Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Once the tallest building in the Lehigh Valley, this spot was dominated by the 21-story Martin Tower. Built in 1972 as the headquarters for Bethlehem Steel, it stood 332 feet tall. It was even taller than the PPL…

Pull over, because this unassuming spot was once at the heart of a global industry. You're near what was once a major hub of silk production: the Lehigh Valley Silk Mills. It all started in 1881, when the first silk…

Stop for a moment and imagine the clatter and aroma of a brewery working at full tilt. That's what this spot, the Neuweiler Brewery in Allentown, was once famous for. Built between 1911 and 1913, the Neuweiler Brewery,…

Pull over for a minute and picture this: you're looking at what was once a summer escape from Philadelphia's hustle and bustle. This is Trout Hall, built between 1768 and 1770 by James Allen, the son of Allentown's…

Here in Catasauqua, you're near the home of a true American patriot. This is where George Taylor, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, lived and breathed the ideals of liberty. Taylor, an ironmaster by trade,…

Pull over here for a minute – this Americus Hotel isn't just a place to stay, it's a time capsule of Allentown's boom years. Back in the 1920s, a group of local businessmen decided Allentown needed a first-class hotel…

Get ready to cross a bridge that was once a world record holder! The Albertus L. Meyers Bridge, or Eighth Street Bridge as it was originally known, was the longest and highest concrete bridge in the world when it…

Step back in time as we cruise through the Catasauqua Residential Historic District, a showcase of stunning architecture. This area blossomed in the mid- to late-1800s, reflecting Catasauqua's industrial boom. Wealthy…

You're near a place that once ground the daily bread for this whole community: Helfrich's Springs Grist Mill. Constructed in 1807, the mill harnessed the power of the Jordan Creek to grind grain into flour. For…

This historic change bridge once spanned the Lehigh River, serving as a vital link for canal traffic. Built between 1856 and 1857, the Chain Bridge, also called the Lehigh Canal Swinging Bridge, was designed to allow…

These aren't just old brick towers; they're the silent giants that fueled America's building boom! They're the Coplay Cement Company Kilns. Built between 1892 and 1893, these Schoefer vertical kilns churned out Portland…

Drive through this charming 1841 covered bridge, a reminder of a bygone era of transportation. Bogert Covered Bridge, nestled here in Allentown, Pennsylvania, is a surviving example of early American bridge building.…

This seemingly peaceful grist mill stands on ground forged in the fires of revolution. In 1727, Durham Furnace roared to life, producing pig and bar iron. For seventy years, it fueled industry, but its most critical…

Stop here and you're standing at the heart of early Moravian life in Pennsylvania. These two unassuming buildings, the Whitefield House and Gray Cottage, tell a story of faith, resilience, and a fresh start. In 1740, a…

Pull over here a minute; this spot was once the heart of a Moravian boys' school that shaped generations. Founded in 1756, Nazareth Hall became a boarding school in 1759 for the sons of Moravian families. Boys came here…

Pull over for a moment and picture this: you're looking at what's believed to be the oldest continuously occupied building in the entire Lehigh Valley. It's called the Shelter House. Built around 1734, the Shelter House…

Prepare to step back in time to an era when local mills were the lifeblood of agricultural communities. Haines Mill, built around 1840, was more than just a building; it was the center of the region's economy. Farmers…

Catch a show at this beautifully restored 1920s theater, a hub for arts and entertainment in Easton. The State Theatre, now officially known as the State Theatre Center for the Arts, first opened its doors in 1926 as a…

Step back in time as we approach Easton Cemetery, the final resting place of some truly remarkable people. Established in 1849, Easton Cemetery reflects the popular rural cemetery movement of the time. Think rolling…

Think of this place as a stage where centuries of Easton's story have played out. This historic district showcases the heart of Easton, with buildings dating back to 1752 and representing styles up to 1910. The district…

Pull over here for a minute – this unassuming farm is where the organic gardening movement really took root in America. In 1940, J.I. Rodale bought this farm and started experimenting with composting and natural…

Imagine traveling by boat along this 60-mile canal, a vital transportation route in the 19th century. The Delaware Canal, completed around 1832, was built to transport anthracite coal from northeastern Pennsylvania to…

Hold onto your hats, folks, because this isn't just any old bridge; it's a survivor! Manasses Guth Covered Bridge, built way back when Abe Lincoln was still finding his footing, has seen more than its fair share of…

You're looking at a rare survivor: the Seigle Homestead, the only two-story log house left in Warren County. This wasn't just a house; it was a testament to early American ingenuity and resilience. Built around 1793,…

Marvel at the craftsmanship of this 1873 covered bridge, located next to the historic Levi Sheard Mill. It's more than just a pretty picture; it's a survivor. The Sheard's Mill Covered Bridge was built in 1873,…

Step back in time at this charming covered bridge, a relic of 19th-century craftsmanship and rural life. This is the Geiger Covered Bridge, built back in 1860. This 112-foot-long bridge uses a Burr Truss design, a…

This spot marks the heart of an iron empire that helped fuel America's industrial revolution. David Thomas, a Welsh immigrant, arrived in the Lehigh Valley in 1839 to introduce hot blast iron making. He later founded…

When you say you're starting with a clean slate, you're talking about this exact rock. Before cheap paper, schoolchildren wrote on small framed boards cut from slate, scratching letters with a slate pencil. At day's end…

Here's a town that bet its whole identity on a rock. Slatington sits on the west bank of the Lehigh River in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, and it is named, plainly and proudly, for the slate quarried right under it. In…

Slate begins life as the dullest thing imaginable: mud. Layers of fine clay settle on an ancient sea floor and harden into shale. Then the Earth goes to work. Buried deep and squeezed by mountain-building pressure, with…

Look at an old church or a grand stone house and there's a good chance the roof is older than anyone alive. A properly installed slate roof routinely lasts a hundred to a hundred and fifty years, and some have kept…

Lift the felt off any serious pool table and you'll find the same rock Slatington was built on: slate. The reason is physics. A ball rolling true needs a bed that is dead flat and stays that way, and slate can be ground…

Thirsty? This spot isn't just about quenching your thirst; it's about honoring the brave volunteer firefighters of Slatington. Back in 1909, this Fireman's Drinking Fountain was erected. It features a striking zinc…

Creak, clatter, rumble! Imagine the sounds this bridge has heard over the decades. It's more than just a pretty picture; it's a survivor. Built in 1872, the Frankenfield Covered Bridge was designed to help locals cross…

This charming covered bridge uses a unique lattice-type design, a testament to early American engineering. The Erwinna Covered Bridge spans Swamp Creek, connecting this part of Bucks County. It's believed to have been…

Believe it or not, this area was once home to a company that made a *lot* of rear-view mirrors. Delbar Products started in 1923 in Philadelphia, originally producing food processing equipment. They shifted gears and…

Pull over for a second; this is the Stover Mill, once the heart of this community. Built around 1832, it was more than just a mill. Farmers from miles around brought their grains here to be ground into flour and feed.…

Take a good look, because this isn't just any bridge – it's a portal to the past, a survivor from a time when covered bridges dotted the Pennsylvania landscape. Built in 1871, the Cabin Run Covered Bridge was…

Step back in time at this 'iron plantation,' where early Americans forged iron and shaped the nation's industrial landscape. This is the Dale Furnace and Forge Historic District. It operated as an iron furnace and…

Pull over here for a second – this is where a literary giant made her home. This is Green Hills Farm, the longtime home of Pearl S. Buck, the Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning author. Pearl Buck purchased this 67-acre…