Visit Bethlehem - A Pennsylvania City Guide
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Bethlehem, PA - History, Arts and Culture 2 Hours from New York
If you're in the Philadelphia area and looking for a getaway, or if you live in New York and want to take an easy weekend trip, visit Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, America's Christmas City.. Best known as the home of the defunct Bethlehem Steel Works, historic Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is a city that's well into an urban Renaissance. Destined to rival the rebirth of cities with greater size and wealth. Bethlehem's ambiance and year round cultural events attract visitors from all over the world. Its location - only 2 hours from New York, 1 hour from Philadelphia, and 3 hours from Washington, DC make Bethlehem attractive to business and students as well as tourists.
Bethlehem was founded by a denomination of German Protestant settlers (the Moravian Brethren) whose German patron in the Saxony region was Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf. Count Zinzendorf visited the small settlement on Christmas Eve in the 1700s and named the community Bethlehem.
World-famous Musikfest attracts visitors and locals by the hundred thousands and runs every August for 10 days with scores of free outdoor musical performances ranging from folk to classical to world, funk and rock. National and international acts as well as local and regional performers appear on more than a dozen free admission stages located around the city. Ticketed events bring top name acts to the festival as well.
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Bethlehem was founded by a denomination of German Protestant settlers (the Moravian Brethren) whose German patron in the Saxony region was Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf. Count Zinzendorf visited the small settlement on Christmas Eve in the 1700s and named the community Bethlehem.
World-famous Musikfest attracts visitors and locals by the hundred thousands and runs every August for 10 days with scores of free outdoor musical performances ranging from folk to classical to world, funk and rock. National and international acts as well as local and regional performers appear on more than a dozen free admission stages located around the city. Ticketed events bring top name acts to the festival as well.
This lens is a member of the Squidoo City Guide
4 Season Charm Shines Bright for Christmas
Visit the The Christmas City for the Holidays
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is a wonderful place to visit any time of year, but it's particularly charming during the Christmas holiday season. America's Christmas City, Bethlehem, was named in the mid 1700s by a visiting nobleman- . The city was founded by the Moravian Brethren, a denomination of German Protestant settlers whose patron in Saxony region of German was Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf. Count Zinzendorf paid a visit to the small settlement on Christmas Eve and named the community Bethlehem.
Bethlehem is a hub of cultural and creative ventures offering visitors and residents plenty to see and do all year 'round.
Rich History, Beautifiul Architecture, Galleries, Nightlife and Parks
Bethlehem is a small city rich in history and early American architecture, with many galleries, music venues and public parks available for casual relaxation in a low-key urban environment. Bethlehem is part of the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania, serviced by the ABE (Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton) International airport. It's a growing entertainment destination hub in the northeastern USA now that the Sands Casino and entertainment complex are open just a short drive or trolley ride from downtown. The renovated Bethlehem Steel Works is now a world-class Sands casino and performing arts center, and a world-class hotel is scheduled to open at the complex in spring, 2011.
Bethlehem's Rebirth - Cultural Renaissance in Pennsylvania's Steel Town
Bethlehem's ambiance and cultural events attract visitors from around the world all year long.
Bethlehem is America's Christmas City, and hosts a German-style holiday market - Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem - every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
As the corporate home of the now-defunct Bethlehem Steel Works, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania was a major industrial center during the height of the manufacturing age in the USA. Today Bethlehem is in the midst of an urban Renaissance to rival cities of greater size and wealth, and the abandoned steel mill property is at its heart.
Bethlehem is a mecca for higher education and the performing and visual arts in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. The old city retains its Main Street America charm with wide, tree-shaded streets and historic buildings built from stone and brick and dating to the 1700s.
Bethlehem is America's Christmas City, and hosts a German-style holiday market - Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem - every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
As the corporate home of the now-defunct Bethlehem Steel Works, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania was a major industrial center during the height of the manufacturing age in the USA. Today Bethlehem is in the midst of an urban Renaissance to rival cities of greater size and wealth, and the abandoned steel mill property is at its heart.
Bethlehem is a mecca for higher education and the performing and visual arts in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. The old city retains its Main Street America charm with wide, tree-shaded streets and historic buildings built from stone and brick and dating to the 1700s.
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Photo Journal
Take a tour of Bethlehem, PA through these tourist photographs.
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Bethlehem Tourism and Cultural Lenses
- Musikfest - The Art of Music
- Musikfest - America's Music Festival features 10 days of music, food, arts, beer and fun in Bethlehem, PA featuring over 500 performances annually. Indie artists and famous names perform every summer on the outdoor stages and indoor concerts. Most performances are free - expect to pay standard ticket prices for top acts.
- Christkindlmarkt in Bethlehem, PA
- Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem (Pennsylvania) is a world-renowned holiday marketplace recognized by Travel and Leisure Magazine as one of the top holiday markets in the world. This annual event features fine arts, Christmas decorations, crafts, food and seasonal entertainment Thursday through Sunday from Thanksgiving
- How to Make a Moravian Christingle
- Christingles are a traditional Christmas craft that are both simple and frugal. The materials are not expensive and most of them can be eaten or otherwise used.Best of all, the Christingle is a distinctly Christian craft, displaying the truth of the holiday season -- Jesus Christ, the Savior of the
- Musikfest Video Showcase
- Musikfest in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania showcases hundreds of bands, ensembles and solo acts representing all musical genres on outdoor stages and indoor venues during its 10-day run every August.Musikfest celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2008, and judging from the more than one million visitors it a
Bethlehem, PA as a Destination Resort
Bethlehem Steel Transformed to Casino and Arts Center
Redevelopment of the former Bethlehem Steel Works is transforming an abandoned industrial brownfields site from a decayed, rusting eyesore to a world-class destination resort and cultural center featuring a hotel and casino, restaurants and pubs, upscale retail shops, performing arts center, housing and much more. Sands Beth Works casino opened to the public in May 2009.
Allentown - Billy Joel
Billy Joel's Famous song "Allentown" is about Bethlehem Steel and the fall of company-owned town
Well I'm living here in Allentown, and it's hard to keep a good man down ...
curated content from YouTube
Bethlehem Steelworks Becomes Sands Casino Complex
Sands Casino Bethlehem Opened May 2009
curated content from YouTube
Bethlehem Steel Works Rebirth
New Life for the Bethlehem Site
The city of Bethlehem was home to the main headquarters for the world-famous Bethlehem Steel Works. Billy Joel made neighboring city Allentown famous in song but the issues he sang about were actually those of thousands of people who lived and worked in the regional steel industry ruled by Bethlehem Steel. Bethlehem is included in the song lyrics.The Bethlehem Steel site is huge, and for years was a decayed eyesore and painful reminder of lost prosperity to former employees and townspeople. In 2008, the rusted and abandoned Bethlehem Steel industrial site became a location set for the film Transformers 2.
Today, the decaying steel mill property is under reconstruction to become a destination resort and cultural center. Sands BethWorks will feature a world class hotel, casino, night clubs, loft apartments, upscale shopping and arts center.
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Lodging in Bethlehem, PA
The 1758 Sun Inn
564 Main Street, Bethlehem 18018
Bethlehem has a long history of hospitality. The 1758 Moravian Sun Inn, located just off Main Street, has been serving guests of distinction continuously since the American Revolution.
The Continental Congress met at The Sun Inn September, 1777. Historically notable guests and visitors to the inn include George and Martha Washington, John Hancock, the Marquis de Lafayette, John and Abigail Adams, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Harrison and Ethan Allen as well as many early governors, foreign dignitaries and native American leaders.
The lower floor of the beautifully restored inn is a living history museum filled with 18th century artifacts and furnishings. The Sun Inn no longer offers lodging, but does offer exquisite dining for individuals or groups in the reception rooms on the second floor, and guided tours of the building and landscaped courtyard.
The Sun Inn celebrates its 250th anniversary in September, 2008. Special events include a public party and a special dinner at the Inn.
The Continental Congress met at The Sun Inn September, 1777. Historically notable guests and visitors to the inn include George and Martha Washington, John Hancock, the Marquis de Lafayette, John and Abigail Adams, Samuel Adams, Benjamin Harrison and Ethan Allen as well as many early governors, foreign dignitaries and native American leaders.
The lower floor of the beautifully restored inn is a living history museum filled with 18th century artifacts and furnishings. The Sun Inn no longer offers lodging, but does offer exquisite dining for individuals or groups in the reception rooms on the second floor, and guided tours of the building and landscaped courtyard.
The Sun Inn celebrates its 250th anniversary in September, 2008. Special events include a public party and a special dinner at the Inn.
Historic Hotel Bethlehem
Hotel Bethlehem sits on the same site as Bethlehem's original first house, erected by Moravian settlers who arrived in 1740.
The hotel's traditionally furnished guest rooms overlook historic downtown and the famous hillside Bethlehem star.
The hotel's traditionally furnished guest rooms overlook historic downtown and the famous hillside Bethlehem star.
Have you visited Bethlehem, Pennsylvania?
Share your thoughts about America's Christmas city.
Bethlehem offers a convenient residential location for commuters who travel to Philadelphia and Manhattan daily and from surrounding communities to work in the city. It's an easy weekend trip from many major areas in the Northeastern United States to Bethlehem.
The Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton region is served by Lehigh Valley International airport (ABE) that's easily accessible and served by major airlines.
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ViolinStudent Nov 7, 2011 @ 11:41 pm | delete
- I went to school at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA...right down the road. I love the Lehigh Valley!
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outsource123
Dec 9, 2010 @ 2:17 am | delete
- Cheers, that lense was pure awesome.
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AmateurAtHTML
Nov 19, 2010 @ 11:14 pm | delete
- I really like Bethlehem. I lived in Allentown for a time, and I really miss the Lehigh Valley. I get to see a little bit of Lehigh University Sports on late night TV (Go Mountain Hawks), but that's about the extent of my Lehigh Valley connection right now. Great memories. Thanks for the page.
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Aquavel
Mar 20, 2009 @ 4:26 pm | delete
- What a deja vous experience! Thank you! 5*s! (I went to high school in the Bethlehem area but haven't been back there for a very long time. This lens provided me with a "virtual" visit.)
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Evelyn_Saenz
Mar 11, 2009 @ 12:16 pm | delete
- Thank you for the introduction to Bethlehem, Pa.
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More to do in Bethlehem, PA
Here's what Yelpers have to say about Active Life in 18018
- Healing Hands Massage Therapy Center (Bethlehem)
- "I had such a wonderful and relaxing experience here! I can't wait to go back!! I highly recommend it!" more
- Yoga Loft (Bethlehem)
- "Beautiful, naturally lit space. Teachers are excellent. Class offerings are diverse. Two changing rooms and separate bathrooms, so OK to come for class..." more
- Dutch Springs (Bethlehem)
- "Dutch is the best dive site in the area. It has consistently decent visibility, plenty of training platforms, and a wide range of attractions to explore...." more
- Action Wheels (Bethlehem)
- "For the longest time, this was the only bike shop I knew about. Or it was the closest one to me, so convenience won out (no longer true, since Cutters on..." more
- Bethlehem Bicycle Cooperative (Bethlehem)
- "They have moved to 14 W. Raspberry St. Bethlehem, PA. A great organization to belong to if you are interested in alternative forms of transportation and..." more
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New Life for Old Steel - Sands Beth Works
Casino Resort in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
The Sands Casino Resort now stands on the resurrected brownfields site of the former Bethlehem Steel Works. The resort features casino with 5000 slots, parking, shuttle to the city, restaurants and more. The Beth Works complex is located 120 minutes from New York and opened officially in May, 2009.
curated content from YouTube
Higher Education - Bethlehem Area Colleges
Lehigh University Lehigh's picturesque 1600-acre wooded campus is actually built into the side of what is affectionately known as "Old South Mountain" in historic Bethlehem, Pa. A little more than an hour's car ride from Philadelphia or New York City, Lehigh is located within the thriving economic and cultural corridor of the eastern United States. Undergraduate and graduate students experience challenging diverse programs in four colleges: arts and sciences business and economics engineering and applied science and education.
Moravian College America's sixth-oldest college, located in the center of historic Bethlehem, Moravian delivers a values-based liberal arts education in a caring environment, through which it nurtures in students the capacities for leadership, lifelong learning, and positive societal contributions. The College traces its founding to 1742 by followers of John Amos Comenius, the 17th century Moravian bishop whose humanistic ideals helped to shape modern education.
Northampton Community College For 40 years, Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, Pa., has focused on offering a wide variety of courses at an affordable price, without sacrificing quality of instruction. NCC offers recent high school graduates, as well as adult learners, a variety of credit and non-credit classes, offered during the day, evening, and on weekends.
Muhlenberg College Muhlenberg College is an independent, undergraduate, coeducational institution related to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Founded in 1848 to provide a liberal arts education in the Judeo-Christian humanistic tradition, Muhlenberg is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and excellence. The College is located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, approximately 55 miles north of Philadelphia and 90 miles west of New York City.
Moravian College America's sixth-oldest college, located in the center of historic Bethlehem, Moravian delivers a values-based liberal arts education in a caring environment, through which it nurtures in students the capacities for leadership, lifelong learning, and positive societal contributions. The College traces its founding to 1742 by followers of John Amos Comenius, the 17th century Moravian bishop whose humanistic ideals helped to shape modern education.
Northampton Community College For 40 years, Northampton Community College in Bethlehem, Pa., has focused on offering a wide variety of courses at an affordable price, without sacrificing quality of instruction. NCC offers recent high school graduates, as well as adult learners, a variety of credit and non-credit classes, offered during the day, evening, and on weekends.
Muhlenberg College Muhlenberg College is an independent, undergraduate, coeducational institution related to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Founded in 1848 to provide a liberal arts education in the Judeo-Christian humanistic tradition, Muhlenberg is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and excellence. The College is located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, approximately 55 miles north of Philadelphia and 90 miles west of New York City.
Driving directions
Bethlehem, PA City Information
Life is Good in Bethlehem
Bethlehem is a beautiful city conveniently located about 1 hour from Philadelphia and less than 3 hours from NYC.
- Bethlehem, PA Online!
- A comprehensive online resource for Bethlehem, PA and the surrounding Lehigh Valley.
- City of Bethlehem Homepage
- Official website of the City of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
- Welcome to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
- Bethlehem Pennsylvania is an attractive tree-lined city of 75,000 in the center of the Lehigh Valley community, with a population of more than 600,000.
- Bethlehem, Pennsylvania - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is located in Lehigh and Northampton Counties in the heart of the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton region.
- Welcome to the Christmas City, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania! - www.ChristmasCity.org
- Bethlehem, Pennsylvania offers some of the world's most unique holiday experiences including Christkindlmarkt Bethlehem, First Night Bethlehem and much more.
- Lehigh Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau - The Official Travel Resource for Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, PA
- Lehigh Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau is the ultimate travel guide for Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, Pennsylvania. Lehigh Valley CVB provides information on local area events, hotels, tours, meetings, attractions, restaurants, shopping, sports and recreation.
Latest news about Bethlehem, PA
- Underage gamblers cost Sands $48000
- ... Resort Bethlehem Wednesday was fined $48000 for allowing four underage gamblers into the casino between July 2011 and December 2011, including a 20-year-old Lehigh University student who gambled and drank alcohol. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control ...
- Bethlehem, Pa. Library Installs Book Vending Machine In Community Center
- The Hanover Township Community Center in Hanover Township, Pa. has a new book vending machine operated by the Bethlehem Area Public Library that accepts a library card. Editor's Insight: What an easy way for libraries to expand their services!
- News: Rosado vs Powell; Hasson vs Armenta; Floriano Pagliara
- Bethlehem, PA-When Gabriel Rosado learned he was fighting Sechew Powell instead of Joel Julio on June 1, he and trainer Billy Briscoe booked themselves a trip to California for three weeks of training at Freddie Roach's famed Wild Card gym in Hollywood ...
Lehigh Valley Notables
Many unique products and notable people come from the Lehigh Valley area which includes the cities of Bethlehem, Allentown, Easton and the town of Nazareth. Add your favorite Lehigh Valley products or people here - vote for your favorites!
Just Born Candy: Home of Marshmallow PEEPS Candies, MIKE AND IKE, HOT TAMALES, PEANUT CHEWS AND TEENEE BEANEE Jelly Beans.
Just Born makes everyone's favorite chewy candies: more...0 points
C. F. Martin & Co., Inc. Acoustic Guitars
Home of Martin Guitar, Martin Strings, The 1833 Sh more...0 points
Mario Andretti, MIchael Andretti
Famed race driver Mario Andretti and his immigrant more...0 points
Travel and Leisure
This online community brings together Filipinos fr more...0 points
Bethlehem, PA Stats
The population of 18018 is 33,173.
That's #2545 out of all 42,305 zip codes.
84% of the population is white, which is 10 points more than the national average.
The average household income in 18018 is $39,177, which is $9,479 more than the typical average.
This contributes to the average house being worth $93,400. When the survey was done in 2000, that represented a difference of 19% from the typical value.
Men make up 44% of the population, and the typical age in this part of PA is 38.9.
Stats about: Bethlehem, PA
Population: 33,173Number of Households: 13,985
Average House Value: $93,400
Average Income per Household: $39,177
Elevation: 211 ft
Population Breakdown:
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