a building with many windows
1922

Historic Hotel Bethlehem

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
a room with a piano and couches
437 Main Street, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18018 Original Property Opened in 1922 Historic Hotels of America member since 2002
a red and white rectangular sign with black text
a close-up of a sign
a red and white sign with black text
a black and red sign with white text
a red and white sign
a rectangular sign with white text
a close up of a sign
a brown and white rectangular sign with black text
a black rectangular sign with white text
a black rectangular sign with white text
a black background with a black square
art
a black background with a black square
ghosts
a black background with a black square
memorabilia
a black background with a black square
presidential
a black background with a black square
tours

In 1741, Moravian Brethren built Bethlehem’s first house on the site of what is now the Historic Hotel Bethlehem, PA. Then, in 1794, the Moravians, famous for their hospitality, built what became the Eagle Hotel. The hotel has hosted world leaders and renowned celebrities over the years, including Winston Churchill, John F. Kennedy, the 14th Dalai Lama, Amelia Earhart, Harry Connick, Jr., and many more. The town’s history as a colonial religious settlement to an industrial icon is chronicled in eight George Gray murals that have hung in the hotel since 1937. And located in the heart of Historic Moravian Bethlehem, a National Historic Landmark District, the Historic Hotel Bethlehem is walking distance to museums, historic sites, and boutique shops.

After a public voting process, USA Today named Historic Hotel Bethlehem the Best Historic Hotel/Resort in America for the fourth consecutive year (2020-2024).

a building with many windows

Discover

  • Discover Historic Hotel Bethlehem's distinguished place in the city's history while enjoying its truly spectacular setting. Nestled in the heart of Historic Moravian Bethlehem, a National Historic Landmark District, the hotel was constructed in 1922 on the former site of the first home in Bethlehem, a rustic log cabin built by a group of Moravian missionaries. Today, Historic Hotel Bethlehem rests just steps from Bethlehem's Main Street, which was named a Top 10 Main Street by USA Today, and boasts beautiful views of the Bethlehem star atop nearby South Mountain.
  • Delve into the fascinating past of both Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and Historic Hotel Bethlehem in the lower lobby's Hall of History. Here, guests can trace the story of the town's development—from religious settlement to industrial boomtown—through an array of artifacts like photographs, printed materials, and more. Nearby, a 1936 painting by George Gray in the Mural Room depicts the cultural transformation surrounding the hotel.
  • Follow in the footsteps of Historic Hotel Bethlehem's most illustrious guests. Through the years, the hotel has played host to some remarkable individuals, seeing everyone from world leaders and cultural luminaries to celebrities and athletes walk through its doors. The site's heritage of hosting distinguished guests began before Historic Hotel Bethlehem even came to be, when names like Mark Twain, William Waldorf Astor, and President Ulysses S. Grant graced the guest list of the former Golden Eagle Hotel. Following the opening of the Hotel Bethlehem in 1922, a steady stream of movers and shakers continued to find their way to the hotel. Since then, Historic Hotel Bethlehem has held a banquet for Amelia Earhart, hosted the likes of Winston Churchill and President Dwight D. Eisenhower during their visits to the Bethlehem Steel Corporation, and welcomed other influential guests like Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Shirley Temple, Muhammad Ali, future president John F. Kennedy, and many more.

Explore

  • Explore the Historic Moravian Bethlehem National Historic Landmark District. Encompassing around 14 acres in the heart of the city, this storied area was once home to Moravian settlers from Europe who established a communal society here as part of an international religious network during the 1700s. Radical for their time, the Moravians believed that all people—regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender—had the right to the same healthcare and education. Today, visitors can gaze upon some of the community's original buildings, which are designed in the German Colonial architectural style. In fact, the area actually boasts more original structures than equally historic Colonial Williamsburg.
  • Take a step back in time with a visit to Bethlehem's most historic sites. With a fascinating heritage that stretches back almost three centuries, there is no shortage of places to explore in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Best of all, many of them are within an easy walk or short drive or bike ride away from each other. Listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, the 6.5-acre Burnside Plantation is all that remains of an 18th-century Moravian farm, offering a glimpse of farm life during the colonial era. The Colonial Industrial Quarter stands as the United States' earliest industrial park, while the nearby 1762 Waterworks was once the first pumped municipal water system in the country. Other must-see sites include the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem, a collection of the Lehigh Valley's oldest and most historically significant buildings, and the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts, which takes up residence in three 19th-century homes.
  • Pay a visit to the National Museum of Industrial History. Affiliated with the Smithsonian Institution, the museum is housed in the former Electric Repair Shop of the Bethlehem Steel plant and charts the history of the people, machines, and ideas that shaped America's industrial heritage. Here, visitors can gain insight into the city's transformation into a manufacturing powerhouse and gaze upon fascinating manufacturing artifacts like a loom from the Scalamandre textile factory, which once crafted fabrics for White House restoration projects from the Hoover to Clinton administrations.
  • Be inspired by Bethlehem's creative spirit with a stop at the SouthSide Arts District. A vibrant patchwork of eateries, shops, and more, this lively neighborhood comes alive with a colorful collection of mosaics, murals, sculptures, and functional art structures like painted planters and whimsical bike racks. Visitors can even tickle the ivories at the area's community piano. The best way to experience the SouthSide Arts District is by following the Urban Arts Trail, which stretches for almost three miles and can be completed in around two hours.

Experience

  • Experience a show or festival at SteelStacks. Once the largest private industrial brownfield in the United States, the former Bethlehem Steel plant has since been repurposed as a ten-acre arts, culture, and events venue. In an earlier life, the plant held the distinction of being the second-largest steel manufacturer in the country, employing thousands and supplying materials for projects like the Empire State Building and the Golden Gate Bridge. Today, it plays host to over 1,000 concerts and eight festivals annually. During a visit, be sure to take in the enormity of the plant from the Hoover Mason Trestle, which was once traversed by rail cars carrying materials from the ore yards to Bethlehem Steel. Rising 46 feet above the ground, this elevated park and pedestrian walkway offers impressive views of the plant's blast furnaces and other remaining structures.
  • Embark on a guided walking tour of historic downtown Bethlehem. These insightful excursions, often led by guides in period, Moravian-style dress, feature stops by some of the city's most significant sites. Tours are offered on a variety of topics, from more high-level explorations of Old Bethlehem and Bethlehem Steel to adventures themed around churches and chapels, Moravian music or courtship rituals, or the town's role in the American Revolution. Tours typically run for around an hour and vary from month to month.
  • Set out in search of a new page-turner with a visit to the Moravian Book Shop. Said to be the world's oldest continuously operating bookstore, the shop was founded in 1745 at the request of the Moravian Church. Although the Moravian Book Shop changed locations a few times over the years, it has operated in the same spot—just across the street from the Historic Hotel Bethlehem in the publications building for the Central Moravian Church—since 1871.
  • Uncover more of Pennsylvania's cultural and natural history with a day trip to some of Bethlehem's neighboring communities. Located less than 30 minutes away in Nazareth, the Martin Guitar Factory and Museum is one of the world's oldest surviving acoustic instrument producers. Meanwhile, in nearby Easton, the National Canal Museum allows visitors to experience a two-mile stretch of the Lehigh Canal by bike, paddleboat, kayak, canoe, or a canal boat pulled by the museum's resident mules, Hank and George. Alternatively, those looking for even more outdoor adventures can make their way to Ringing Rocks County Park, an eight-acre boulder field with rocks that sound like bells when hit with a hammer.
  • Relax in a day of pampering right at Historic Hotel Bethlehem in its new spa, Magnolia Spa and Salon. The spa is located in Suite 200 and the experienced staff of licensed professionals offers guests personalized spa and beauty services. Some services featured include: nails, hair, facials, massage, wraps, makeup, waxing, and spray tanning. Book an appointment today with the hotel!

Taste

  • Taste Bethlehem's German heritage with a slice of Moravian sugar cake. Served daily in Historic Hotel Bethlehem's lobby, this sweet coffee cake was a favorite of Moravian settlers during the 1700s. Boasting a sugary crust and a surprising ingredient (hot and fluffy mashed potatoes), this tasty treat is best enjoyed warm with a cup of coffee. Alternatively, for something on the savory side, be on the lookout for a different local snack brought over by the Germans during the 18th century—a chewy, soft pretzel.
  • Savor the spirited side of the Lehigh Valley. Given the radical beliefs, at the time, of the Moravians, it should come as no surprise that these German settlers were fond of a stiff drink. In fact, the Lehigh Valley's very first tavern, the Crown Inn in Bethlehem (founded in 1745), was so popular that they quickly a new tavern, the Sun Inn, only a few years later in 1758. Today, the Moravians' influence can still be seen (and tasted!) at one of the region's many distilleries, breweries, cideries, and wineries, which offer handcrafted, locally produced beverages. Make sure to sample some applejack, a favorite alcoholic drink during the American colonial era.
  • Raise a glass to the beer-drenched history of Bethlehem during a walking tour of the city's most historic pubs. Starting at the 1810 Goundie House—home of Johann Sebastian Goundie, Bethlehem's first commercial brewer—this tasty tour includes a complimentary tasting and visits to watering holes like the Historic Sun Inn and Red Stag Pub.
  • Stroll into the hotel's dining room, 1741 On The Terrace. Here, diners can enjoy views of historic Bethlehem through the restaurant's floor-to-ceiling palladium windows while admiring the authentic Moravian tiles that blanket the floor.
a building with many windows
a building with many windows
a building with many windows
a building with many windows

FEATURED ACCOMMODATIONS

a bedroom with a bed and a couch
Governor's Suite
a living room with a couch and a table
Presidential Suite
a room with two beds
Landmark Suite
View Accommodations

Featured Offer

a building with many windows
Best Available Rate

Book the Best Available Rate at this property on HistoricHotels.org and receive a complimentary one-year family membership (a $30 value) to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

BOOK NOW VIEW MORE
Special Occasions

Meetings & Groups

Historic Hotel Bethlehem, located in downtown Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is the ultimate Lehigh Valley conference hotel. It is conveniently located just minutes from Allentown and Easton, Pennsylvania, Lehigh University and Moravian College, and only a free ten minute shuttle ride from the Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE). As the premier Hotel Bethlehem conference center, it plays the consummate host for numerous events and meetings, conferences, special events and groups. Its state-of-the-art facility, excellent location, impeccable service, expert catering and conference team are guaranteed for the success of any meeting or event. With more than 19,000 sq. ft. of meeting and banquet space, Hotel Bethlehem is the ideal venue for the next corporate meeting, staff retreat, wedding, banquet, private party or special event.

LEARN MORE
Special Occasions

Weddings

An elegant and tasteful choice for a wedding, Historic Hotel Bethlehem is a convenient location between Allentown and Easton, Pennsylavania, as well as Lehigh University and Moravian College. It is also a mere ten minute drive from the Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE). This wonderful historic hotel is steeped in history and has been restored to its "Jazz Era" elegance.

LEARN MORE
Special Occasions

Meetings & Groups

Historic Hotel Bethlehem, located in downtown Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is the ultimate Lehigh Valley conference hotel. It is conveniently located just minutes from Allentown and Easton, Pennsylvania, Lehigh University and Moravian College, and only a free ten minute shuttle ride from the Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE). As the premier Hotel Bethlehem conference center, it plays the consummate host for numerous events and meetings, conferences, special events and groups. Its state-of-the-art facility, excellent location, impeccable service, expert catering and conference team are guaranteed for the success of any meeting or event. With more than 19,000 sq. ft. of meeting and banquet space, Hotel Bethlehem is the ideal venue for the next corporate meeting, staff retreat, wedding, banquet, private party or special event.

LEARN MORE
Special Occasions

Weddings

An elegant and tasteful choice for a wedding, Historic Hotel Bethlehem is a convenient location between Allentown and Easton, Pennsylavania, as well as Lehigh University and Moravian College. It is also a mere ten minute drive from the Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE). This wonderful historic hotel is steeped in history and has been restored to its "Jazz Era" elegance.

LEARN MORE
a long table with glasses and a black tablecloth in a room with chairs
a room with tables and chairs
a long table with glasses and a black tablecloth in a room with chairs
a room with tables and chairs