Bethlehem PennsylvaniaATTRACTIONS & THINGS TO DO
Listed below are the best attractions and things to do near Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
1. SteelStacks
ARTS AND CULTURE CAMPUS
SteelStacks is a ten-acre campus in Bethlehem dedicated to arts, culture, family events, community celebrations, education and fun. The campus is dramatically positioned in the shadow of the former Bethlehem Steel blast furnaces, offering visitors a unique blend of industrial heritage and contemporary entertainment.
2. Hoover Mason Trestle
HISTORIC INDUSTRIAL WALKWAY
The Hoover Mason Trestle is an elevated pedestrian walkway that offers dramatic views of the behemoth blast furnaces towering over SteelStacks. As visitors stroll along the former narrow-gauge railway, they can appreciate this historic industrial area from a whole new perspective while learning about Bethlehem's steelmaking past.
3. National Museum of Industrial History
AMERICA'S MANUFACTURING HERITAGE
The National Museum of Industrial History showcases more than 200 industrial artifacts in a century-old Bethlehem Steel electrical repair shop. This Smithsonian affiliate offers carefully curated exhibits that provide visitors with a fascinating glimpse into America's rich manufacturing heritage and Bethlehem's industrial past.
4. Christkindlmarkt
FESTIVE HOLIDAY MARKET
Christkindlmarkt is a holiday market featuring a festive Nutcracker section, live music, and unique crafts set in a historic steel plant. The venue provides a magical seasonal ambiance that has made Bethlehem famous as the 'Christmas City,' drawing visitors from across the region to experience its old-world charm.
5. Wind Creek Event Center
ENTERTAINMENT AND GAMING
Wind Creek Bethlehem (formerly Sands Bethlehem) offers visitors a premier entertainment destination with gaming, dining, and live performances. Located on the site of the former Bethlehem Steel plant, this modern complex provides a stark contrast to the city's historic attractions while maintaining connections to its industrial heritage.
6. Colonial Industrial Quarter
EARLY AMERICAN INDUSTRY
The Colonial Industrial Quarter allows visitors to step back in time to explore an area once buzzing with production when Historic Bethlehem's early settlers arrived in the 1700s. Today, guests can see the original grist miller's house and ruins of the butchery, pottery building, oil mill, and more, providing insight into early American industrial innovation.
7. Godfrey Daniels
LEGENDARY MUSIC VENUE
Godfrey Daniels is an iconic live music venue that has been operating in Bethlehem since 1976. This intimate listening room has become a beloved destination for folk, bluegrass, acoustic blues, and old-time music, as well as special storytelling sessions that showcase the rich cultural heritage of the region.
8. Captured LV Escape Room
INTERACTIVE PUZZLE ADVENTURE
Captured LV Escape Room challenges visitors to crack codes and solve puzzles in an exciting team-based adventure. Groups of two to ten players embark on a one-hour expedition of solving puzzles, unearthing secrets, and finding keys to help them escape before time runs out, making for a thrilling interactive experience in Bethlehem.
9. Historic Moravian District
WORLD HERITAGE SITE
The Historic Moravian District became the 26th World Heritage site in the United States and the first Transnational Serial Nomination put forth by the United States. Located in the heart of Historic Downtown Bethlehem, the site spans 10 acres and includes nine historic structures, four ruins, and God's Acre Cemetery, offering visitors a compelling authentic colonial experience.
10. Moravian Book Shop
AMERICA'S OLDEST BOOKSTORE
The Moravian Book Shop stands as one of the oldest continuously operating bookstores in the world, established in 1745. Visitors can browse through a carefully curated selection of books while enjoying the historic atmosphere of this cultural landmark that has been serving the Bethlehem community for nearly three centuries.
11. Old Bethlehem Walking Tour
HISTORICAL GUIDED EXPERIENCE
The Old Bethlehem Walking Tour takes visitors through the charming streets of historic Bethlehem to discover its rich colonial heritage. Knowledgeable guides share stories of the city's founding by Moravian settlers and point out architectural treasures along the way, bringing the past to life as tourists stroll through this USA Today named Top 10 Main Street.
12. Birthplace of Industry Walking Tour
INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION EXPLORATION
The Birthplace of Industry Walking Tour explores Bethlehem's pivotal role in America's industrial development from the 1740s through the canal system's arrival in 1829. Visitors learn how this small Moravian settlement became an industrial powerhouse that helped shape the nation's manufacturing landscape, with stops at key historic sites that showcase this remarkable transformation.
13. God's Acre Cemetery
HISTORIC MORAVIAN BURIAL GROUND
God's Acre Cemetery serves as the final resting place for many of Bethlehem's founding Moravian settlers dating back to the 18th century. The distinctive flat gravestones arranged chronologically by death date rather than by family reflect the Moravian belief in equality, offering visitors a peaceful place to contemplate Bethlehem's unique religious heritage.
14. Moravian Museum
COLONIAL RELIGIOUS HERITAGE
The Moravian Museum showcases the history and culture of the Moravian settlers who founded Bethlehem in 1741. Housed in a historic building from the colonial era, the museum displays authentic artifacts and provides in-depth information about the religious community's traditions, craftsmanship, and significant contributions to early American life.
15. Historic Main Street
SHOPPING AND DINING DISTRICT
Historic Main Street in Bethlehem offers a charming blend of boutique shops, restaurants, and historic architecture recognized by USA Today as a Top 10 Main Street. Visitors can explore unique local businesses housed in beautifully preserved buildings while enjoying the friendly atmosphere of this walkable downtown district that seamlessly blends the past and present.