Historic Moravian Bethlehem Historic District, National Historic Landmark District in Bethlehem, United States
Historic Moravian Bethlehem Historic District covers a discontinuous 14.7-acre area of central Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, centred on the Moravian Museum at Main and West Church Streets east of Monocacy Creek. Its connected stone buildings include the 1744-1772 Single Sisters' House, the 1746 Bell House and the 1751 Old Chapel; near the creek stand the 1761 Tannery and the Bethlehem Waterworks. The district also takes in the 1803-06 Central Moravian Church, the God's Acre burial ground and the 1758-60 Sun Inn on Main Street.
The settlement was founded in 1741 by Moravian pilgrims who established a spiritual community model reflected in how the buildings were arranged. The district grew into an important religious and economic center in Pennsylvania and kept its historical character across centuries.
God's Acre is the Moravians' burial ground, where members were interred in uniform rows without regard to rank. The cemetery lies within the district alongside the 1803–06 Central Moravian Church. Its plain stones and shared layout show the community's principle of equality in death.
The area spreads across several city blocks downtown and can be explored on foot, with most structures visible from various street viewpoints. You can move through the grounds at your own pace and visit multiple buildings, with some interpreted through museum staff or information signs.
In 2024, at the 46th World Heritage Committee session, the district became a World Heritage Site together with Moravian church settlements in Denmark, Germany and the United Kingdom. It had been on the U.S. Tentative List since 2016. The Bethlehem district covers 14.7 acres (5.9 ha) of central Bethlehem.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,036 contributors worldwide.