Visit Us
Walk through history as we guide you to things to learn, places to discover, and events that help connect us to our rich heritage.
Help us to bring history to life!
Give back to your community and become a volunteer at Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites!
We offer a variety of short and long-term volunteer opportunities that will allow you to share your talents and join a vibrant community of like-minded people. See the opportunities below or contact us with your own volunteer project idea. Hours are flexible.
I have been a volunteer with Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites since December, 2014 after reading an article about their needing help with the Festival of Trees exhibit. Since then I have been a greeter and gallery watcher at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts for the special exhibitions as well as the yearly Festival of Trees. My most enjoyable experience is guiding visitors through the museum to see the beautiful Christmas decorations and trees which have a different theme each year. A side benefit for me is to spend time in a Victorian setting among beautiful artifacts and the company of other volunteers and staff.
For me, volunteering my time and talents is very rewarding. I get to meet new people and enjoy the festivals—all while helping HBMS preserve Bethlehem’s Moravian History – Georgia T.
Event Opportunities
Apple Days
Is fall your favorite time of year? Do you love the smell of freshly baked apple pie and cinnamon? Join us for Apple Days! We’re looking for volunteers to help set up and assist throughout the weekend, including in the hay bale maze, making scarecrows, serving sweet fall treats, and helping out in the apple brewery!
Turkey TrotÂ
Join us the day after Thanksgiving for the Historic Turkey Trot 5K & Fun Walk. We’re looking for volunteers to help with set up, bib pick-up, refreshments, race marking, and more throughout the race day.
Trees of Historic Bethlehem DecoratorÂ
Love the holiday season? Love decorating? Help us bring some cheer to The Christmas City. Join a dedicated crew of volunteers to decorate trees throughout our historic sites. All decorations are provided; you just bring the Christmas cheer and creativity!
Trees of Historic Bethlehem Guide
Share the joy of the holiday season! Volunteers lead guests to see the Trees of Historic Bethlehem exhibit offered from November to early January at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts and Moravian Museum of Bethlehem. Trees of Historic Bethlehem features a display of festive trees decorated by members of the Bethlehem Garden Club. Training and script provided.
Blueberry Festival
Do you like food, fun, and festivities? Join us for the sweetest festival of the Summer! We’re looking for volunteers to set up and help in many capacities throughout the weekend, including assisting with children’s activities, serving pie, helping with blueberry contests, and assisting in the tasting tent.
Rooms to View House and Garden Tour
Are you interested in the decorative arts? Do you enjoy house and garden tours? We’re looking for volunteers to set up and help the day go smoothly.
Longer-term volunteering opportunitiesÂ
Visitor Center Volunteer
The Visitor Center is often the first stop for our guests. Volunteers greet customers, answer questions about Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites tours and offerings, and provide visitors with information on the greater Lehigh Valley area, while assisting with day-to-day tasks that keep the shop running smoothly.
Museum Host
Donate your time to become a museum host. Engage museum guests while ensuring that the buildings, artifacts, and grounds are treated with care.Â
Docent/Tour Guides
Are you a museum enthusiast? Are you eager to learn and share more about Bethlehem’s culture and history? If so, this is the perfect fit for you! Volunteers interested in being trained as docents will undergo site-specific training to provide guests with engaging tours of the permanent and changing exhibits.
Kids’ Crafts Volunteer
Do you enjoy expressing your creativity and working with our younger visitors? If so, this is the perfect fit for you! Volunteers assist with kids’ crafts and activities during Free Sundays at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts and Moravian Museum of Bethlehem, held the first Sunday of most months.
Saturdays at Burnside
Want to spend more time in the great outdoors? Join us for our monthly program at Burnside, our very own Farm in the City during Saturdays at Burnside. Volunteers are needed the first Saturday of each month, April through October. Positions include docent, greeter, Summer Kitchen demonstrator, and kids’ activity volunteer.Â
Burnside Colonial GardenerÂ
Do you have a green thumb? Join the Colonial Gardeners at Burnside, and help with planting and tending this wonderful historical colonial garden. The garden is planted with heirloom seeds and plants and everything is grown organically, as would have been done in the colonial period. Plants, seeds, and compost are provided at no cost and gardeners share fresh produce from the garden.
Interested in joining an HBMS committee?
Volunteers who are interested in event planning and administration can become special committee liaisons.
Committee Members attend meetings and assist with the planning and implementation of Historic Bethlehem’s special events.
The following committees are currently seeking new members:
- Collections & Programming
- Marketing
- Festival (Blueberry Festival & Apple Days)
Become a volunteer today!
Complete the form below and a staff member will contact you. Under the age of 18? Complete the form, have it signed by a parent or guardian, and bring it with you to your first shift. Underage volunteers MUST have a complete form to volunteer.
