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.
What Our Visitors Have to Say
“This was one of the best tours we’ve ever taken, and we have taken a fair number of tours! Mr. Moyer was excellent, and I can’t think of anything that would improve the tour. We will be back for more. Thank you!”
“Interaction with the guide was exceptional. He really enjoyed every person’s questions and answered them in an appropriate amount of detail. I have been on an extensive number of tours all over this country and this tour certainly ranks in the top 10% in terms of our guide’s knowledge, enthusiasm, and interaction with his group.”
World Heritage Tour
The World Heritage Tour explore the approximately two-square-block area of historic downtown Bethlehem that served as the center of the early Moravian community. Presented collaboratively by Central Moravian Church and Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites, the tour takes visitors inside some of Bethlehem’s most significant historic buildings while sharing the history, architecture and living traditions that have endured here for nearly three centuries.
This comprehensive, 90-minute tour of the Moravian Church Settlements – Bethlehem World Heritage Site begins at the 1741 Gemeinhaus, home of the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem and the only surviving 18th-century Moravian Gemeinhaus currently in use in the world. Visitors will step inside the 1751 Old Chapel and explore the Bell House Courtyard while learning about the 1746-1749 Bell House, the First Single Brethren’s House/Single Sisters’ House and the 1768 Widows’ House.
The tour also includes a walk through God’s Acre, the final resting place of Moravians from 1742-1911, as well as a look at additional World Heritage buildings and sites along Church Street, Main Street and in the Colonial Industrial Quarter, including the 1748 Second Single Brethren’s House, 1761 Tannery and 1762 Waterworks.
The experience concludes as you step inside the 1803-1806 Central Moravian Church Sanctuary. In this beautiful and historic space, guests will learn how Central Moravian Church continues to serve an active congregation while preserving Moravian traditions that have endured for nearly three centuries.
After your tour concludes, you are invited to return to the Moravian Complex for a more in-depth tour of the Moravian Museum; on days that the museum closes at 4 PM, you are able to view the museum prior to the tour.
Note: This tour requires significant walking, the path may include slight inclines and occasionally uneven pavement. If you or your group need to request any accommodations for this tour please call us ahead of time at 1-800-360-TOUR to make this request.
Please note that the Old Chapel is unavailable for the tours on 9/12 and 10/3.
I’ve lived in this area my entire life and I learned more about the Moravians and their influence on the area than I had ever learned or heard about before.
Dawn T., World Heritage Tour Attendee
Suggested Itineraries Which Include the World Heritage 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 Living Legacy Explorer – Offered Saturdays & Sundays
Begin among the buildings where the earliest settlers gathered, prayed, and laid the groundwork for a community built to last, then follow that legacy into the quarter where it took on a new form – hands at work, machinery humming, trade taking hold. Faith and industry, side by side, in one unhurried walk.
Suggested itinerary:
- 1:00 PM: Tour of the 1741 Gemeinhaus (included in your tickets) – 45-60 minutes
- 2:00 PM: World Heritage Tour – 90 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
New Audio System Enhances Your Experience
We’re raising the bar for guided tours with the addition of the Vox Group Tour Guide System. This easy-to-use wireless tech delivers crystal-clear audio, so guests catch every word – no matter the crowd or setting. Each visitor gets a lightweight receiver and comfortable headset, making every tour more immersive, informative, and enjoyable.
About Moravian Church Settlements – Bethlehem
Inscribed on the World Heritage list in July 2024, Moravian Church Settlements – Bethlehem is approximately 10 acres in size and includes nine buildings, four ruins and God’s Acre cemetery. Moravian Church Settlements – Bethlehem is joined with the Moravian Settlements in Christiansfeld, Denmark; Gracehill, Northern Ireland; and Herrnhut, Germany as single World Heritage site, making it the United States’ only transnational World Heritage site. The uniting of these four locations into a single World Heritage site is designed to highlight both the outstanding universal value of these well-preserved Moravian communities, as well as the Moravian Church’s influence around the globe. The living cultural traditions of the Moravians, including their timeless values of education, equality, innovation and spirituality, have helped shape their communities for centuries. Partners in the Moravian Church Settlements – Bethlehem World Heritage Site are City of Bethlehem, Bethlehem Area Moravians, Central Moravian Church, Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites and Moravian University.
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.
