Moravian Historical Society

Only a few spots remain for our Camp Colonial Hands on History Camp. The camp runs from June 21-25 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Thanks to a generous grant from Just Born Quality Confections, the cost is only a $25 material fee! Campers aged 8-12 can be immersed in history as they engage in nature, archaeology, and art-based activities inspired by objects from our world-renowned collection. Along with working hands-on with local scholars and professionals, campers will be able to cre...ate projects, models, and even act out a play! Applications can be found at https://www.moravianhistory.org/hands-on-history-camp #Moravian #History #MoravianHistory #MoravianHistoricalSociety #Museum #NazarethPA #LehighVallePA #LVPassportToHistory #Camp #DayCamp #YouthCamp #EducationalCamp #EducationalActivities #Art #Colonial

Happy #FlagDay! The Second Continental Congress passed a resolution on June 14th, 1777 that solidified a symbol of the United States for the rest of its history. It was on this day that the design for the American flag was determined. Flag Day was officially established by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916. Though the flag has changed over time, the general design that was passed on that day in 1777 has remained the same ever since. For this week’s #MuseumMonday, we are highli...ghting one of our flags that was believed to have been used during the Civil War. This flag was carried during the Battle of Antietam, which was near Sharpsburg, Maryland, on September 17, 1862. The carrier of this flag, Hugh A. Hamilton was a student at Nazareth Hall Military Academy from 1858-1860. This battle between Generals Lee and McClellan was later followed by the Emancipation Proclamation about 5 days after. This flag may be worn and tattered, but it still displays the stars and stripes that were established almost 90 years before. #Moravian #History #MoravianHistory #MoravianHistoricalSociety #Museum #MuseumFromHome #LVPassportToHistory #MadePossibleLV #NazarethPA #NazarethAreaChamber #BoroughOfNazareth #LehighValleyPA #CivilWar #BattleOfAntietam #AmericanHistory

There are still spots available for Session Two of the Hands on History Camp (June 21 - June 25)! If you have a child aged 8-12, then they can enjoy their summer while also being immersed in history. Hands on History Camp provides all its campers with the ability to work hands-on with local scholars and professionals, while also exploring our museum and creating many different projects including a final play. The best part? Thanks to our generous sponsors, only a $25 materia...l fee is required! Applications for the Hands on History Camp can be found at https://www.moravianhistory.org/hands-on-history-camp #Moravian #History #MoravianHistory #MoravianHistoricalSociety #Museum #Camp #HistoryCamp #DayCamp #YouthCamp #CampColonial #EducationalPrograms #NazarethPA #LehighValleyPA #LVPassportToHistory

June 12th at 4 p.m.! The sun is out and summer is soon upon us, so why not join the Moravian Historical Society on one of our upcoming Historic Nazareth Walking Tours? One of our knowledgeable costumed tour guides will guide you through beautiful downtown Nazareth, while sharing stories of its founding and the buildings that helped shape this town. Tickets can be purchased of time at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/historic-nazareth-walking-tour #Moravian #History #MoravianHistory #MoravianHistoricalSociety #Museum #MuseumWeek #OutdoorEvents #Tour #WalkingTour #NazarethPA #LehighValleyPA #LVPassportToHistory

Have you ever wanted to know more about the history of the Moravians and their settlement of Nazareth and Bethlehem? Come to the Moravian Historical Society and get a guided tour from one of our very knowledgeable guides. We have an outstanding collection featuring the earliest-known violin made in the American Colonies and a rare 18th-century rifle made by Andreas Albrecht. Tickets can be reserved ahead of time at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/moravian-historical-society-wh #Moravian #History #MoravianHistory #MoravianHistoricalSociety #Museum #MuseumWeek #Tour #NazarethPA #LehighValleyPA #LVPassportToHistory

Make sure to come join us for the 43rd Annual Arts & Crafts Festival! We have plenty of wonderful vendors and crafts available along with activities for children, live music, and food! Come enjoy the beautiful weather and have a great time with MHS.

The Moravian Historical Society will be closed today, February 3, due to the snow accumulation. We hope everyone is safe and warm today!

On behalf of the Moravian Historical Society’s board, staff, and volunteers, thank you for your generous donations! Your contributions, either through Barbara Dietterich’s birthday fundraiser or on Giving Tuesday, provided essential support for our organization during this challenging time. Your donations contribute toward the quality and reach of our educational programs and to the care of our historic site and museum. Thank you to our online community! #moravianhistory, #Moravian, #nazarethpa, #museum, #MuseumFromHome, #lehighvalleypa

The Moravian Historical Society will be closed Sunday and Monday due to the snow storm. We hope everyone stays safe and warm!

Save the date and plan to join us! The Moravian Historical Society's 163rd annual lecture will take part during the conference.

Thanks to a grant from Just Born, Inc. , we are offering admission to our museum tours at 50% off! The guided museum tour through our collection will show a little bit for everyone, with everything from colonial history to a discussion on music and instruments. With a focus on the Moravian experience, their history as well as the history of the founding of Nazareth will be told on their tour. Tickets can be reserved in advance at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/whitefield-house-guided-museum #moravian #history #moravianhistory #moravianhistoricalsociety #museum #tour #nazarethpa #lehighvalley

Gracedale Nursing Home occupies the area now, but have you ever thought about how that land was used in Nazareth's beginnings? This week's #TBT is about Gnadenthal (German for "Dale of Grace"). Originally begun with six families occupying a large home in December of 1745, this large plantation area was farmed by married families to support the agricultural needs of Bethlehem and Nazareth's General Economy. This farm, located about one and one-half miles west from Nazareth, wa...s eventually used as an Alms House in 1837. By 1940, there were twenty buildings with about twelve farm buildings, which provided vegetables, livestock, and poultry to feed the residents. If hearing about Nazareth's beginnings piques your interest, then our book Nazareth from Arcadia Publishing might be exactly what you are looking for. Copies can be purchased from our gift shop, which is open seven days a week from 1 - 4 p.m., or can be found online at https://www.moravianhistory.org/shop

#ThisDayInMoravianHistory... Nazareth Diary, January 27, 1766: "Our Captain Jacobsen after a delightful visit here, returned to Bethlehem accompanied by Br. Dencke. When Br. Dencke returned from there, he was accompanied by Br. Eckesparre, who visited Christian Spring. *** From Friedensthal moved the Bro. and Sr. David Kunze with their little Joh. David to Nazareth in order to live there."... [Image: Belfry-Moravian Church, Bethlehem, Pa. Photograph Collection of the Moravian Historical Society.]

The letter X is for cross stitch in the #MuseumAlphabetChallenge. This cross stitch sampler was made in 1832 by Caroline Juliana Schultz while attending the Moravian Seminary for Young Ladies. The sampler measures 21.5 inches high by 19.5 inches wide. Caroline Juliana was born in Bethlehem on June 3, 1823. In 1840 she married John Neumeyer and in 1843 they moved to Christian’s Spring, a Moravian settlement near Nazareth where they lived for 37 years. Cross stitches in embroi...dery, needlepoint, and other forms of needlework include a number of related stitches in which the thread is sewn in an x shape. Cross stitch was widely used in the 18th and 19th centuries, and girls’ skills in this essential task were demonstrated with elaborate samplers embroidered with cross-stitched alphabets, numbers, animals, plants, and poems. As is evidenced by this piece from our collection, the cross stitch sampler was also an important tradition of European settlers in America to demonstrate a strongly felt sense of religious purpose. #moravianhistory #history #NazarethPA #MuseumAlphabet #MuseumFromHome #moravianart #crossstitch #19thcenturyart, #needlework, #moraviancollege, #moravianseminary, #moravianhistoricalsociety, #earlyamericancraft

It was an honor to be at the Art Museums Of Colonial Williamsburg for the debut performance of this replica of the oldest extant upright piano known to have been made in America. The original upright piano has been in the Whitefield House in Nazareth since it was made there in the early to mid-eighteenth century. The project is the culmination of years of research, two weeks of on-site examination, and a full year of construction for Tom Winter, Michele Winter, and John Watso...n. The instrument sounds wonderful and we look forward to sharing it with audiences in Nazareth. The replica is now on display at the Moravian Historical Society and we invite you to see it along with the original! #ArtMuseumsOfColonialWilliamsburg #ColonialWilliamsburg #MoravianHistory #MoravianHistoricalSociety #MoravianMusicFoundation #MoravianMusic #AMIS #EarlyInstruments #Piano #NazarethPA #lvmadepossible

For this week's #TBT, we have an image of the shoemaker's shop from Christian's Spring. Groups of Moravian boys were sent to Christian's Spring to learn many different trades, with shoe making being one of those. The site also included a dairy, a distillery, and a brewery, which provided beer for Bethlehem's Sun Inn. This very active settlement was quite productive, with products such as bricks, honey, tobacco, and hay coming out of Christian's Spring. Want to know more abou...t Christian's Spring? You can visit the Moravian Historical Society's brand new exhibit "Early American Trades At the Moravian Community of Christian's Spring." The Whitefield House is open daily from 1 - 4p.m. If you are interested in seeing more images like this, consider picking up a copy of our new publication "Nazareth" part of the "Images of America" series! Copies can be purchased at the Whitefield House or online at https://www.moravianhistory.org/shop

Spots are filling up quick, so make sure your reserve your tickets for the Spooky Historic Nazareth Walking Tour! Spots are almost filled for this weekend, but we have spots available for next Friday and Saturday (October 30/31). If you want something historical, fun and festive to do for this time of year, the Spooky Historic Nazareth Walking Tour might be just what you're looking for! Learn about the founding of Nazareth, see where some of the oldest buildings in Nazareth ...are still standing today, and hear about some of the creepy stories that come from the Whitefield House, Nazareth Hall, and other historic areas! Tours will begin at the Whitefield House at 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Masks are required for all attendees. Tickets can be purchased at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spooky-lantern-led-historic-na

#ThisDayInMoravianHistory... Nazareth Diary, October 20, 1782: "Br. David spoke to the single brethren, who went on the 7th and 14th to the "Exercieren" (military drills). And the last time they went against having been reminded and asked, this time not to go and not to do it. Br. David had received concerning this matter a serious letter from Br. Ettwein. But the brethren were persisting and asserted, that it is not against the conscience nor is there any danger connected wi...th it." [Image: Hall Boys standing in formation on parade grounds, 1909, Nazareth, Pa. Photograph Collection of the Moravian Historical Society.]

W is for Weather Vane and this piece is believed to have been on one of the buildings at Christian’s Spring, Pennsylvania. Constructed from tin, the object is reinforced with smaller pieces since the cut-out numbers leave the middle section weak. Christian’s Spring was located two miles south-west of Nazareth, and was one of the upper places during the foundational years of the Moravian community in Pennsylvania. This multi-racial Moravian community of master craftsmen and ap...prentices thrived for a relatively short period of time from 1749 until 1796. Master craftsmen in this unique community included butchers, tailors, brewers, bakers, cabinet makers, carpenters, locksmiths, masons, pharmacists, shoemakers, saddlers, coachmen, smithies, tanners, weavers, and gun stockers. During the five decades that Christian’s Spring operated as a Moravian settlement, its residents included African, Native American, and European immigrants who worked, worshipped, lived, and learned side by side. The Moravian Historical Society’s newest exhibition explores this lost community, the people who lived and worked there, and the tremendous activity that took place in a relatively short period of time. #moravianhistory #history #NazarethPA #MuseumAlphabet #MuseumFromHome #moravianart #tinsmith #18thcenturyart #moravianhistoricalsociety #earlyamericancraft #earlyamericantrades #mastercrafts

It’s a beautiful day for our @42nd annual arts and crafts festival. Bring the family for FREE pumpkin painting sponsored by Fidelity Bank and shopping with a wonderful variety of local artists. #moravianhistoricalsociety,#moravianhistory, #lehighvalleypa #Nazarethpa, #artsandcrafts

Set your alarms for the Arts & Crafts Festival tomorrow! This FREE family friendly event will have so much for the community to enjoy. Featuring crafts made by local vendors, a children's activity tent, and musical performances, the 42nd Annual Arts & Crafts Festival will be a great time for anyone looking for something to do on a beautiful autumn weekend. #nazarethpa #lehighvalley #lehighvalleypa #artsandcrafts #music #localbusiness #handmade #moravian #moravianhistoricalsociety

Come join our friends at the Memorial Library of Nazareth and Vicinity as they have their Book Talk & Tour with Author, Scott Morro tomorrow at 5 p.m. Afterwards, come visit us at the Whitefield House, where a costumed docent will be able to give you even more history about the Whitefield House, Nazareth, and the Moravians that founded this town.

Join the Moravian Historical Society on October 17 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on the grounds of the historic 17401743 Whitefield House for our 42nd Annual Arts & Crafts Festival. The festival features locally made items, food, musical performances by Jerry Kroboth and Ziggy Blue, and our Children's Activity Tent featuring colonial games and pumpkin painting sponsored by Fidelity Bank! Plans are in place to keep our vendors, guests, volunteers, and staff safe including rede...signed wide aisles, extra room around booths, hand sanitizing stations, crowd control measures, and mask and social distancing requirements. The Moravian Historical Society is supported in part through a grant from the Northampton County Department of Community & Economic Development through its Hotel Tax Grant program. #nazarethpa #lehighvalley #lehighvalleypa #artsandcrafts #music #localbusiness #handmade #moravian #moravianhistoricalsociety

The V in our #MuseumAlphabetChallenge stands for View of the Moravian Town of Hope, NJ. This oil painting by landscape artist Johann Gustav Grunewald, View of the Moravian Town of Hope, NJ (c. 1857-1864) provides a sweeping panorama of the Delaware River, Easton, and the lush hills beyond. Grunewald was born in Gnadau, Germany in 1805 and as a young man settled in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania where he taught drawing and painting at the Moravian Seminary for Young Ladies. Grune...wald’s Moravian faith and his belief in the inherent unity between humankind and nature informed his artistic creations. Grunewald encouraged his students to study from nature and was a strong advocate of plein-air painting. The Poconos, Jim Thorpe, and the Lehigh Valley were the focus of a number of Grunewald’s works, from which he gained regional prominence. Grunewald left the Lehigh Valley in 1867 and returned to Germany where he resided until his death at the age of 73 in 1878. #moravianhistory #history #NazarethPA #MuseumAlphabet #MuseumFromHome #moravianart #landscapepainting #19thcenturyart

The deadline for vendor applications is TOMORROW Friday October 9th. Make sure you get in your applications to be included! The Moravian Historical Society's 42nd Annual Arts & Crafts Festival is fast approaching. Come join us on our spacious Whitefield House lawn on Saturday, October 17 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Featuring free admission, parking, and locally handmade crafts, the 42nd Annual Arts & Crafts Festival promises to be a fun outdoor weekend activity. Plans are in place to ...keep our vendors, guests, volunteers, and staff safe including redesigned wide aisles, extra room around booths, hand sanitizing stations, crowd control measures, and mask and distancing requirements. The application can be found on our website: https://www.moravianhistory.org/arts-crafts-festival #nazarethpa #nazareth #moravianhistoricalsociety #artsandcrafts #artsandcraftsfestival #outdooractivities #localbusiness