes, festive decorations, and live music. Visitors to Moravian Bethlehem can select from several tours. There are historic walking tours led by docents in period costume. Or, how about the Christmas City Stroll candlelight walking tour? You can take a horse-drawn carriage ride through Bethlehem, taking in the lampposts, white lights, Historic Hotel Bethlehem, Restaurant Row, and Colonial and Victorian architecture. The Bethlehem By Night Bus Tour includes a stop at the famous Moravian star atop South Mountain.
“The Moravian star is based on the Christmas story that the wise men were led to Bethlehem by a star. This is part of our Christmas City USA designation, which Bethlehem received in 1937. The idea came about to illuminate a star on South Mountain overlooking the city. The star was built in the late 1930s. It shines year round, and is visible for almost 20 miles north of here. Everyone looks to see the star when they come to Bethlehem,” says Donchez Mowers.
A major Christmas event for Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites is the Holiday Greens and Crafts Sale at Burnside Plantation. Held on December 6 and 7, the sale features fresh handmade greens, such as bouquets, swags, garlands, and wreaths. Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $5. Visitors will also like the new Doors of Bethlehem event. Starting on December 1 through the 23, the Goundie House’s front door will be opened every night at 5:30 p.m. A different surprise is scheduled each night. The idea is to create Bethlehem’s Live Advent Calendar.
On the other side of Historic Moravian Bethlehem lies the SouthSide Arts District, once home to Bethlehem Steel Corporation and its workers. Instrumental in serving the arts and businesses of the south side of Bethlehem is the Downtown Bethlehem Association, a council of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce. “We generate business for downtown members by hosting events that bring people here, with the hopes that they will learn what the area is all about,” says Tim Brooks, Downtown Bethlehem Association Manager.
“We have our monthly First Friday celebration. Visitors can check out art galleries, boutiques, salons, and shops, while enjoying food and wine, live music, and specials. On Wednesday nights, we have Bethlehem After Dark. A number of downtown retailers extend their hours for shopping and dining. With the Holiday Cocktail Trail on November 22, we sell passports online for downtown businesses that will be giving out samples of holiday cocktails. You receive a commemorative glass, as well as gourmet bites along the way. This year we hope to have some non-alcoholic selections. Also on November 22 is the Doors and Windows of Bethlehem. Businesses decorate according to a specific theme, and it becomes a scavenger hunt/guessing game contest for participants,” says Brooks.
A major holiday event for Downtown Bethlehem Association is Christmas City Village. Held November 21 through December 23, this authentic German Weihnachtsmarkt is located in the center of Bethlehem’s downtown shopping district along Main Street. “In this outdoor market, we have over 30 vendors that set up their wares in festively decorated wooden huts. Shoppers have a selection of different gifts, plus they can enjoy bratwurst with sauerkraut or hot mulled wine from Germany,” says Brooks.
Also key to the SouthSide Arts District of Bethlehem is ArtsQuest. “Our focus is on affording our community access to arts that otherwise might not be available to the community, while supporting regional artists and cultural traditions,” says Mark Demko, ArtsQuest Director of Public Relations. ArtsQuest is housed at Steel Stacks with Sands Casino Resort, the campus that once housed Bethlehem Steel Corporation. ArtsQuest is known for their festivals, including the famous 10-day Musikfest in August, and Christkindlmarkt, November 20 through December 21.
“Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem is an arts and crafts market modeled after Europe’s open-air holiday marketplaces. Set under large heated tends, this marketplace has vendors that offer everything from the edible to the wearable, and everything in between, including Christmas ornaments, nutcrackers, and artwork. There is plenty of entertainment for the kids, including visits with St. Nick. We have an outdoor courtyard with ice sculpting and glassblowing. Today, Christkindlmarkt is celebrated at ArtsQuest’s SteelStacks campus during the five weekends prior to Christmas, attracting more than 60,000 guests from dozens of states and foreign countries annually,” says Demko.
ArtsQuest also has the annual PEEPSFEST. Celebrating the PEEPS candy made in Bethlehem, the two-day family festival features live music, arts and crafts, and lots of PEEPS-themed programming. Held December 30-31, the festival ends with a PEEP drop and fireworks to bring in the New Year.
“Bethlehem is the Christmas City. If you haven’t gone down Main Street during the Christmas season, then you haven’t truly experienced Christmas. You see horse-drawn carriages going up and down the streets. There is the Moravian Book Shop, which is the oldest continually run bookshop in the world. Christmas music is piped in. Almost every house has a glass star on its porch. It brings you back to the holiday movies you enjoy during childhood,” says George Wacker, Communications Manager for Discover Lehigh Valley.
“Bethlehem is a vibrant city with two downtowns, a diverse economy, and so many things to see and do. We are the central attraction in the Lehigh Valley. We are home to Lehigh University and Moravian College, shops, restaurants, and galleries. It is a great place to live, work, and visit, especially at Christmas,” says Charlene Donchez Mowers, President of Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites.
For more information on Christmas City USA, consult the following contact list, and Merry Christmas!
ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks
101 Founders Way
Bethlehem, PA 18015
610-332-1300
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Discover Lehigh Valley
840 Hamilton Street
Suite 200
Allentown, PA 18101
610-882-9200
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Downtown Bethlehem Association
1 East Broad Street
Suite 560
Bethlehem, PA 18018
610-739-1775
www.downtownbethlehemassociation.com
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Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites
505 Main Street
Bethlehem, PA 18018
800-360-TOUR
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