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1922
Historic Hotel Bethlehem
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
437 Main Street, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18018
Original Property Opened in 1922
Historic Hotels of America member since 2002
- The 2025 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America® Culinary Heritage and Traditions List Is Announced
- The 2025 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America® Most Magnificent Art Collections List Is Announced
- The 2024 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America® Where U.S. Presidents Made History List Is Announced
- The 2023 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Culinary Heritage and Traditions List
- The 2023 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America® Most Magnificent Art Collections List Is Announced
- 2022 Top 25 Historic Hotels of America Most Unique Culinary Heritage and Traditions Announced
art
ghosts
memorabilia
presidential
tours
In 1741, Moravian Brethren built Bethlehem’s first house on the site of what is now the Historic Hotel Bethlehem. 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. Guests today can experience a luxury historic destination hotel at Historic Hotel Bethlehem. After a public voting process, USA Today named Historic Hotel Bethlehem the Best Historic Hotel/Resort in America for the fifth consecutive year (2021-2026), and its location the #1 Best Main Street. The historic hotel is adjacent to the 26th United States’ UNESCO World Heritage Site, Moravian Church Settlements — Bethlehem. The walkable historic district of Historic Bethlehem surrounds guests with shopping, dining, and over 285 years of history. Historic Hotel Bethlehem proudly continues the tradition of Moravian hospitality.
Discover
- Discover Historic Hotel Bethlehem's distinguished place in the city's history while enjoying its truly spectacular setting. Nestled adjacent to America’s 26th UNESCO World Heritage Site, Moravian Church Settlements — Bethlehem. The hotel was constructed in 1922 on the former site of the first home in Bethlehem built by Bethlehem’s founders in 1741. Today, Historic Hotel Bethlehem sits on America’s #1 Best Main Street and offers beautiful views of the iconic Star of Bethlehem at the top of 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 city’s development—from authentic Colonial to Industrial history —through an array of artifacts that includes photographs, original menus, and more. Enjoy the gallery setting of the Mural Ballroom where guests can view the award-winning George Gray mural collection painted in 1937. This collection depicts the legacy and historic transformations of Bethlehem over two centuries.
- Follow in the footsteps of Historic Hotel Bethlehem's prestigious guests. Through the years, the hotel has hosted remarkable individuals, from world leaders and cultural luminaries to celebrities and athletes. The site's dedication to hosting distinguished guests began with the Golden Eagle Hotel, which stood before Historic Hotel Bethlehem. Names like Mark Twain, William Waldorf Astor, and President Ulysses S. Grant graced the guest list of the former Golden Eagle Hotel. Once Hotel Bethlehem opened in 1922, notable guests from around the world continued to find their way to the hotel. Since then, Historic Hotel Bethlehem has held a banquet for Amelia Earhart, hosted Winston Churchill and President Dwight D. Eisenhower during their visits to the Bethlehem Steel Corporation. The Hotel has welcomed other influential guests such as Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Shirley Temple, Muhammad Ali, future president John F. Kennedy, and many more.
Explore
- Inscribed in July 2024, Moravian Church Settlements - Bethlehem became the 26th UNESCO World Heritage Site within the United States, and part of the first transnational site. This site spans over 10 acres and includes nine original properties, four ruins, and God's Acre cemetery. Founded in 1741, Bethlehem’s properties represent the finest examples of Moravian architecture and town planning in the country. This designation validates Historic Bethlehem as a truly unique, authentic Colonial destination that complements the existing UNESCO World Heritage designees, located within 90-minutes drive: Independence Hall and the Statue of Liberty.
- Explore one square mile with one dozen firsts — Historic Moravian Bethlehem National Historic Landmark District features countless firsts, including the first documented Christmas tree in America, first municipal pumped water system in America, and first school to educate women. 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 visit some of the community's original buildings, which are designed in the German Colonial architectural style.
- Take a step back in time with a visit to Bethlehem's most historic sites. The town's fascinating heritage stretches back almost three centuries, and there is no shortage of places to explore in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Best of all, many of them are within an easy walk, short drive or quick bike ride. 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' birthplace of industry, with four existing buildings and ruins that are still in their original places. Other must-see sites include the Moravian Museum of Bethlehem and the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts.
- 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.
- Learn more about the legacy of Bethlehem Steel which was once the second largest steel producer in the country, helped build some of America’s greatest landmarks – including the Golden Gate Bridge and the Chrysler Building. Discover the humble beginnings, monumental growth, and humbling decline of this 20th-century giant.
Experience
- Embark on a guided walking tour of historic downtown Bethlehem. These insightful excursions, often led by guides in period, Moravian-style dress, feature stops to some of the UNESCO World Heritage Site properties. Learn the storied history of Moravian Bethlehem, from its origins in Colonial America and their impact on the American Revolution to more expansive explorations of Old Bethlehem and Bethlehem Steel. Tours change seasonally.
- Set out in search of a new page-turner with a visit to the Moravian Book Shop. Known as the world’s oldest continuously operating bookstore, the shop was founded in 1745 at the request of the Moravian Church. The current location of the shop was the publications building for the Central Moravian Church since 1871 and is located directly across the street from Historic Hotel Bethlehem.
- Experience a show or festival at SteelStacks and ArtsQuest — the premier 10-acre arts and cultural campus in Northeast Pennsylvania. The ArtsQuest Center is a three-story, multi-venue hub for concerts, cinema, and community festivals year-round. ArtsQuest founded Musikfest in 1984 and is now the largest free music festival in the nation. Once the largest private industrial brownfield in the United States, the former Bethlehem Steel plant has since been repurposed and transformed into festival grounds that attract millions each year.
- 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. Experience nearby stretches of the Delaware & Lehigh trail, which spans over 140 miles across eastern Pennsylvania, perfect for cyclists, runners, and boaters. Alternatively, those looking for even more outdoor adventures can enjoy Historic Bethlehem River Tours, a guided kayak and biking adventure that is perfect for couples, groups, and families.
- Experience the fan-friendly atmosphere of the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs — the AAA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies — at Coca-Cola Park, just 20 minutes drive from Historic Hotel Bethlehem. Face off with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms at the PPL Center in neighboring Allentown. The PPL Center is also home to concerts, shows, and spectacular events for thousands in their state-of-the-art arena.
Taste
- Enjoy 1741 on the Terrace at Historic Hotel Bethlehem, an intimate setting in the original garden solarium with floor-to-ceiling Palladian windows that overlook the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The executive chef presents tasteful, inviting dishes alongside an extensive wine list with many exciting options from the Americas and the world.
- Dine at the Tap Room and take in the most sought after view of Historic Main Street. Sit among famous former visitors in the Gallery of Distinguished Former Guests while enjoying classic American cuisine from the award-winning culinary team with beautiful views of the #1 Best Main Street in America. The Tap Room serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as handcrafted drinks at the mahogany bar. The entertainment includes weekly Thursday Night Jazz and Music on the Patio (seasonally), featuring regional and national musicians.
- Taste Bethlehem’s German heritage with a slice of Moravian sugar cake. Historic Hotel Bethlehem provides this sweet treat complimentary to hotel guests, daily in the lobby. Guests may also purchase a slice across the street at the Hotel B Ice Cream Parlor. This coffee cake was a favorite of Moravian settlers during the 1700s. Defined by a sugary crust and a surprising ingredient (hot and fluffy mashed potatoes), this tasty treat is best enjoyed warm with a cup of coffee or hot cocoa. Notably, Moravian Sugar Cake was honored as part of the 2022, 2023 and 2025 Historic Hotels of America Top 25 Culinary Heritage and Traditions lists.
- Raise a glass to the history of Bethlehem with a walking tour of the city’s most historic pubs. The Ales and Tale tour begins 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 iconic inns and pubs like the Historic Sun Inn. Through September and October, this tour changes to the Spirited Tales Pub Walking Tour for the fall season.
- Taste culinary delights from around the world on the #1 Best Main Street in America, as voted by USA Today viewers. Historic Bethlehem offers a variety of cuisines in both casual and elegant settings. Try delicious Penn State Creamery Ice Cream at the Hotel B Ice Cream Parlor, or join for the award-winning Sunday Musical Brunch at Historic Hotel Bethlehem. The brunch offers everything from “made just for you” omelets or waffles and carving stations to locally sourced salads, mixed fruits, fresh seafood, luscious desserts, and beverages for all ages.
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