Branching Out: Moravian Museum Admission & Tour of Nearby Historic Sites
Discover Bethlehem's rich history by visiting the Moravian Museum in the 1741 Gemeinhaus, the oldest building in the city, and touring the city's nearby historic buildings.
Branching Out: Moravian Museum Admission & Tour of Nearby Historic Sites
Includes Admission to the Moravian Museum; Tour departs at noon and 2:30 PM (starting March 19)
Want a great overview of Historic Bethlehem’s early history and the influence the Moravians had in areas such as education, medicine and outreach to Indigenous Peoples? Looking to expand upon your visit to the Moravian Museum in the 1741 Gemeinhaus, the oldest building in the city? This tour is the perfect option!
You’ll visit the Single Sisters’ House, part of the Moravian Church Settlements–Bethlehem World Heritage Site; the 1752 Apothecary, which until its closing in the 1950s was the oldest pharmacy in continuous operation in the United States; and the Nain-Schober House, the only extant 18th-century building built by and lived in by Indigenous Peoples in Eastern Pennsylvania.
This tour is offered twice daily, departing from the Moravian Museum at noon and 2:30 PM every day the museum is open. All three locations are within easy walking distance of the museum.
Tour Details
Tour length: 45 minutes
Included: Admission to the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem & a Tour of the Single Sisters’ House, 1752 Apothecary, and Nain-Schober House.
Suggested Itineraries Which Include the Branching Out Tour
For the Bucket List Traveler – Offered Thursdays – Mondays
Walk the core of the only transnational World Heritage Site in the United States – from the 1741 Gemeinhaus to God’s Acre cemetery and Old Chapel and Central Moravian Church, plus the Single Sisters’ House, the 1752 Apothecary, and the Nain-Schober House. Two tours, one unbroken thread through three centuries of Moravian life.
Suggested itinerary:
- 11:00 AM: Tour of the 1741 Gemeinhaus (included in your tickets) – 45-60 minutes
- 12:00 PM: Branching Out: Moravian Museum Admission & Tour of Nearby Historic Sites – 45 minutes
- 12:45-2:00 PM: Lunch & Free time on Main Street
- 2:00 PM: World Heritage Tour – 90 minutes
For the Craft & Trade Enthusiast – Offered Saturdays & Sundays
An 18-foot waterwheel still turning. A blacksmith’s anvil still ringing. A pharmacy that operated longer than many countries have existed. This pairing connects the progressive roots of a 280-year-old community to the values shaping conversations today.
Suggested itinerary offered Saturdays & Sundays:
- 1:00 PM: Tour of the 1741 Gemeinhaus (included in your tickets) – 45-60 minutes
- 2:30 PM: Branching Out: Moravian Museum Admission & Tour of Nearby Historic Sites – 45 minutes
- 3:15 – 4:00 PM: Walk to the Colonial Industrial Quarter – approximately 10 minutes
- 4:00 PM: Birthplace of Industry Walking Tour – 90 minutes
For Those Wanting to “See It All” – Offered Saturdays & Sundays
One full day, the whole story. Wander from the quiet courtyards where Bethlehem’s earliest residents lived and worshipped, through the halls where faith took root and community was built, and into the industrial quarter where that same community turned its hands to trade – water still turning the wheel, the anvil still ringing. It’s Bethlehem’s entire arc, from first prayer to first industry, in a single day.
Suggested itinerary:
- 11:00 AM: Tour of the 1741 Gemeinhaus (included in your tickets) – 45-60 minutes
- 12:00 PM: Branching Out: Moravian Museum Admission & Tour of Nearby Historic Sites – 45 minutes
- 12:45-2:00 PM: Lunch & Free time on Main Street
- 2:00 PM: World Heritage Tour – 90 minutes
- 3:30 – 4:00 PM: Walk to the Colonial Industrial Quarter – approximately 10 minutes
- 4:00 PM: Birthplace of Industry Walking Tour – 90 minutes
For the Legacy & Meaning Seeker – offered Fridays
A slower-paced afternoon for guests who’d rather wander than rush – from the Single Sisters’ House and the 1752 Apothecary to the quiet rows of God’s Acre, Bethlehem’s oldest cemetery, where a costumed guide shares how a colonial community organized daily life – medicine, residences, neighbors – and how it marked loss, down to specific customs like the Death Tray once used to announce a death.
Suggested itinerary offered Fridays:
- 12:00 PM: Branching Out: Moravian Museum Admission & Tour of Nearby Historic Sites – 45 minutes
- 12:45-3:00 PM: Lunch & Free time on Main Street
- 3:00 PM: Cemetery Tour: Death & Dying Walking Tour – 90 minutes
For the Community & Culture Educator – offered Thursdays – Mondays
This pairing checks several curriculum boxes at once: early Bethlehem community life, early women’s education, the history of medicine, Indigenous history in colonial Pennsylvania, and colonial settlement planning – all within a short walk of each other.
Suggested itinerary:
- 11:00 AM: Tour of the 1741 Gemeinhaus (included in your tickets) – 45-60 minutes
- 12:00 PM: Branching Out: Moravian Museum Admission & Tour of Nearby Historic Sites – 45 minutes
- 12:45-1:00 PM: Walk to the Goundie House Welcome Center – approximately 10 minutes
- 1:00 PM: Old Bethlehem Walking Tour – 90 minutes
Walking Tour Accessibility
Historic Bethlehem’s guided walking tours take you through the heart of Bethlehem’s National Historic Landmark District – the same grounds where history actually happened. This tour typically runs about 45 minutes at a comfortable walking pace, moving along brick and paved sidewalks, a few gentle hills, and some sloped or possibly grassy stretches between stops. It’s part of what makes the experience feel real rather than staged.
If you have questions about a specific tour, or want help planning your visit, call the Historic Bethlehem Heritage Concierge Service at 1-800-360-TOUR (8687). We’re happy to walk through the details with you and find the right fit.
What is the typical pace of the tours?
The tour is typically around 45 minutes. This is around 45 minutes of walking and standing, with stops along the way to take in the sights and stories. Seating is available at only a few points along the route.
What is the terrain?
The terrain is a mix of brick and paved sidewalks, with some uneven, sloped, or grassy sections. Comfortable, closed-toe shoes are highly recommended.
Are there inclines or slopes on these tours?
Most routes are gently sloped. The Bethlehem and the Revolution, Birthplace of Industry, and Mystery & History Tours include a steeper paved incline between the Historic District and the Colonial Industrial Quarter. It’s a great chance to see the landscape that shaped the city’s industry.
Are there stairs on the tours?
The Grist Miller’s House, 1741 Gemeinhaus, and the Single Sisters’ House are original 18th-century buildings without elevators, so there is a flight or two of steeper historic stairs. Guests on the Branching Out Tour, which includes the Gemeinhaus and the Single Sisters’ House, and the Birthplace of Industry Tour, which includes the Grist Miller’s House, are welcome to remain on the main floor. Our guides are happy to describe what is on the other floors, and Branching Out Tour attendees can watch a video at the Gemeinhaus showing what they would see on the second floor of the building.
Are the tours wheelchair and mobility device friendly?
Many outdoor sections of our tour routes are navigable with a manual or power wheelchair. Some brick and sloped areas may be more challenging for certain devices, and we’re glad to help you find the route that works best.
