Bethlehem & the American Revolution

Tour goers will learn how the Moravian community navigated the war between Patriot and Loyalist pressures while maintaining their pacifist beliefs, even as local trades supported the Continental Army and notable figures passed through town. The tour highlights sites including the 1762 Waterworks, the nation’s first pumped municipal water system, and the Second Single Brethren’s House, which served twice as a Continental Army hospital and cared for more than 400 sick and wounded soldiers, including the Marquis de Lafayette after the Battle of Brandywine. Visitors will also hear about John Adams’ 1777 visit, when he described Bethlehem as a “curious and remarkable town.” The tour reveals stories of surveillance, cooperation, and compromise that show how Bethlehem became an essential participant in America’s fight for independence.

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