Drink like it's 1776 on Bethlehem's newest pub tour
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Photo: Courtesy of the Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites
Huzzah — this new Bethlehem pub tour lets you party like an American revolutionary.
Why it matters: Philadelphia gets most of the American democracy glory, but this hidden gem of colonial history makes a case for a boozy field trip up north.
The big picture: Bethlehem is adding Ales & Tales, a 90-minute walking pub tour tied to the nation's 250th birthday.
- It starts at the Goundie House Welcome Center and winds to the historic Hotel Bethlehem, with stops at the Lost Tavern, the Sun Inn and the Red Stag Pub along the way.
What to expect: It's not a bar crawl; it's heavier on history and lighter on drinks, Ted Moyer, lead storyteller for Bethlehem Museum and Sites and the tour's architect, tells Axios.
- Yes, but: You won't go thirsty. There are opportunities to sample local spirits, including the cherry bounce — the go-to drink Martha Washington would make for her husband.
The intrigue: The Moravian founders of Bethlehem — pacifists who tried staying neutral in the American Revolution — were "pious" people, but they also liked to party, Moyer says.
- Alcohol was a staple of their culture, carried over from European traditions.
What they're saying: The tour aims to get you inside the minds of the Moravians.
- "Think about the conflicts that these people had to endure," Moyer says. "What it was like to be someone who was a pacifist at a time when people really were up in arms."
Zoom in: One stop on the tour is the historic Sun Inn, which the Moravians opened in 1760.
- At one point, 17 signers of the Declaration of Independence gathered there, Moyer says.
- Among the notable revolutionaries: future presidents George Washington and John Adams — the latter, who wrote glowingly about the inn in letters to his wife, Abigail.
🇺🇲 1 cool Philly connection: The Liberty Bell made a pit stop in Bethlehem in September 1777 en route to Philadelphia when the wagon carrying the bell broke down, Moyer says.
The bottom line: If you're looking for a hip, history-soaked escape from Philly crowds this summer, Bethlehem is worth a day trip.
- Or, as Moyer puts it: "You can do day trips from Bethlehem to Philadelphia or New York — and stay in Bethlehem instead."
If you go: Tours start June 6. Tickets: $30.
Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct the name of the Goundie House Welcome Center.