UNESCO Adds Moravian Historic District in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to World Heritage List

The Historic Moravian Bethlehem District in Pennsylvania has been added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The U.S. Department of the Interior announced the selection, and a report from Christian Century said the announcement was made on July 26 and was the product of more than two decades of work. A July 2024 report from the National Trust for Historic Preservation said the district was officially inscribed that month.

The designation is the United States’ 26th UNESCO World Heritage site and its first transnational listing. According to the Interior Department, the site joins Herrnhut in Germany and Gracehill in Northern Ireland in recognizing the global influence of the Moravian Church. Christian Century also included Moravian church settlements in Denmark among the listed sites, while the Interior Department and the National Trust reports named Germany and Northern Ireland.

The Historic Moravian Bethlehem District was established in 1741 and served as the religious and administrative center of Moravian activities in North America. The district includes the Central Moravian Church, eight other historic structures, four ruins and a cemetery. Its buildings span from the 18th century to the Art Deco era. The National Trust report also describes the Historic Hotel Bethlehem, a nine-story Romanesque building that opened in 1922. Honoring the generations who built and kept these sites is a fitting way to pass on what was received (Deuteronomy 32:7).

Bethlehem is about 90 miles from New York City, in the Lehigh Valley of eastern Pennsylvania.

A formal inscription ceremony was held on Oct. 17 at Moravian University, where part of the Bethlehem Moravian Church site is located. Moravian University President Bryon Grigsby is a member of the World Heritage Council and Commission. The designation is expected to significantly boost cultural tourism to Bethlehem.

U.S. Ambassador to UNESCO Courtney O’Donnell said the inscription underscores the importance of safeguarding shared heritage.