BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Come one, come all this weekend to the Colonial Industrial Quarter for some free family fun, Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites says.
The 1782/1834 Grist Miller’s House, after being closed to the public for a couple of decades, will welcome folks again for a community open house event from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Parking will be available in the lot outside the neighboring Luckenbach Mill, 459 Old York Road, in Downtown Bethlehem.
In addition to live demonstrations and site tours centered around the early days of crafts and trades in Bethlehem, visitors will have the chance to explore two exhibitions.
They are “Reviving the Past: The Restoration of the 1782 Grist Miller’s House” and “Timeless Trades: From Colonial Hands to Modern Minds.”
“We’re grateful to everyone who helped transform this long-shuttered building into a vibrant space that celebrates Bethlehem’s rich heritage."Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites President LoriAnn Wukitsch
The new Ralph Schwarz Center for Colonial Industries, at the Grist Miller’s House, will showcase the area’s historic trades through exhibitions, promote local artisan works and offer educational programming.
HBMS President LoriAnn Wukitsch said the updates will provide people of all ages “a unique destination” to take in local history.
“We’re grateful to everyone who helped transform this long-shuttered building into a vibrant space that celebrates Bethlehem’s rich heritage,” Wukitsch said.
Officials will cut the ribbon on the revamped Grist Miller’s House at a separate event planned for 11 a.m. Friday.
A long time coming
The 1782/1834 Grist Miller’s House housed the miller and family in the 18th and 19th centuries, but the structure was later enlarged to serve as a residence from the 1830s to the 1970s, according to HBMS.
In 2024, the nonprofit — which oversees 20 local historic sites, including structures part of the Moravian Church Settlements, Bethlehem UNESCO World Heritage site — moved to begin restoration of the structure.
Following other work around the building, exterior steel beams supporting the house walls for the past two decades were taken down that September.
South Bethlehem architecture firm Artefact Inc. handled the design of the restorations.
A site to behold
The Grist Miller’s House has had a spot on the National Park Service’s Register of Historic Places for more than 50 years.
The surrounding Colonial Industrial Quarter, lauded to be among the first industrial parks in the country, was once home to dozens of specialties, trades and crafts.
Those included tinsmithing, carpentry, masonry, candlemaking and many others.
In the case of the local grist miller, he was tasked with grinding grain into flour.
HBMS also is offering a Birthplace of Industry Walking Tour focused on trades and revitalization at the Colonial Industrial Quarter. Tickets are $20.
