BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The countdown to America’s 250th birthday is serving up a side of time travel.
The Historic Hotel Bethlehem was completely sold-out Thursday for a revolutionary dining experience where the year is officially 1776.
“I am a soldier of His Majesty’s 43rd Regiment of Foot. And you are some sort of continental regular…”
“Oh posh. I am a member of the 2nd Pennsylvania Battalion.”
Step off the elevator at the Historic Hotel Bethlehem and directly into a time machine to 1776. Historic Hotel Bethlehem & Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites partnered together for the interactive ‘Liberty and Lanterns’ event.
“We have like a real time travel experience planned for everyone tonight. After their welcome cider because it wasn’t safe to drink the WATER in the 18th century, you go upstairs to a colonial tavern atmosphere,” said Beth Beatty, special events manager with Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites.
That tavern atmosphere includes authentic 18th century games and beverages, with bitter wartime enemies rubbing elbows before dinner.
“So, like my colleague here has said, we put aside our differences for this evening to celebrate the event.”
The interactive evening brings history to life with some pretty recognizable figures, including Benjamin Franklin, showing off scientific experiments in historical tavern games.
From there, the revolutionary experience moves to the Grand Ballroom for a modern take on cuisine in the 1700’s.
“You’re having a great time and learning some things too, experiencing a little bit of the ambiance and the feeling of the 18th century,” said Beatty.
Leaders hope the event sparks a wave of interest in local and American history.
“It’s just such a wonderful opportunity to get more people, more young people involved. And here for the 250th, it’s an unreal experience.”