BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Hundreds of residents and visitors gathered Saturday to celebrate Bethlehem’s historic UNESCO World Heritage Site designation, culminating in the burial of a time capsule at City Hall that will preserve the moment for future generations.
At least 500 people filled the grounds of Central Moravian Church for the opening ceremonies, with crowds continuing throughout the day-long celebration, which ran from noon to 7 p.m.
The designation, achieved in July 2024 after more than two decades of effort beginning in 2002, recognizes Bethlehem as an “outstanding example” of Moravian town planning and architectural style.
The intact core of the original 18th-century buildings offers a well-preserved glimpse into a Moravian planned community, making it Pennsylvania’s third UNESCO World Heritage Site, alongside Independence Hall in Philadelphia and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater house in Fayette County.
Moravian settlements are historically significant for their influential urban planning, advancements in social equality, and global missionary efforts.
The Bethlehem site stands out for its exceptional degree of preservation, including historic buildings and God’s Acre cemetery, founded in 1741.
Day of Celebration
After the opening ceremonies, community members then followed the Freedom High School Patriot Band in a procession to unveil the World Heritage inscription plaque.
Following the plaque dedication, attendees moved across the street to the tunnel below the Route 378 exit on Main Street, where local muralist Matt Halm unveiled his latest piece created for the Moravian celebration.
The family-friendly event featured live music and children’s activities at Payrow Plaza and the church grounds, with food trucks lining Church Street.
Additional programming included World Heritage tours, a Johnston Festival Memorial Concert, a Community Lovefeast with Bethlehem Area Moravian Churches, and a free ice cream social. Downtown merchants participated with special weekend offers.
Time Capsule Contents
The time capsule, set to remain underground for 50 years, contains contributions from the city’s World Heritage Partners: Moravian University, Bethlehem Area Moravians, Northampton County, the City of Bethlehem, Historic Bethlehem Sites and Museums, and Central Moravian Church.
“The time capsule burial represents the opportunity to just kind of take a snapshot of where we are here at this point in our city’s history,” said Mayor J. William Reynolds.
Contents include a poster from Saturday’s event, a Moravian cookbook, tour brochures, the day’s program, a list of council members, and documentation of how the site achieved World Heritage designation.
Also buried were programs from the October 2024 inscription ceremony, a Moravian University newspaper, student photographs, beeswax, a Moravian candle, and commemorative pins.
Stephanie Smith Augello, chief of staff to the mayor, said approximately 50 children filled out cards describing their vision for Bethlehem’s future, with some writing notes to their future selves. Those cards were included in the capsule.
Looking Forward
The UNESCO designation is expected to have a significant impact on Bethlehem’s future, primarily through increased tourism and enhanced economic development. While the city already attracts many visitors, its new global status is likely to solidify its reputation as a premier cultural destination.
Officials said a plaque will mark the time capsule burial site, and records of the capsule’s contents have been filed with the Moravian Archives. This marks the first time a time capsule has been buried at City Hall.
The Moravian Church Settlements–Bethlehem now joins 25 other UNESCO World Heritage Sites across the United States, recognizing locations of outstanding universal value to humanity.
Jai Smith is a lifetime Lehigh Valley resident on a mission to empower local underserved communities and inform the public while providing journalists and storytellers a platform to develop the next generation of news media.