Moravian Bethlehem District of Pa. Enters UNESCO List

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland today applauded the selection of the Historic Moravian Bethlehem District in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List. The list recognizes cultural and natural heritage sites around the world deemed to be of outstanding value to humanity.

“The United States is deeply honored to be included on the UNESCO World Heritage List with the designation of the Historic Moravian Bethlehem District, where visitors from around the world can learn about the rich history of Moravian settlements, their cultural traditions, and spiritual ideals,” said Secretary Haaland. “This designation recognizes the incredible work of the National Park Service and its local partners to preserve an important part of American – and world – history.”

This designation is UNESCO’s 26th—and the first transnational World Heritage site—in the United States. In addition to the Bethlehem Historic Moravian District, the listing includes the historic settlements of Herrnhut, founded in 1722 in Germany, and Gracehill, founded in 1759 in Northern Ireland. The three areas join together as an extension of the Moravian settlement of Christiansfeld in Denmark, founded in 1773, which was added to the World Heritage List in 2015, to form a single World Heritage Site for Moravian Church settlements.

“This well-deserved designation is a testament to the enduring, global influence of the Moravian Church and the preservation of some of America’s most cherished landmarks that support and illustrate our heritage and history,” said Chuck Sams, director of the National Park Service.

The Bethlehem Moravian Historic District is also a National Historic Landmark. Established in 1741 as a planned community, it was the religious and administrative center of Moravian activity in North America. Like the other three settlements, many of the buildings still serve their original purpose. In 2022, Secretary Haaland authorized the National Park Service (NPS) to develop a nomination for Moravian Church settlements for consideration for World Heritage List.

NPS supported this effort with the full cooperation of property owners, the City of Bethlehem, Bethlehem Area Moravians, and Moravian University. NPS advised the Bethlehem World Heritage Commission and guided them through the technical requirements of the nomination process and communicated with the governments of Germany, the United Kingdom, and Denmark regarding the development of the nomination.

The NPS is the primary U.S. government agency responsible for implementing the World Heritage Convention, in partnership with the State Department.