Old Bethlehem Walking Tour

Old Bethlehem Walking Tour

Discover the story of Bethlehem’s founding and the Moravian community that build one of colonial America’s most advanced and influential towns.

This immersive walking tour covers 285 years of history, beginning in 1741 when Moravian settlers arrived in the area and built a community rooted in faith, craftsmanship and innovation.

On this 90-minute journey, attendees stroll the Historic Moravian Bethlehem National Historic Landmark District and walk the same paths as Moravian settlers. You’ll explore the Moravian Church Settlements–Bethlehem World Heritage site while briefly visiting the 1741 Gemeinhaus, the oldest building in the city, and stopping outside buildings such as the 1748 Single Brethren’s House, 1744/52 Single Sister’s House and the 1768 Widows’ House. Along the way, you’ll learn how Bethlehem’s earliest residents built a thriving town whose legacy still shapes the region today.

From First House to Landmark

The initial structure built in Bethlehem was located at the site where the iconic Historic Hotel Bethlehem now stands. Known as the First House, this log structure erected in 1741 served as shelter for the 14 original settlers and their animals, as was the European custom of the time.

Suggested Itineraries Which Include the Old Bethlehem Walking Tour

For the History-by-Day, Spirits-by-Night Traveler – Offered Saturdays

Explore the same streets Bethlehem’s first settlers did in the afternoon, then trade the history lecture for a pub tour once the sun goes down – complete with stories of mysteries and paranormal activity plus free tastings and a commemorative glass at the 1758 Sun Inn. Perfect for filling a full day downtown!

Suggested itinerary:

• 1:00 PM: Old Bethlehem Walking Tour – 90 minutes
• 2:30-3:00 PM: Free time on Main Street
• 3:00 PM: Spirited Tales Pub Tour – 90-120 minutes

For the Fall Weekend Guest – Offered Friday, Saturdays & Sundays

Start with 285 years of Bethlehem’s founding story in daylight, then return to the same Colonial Industrial Quarter after dusk for tales of unsolved murders and eerie premonitions at the 1750 Smithy, 1762 Waterworks, and 1761 Tannery for a full day downtown.

Suggested itinerary:

• 1:00 PM: Old Bethlehem Walking Tour – 90 minutes
• 2:30-5:00 PM: Dinner & Free time on Main Street
• 5:00 PM: Mystery & History 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

For the Revolutionary War Buff – Offered Sundays

Follow Bethlehem’s community from its earliest days into the pressures of a war it never chose. Guests see the 1762 Waterworks and hear how the Second Single Brethren’s House became a Continental Army hospital, caring for more than 400 sick and wounded soldiers, including the Marquis de Lafayette.

Suggested itinerary:

• 1:00 PM: Old Bethlehem Walking Tour – 90 minutes
• 2:30-3:00 PM: Free time on Main Street
• 3:00 PM: Bethlehem & The Revolution Tour – 90 minutes

For the Story Collector – Offered Fridays

God’s Acre hold more than headstones – it hold stories. This pairing follows the Old Bethlehem Walking Tour’s account of the town’s history into the individual tales uncovered among the graves at Bethlehem’s oldest cemetery.

Suggested itinerary:

• 1:00 PM: Old Bethlehem Walking Tour – 90 minutes
• 2:30-3:00 PM: Free time on Main Street
• 3:00 PM: Cemetery Tour: Death & Dying Walking Tour – 90 minutes

Walking Tour Accessiblity

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. Tours typically runs about 90 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?

Tours are typically around 90 minutes. This is around 90 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.