With Thanksgiving almost here, many Americans reflect on its history and tell stories of Pilgrims and Native Americans, farmers and steelworkers, but mystery remains about these groups and about what their life was like in the Valley. Check out these places below to learn about the Valley’s diverse history.
Early Settlers and Immigrants: Lehigh County Historical Society
Historic 1770 Trout Hall
Historic Trout Hall, built in 1770 and considered a colonial stone mansion, is Allentown’s oldest home. It was the summer estate of James Allen, son of Allentown’s founder William Allen, and also where the Loyalist Allens sought refuge during the Revolutionary War. The home was restored in 1918 to match the period’s elegance. Tickets can be purchased at the adjacent Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum.
Historic 1770 Trout Hall | 414 Walnut St., Allentown
Haines Mill
The four story Haines Mill was built around 1850, but the actual Mill has been standing since the colonial times of the 1700s. Get a glimpse of the early technology that supported farm life and how Americans lived. Admission is free with tours from May through September.
Haines Mill | 432 W. Walnut St., Allentown
Native Americans: Museum of Indian Culture
The Lenape of Pennsylvania were the nation’s first people. They had fair deals with Pennsylvania’s founder William Penn, but after his death, it went downhill from there. The Lenape were swindled out of land with the Walking Purchase and, after a conference in 1758, all Lenape were forced from their Pennsylvania and New Jersey ancestral homelands. The Lenape were forced to settle in Oklahoma and Canada; however, their descendants live throughout the world.
Guided Tours
The Museum of Indian Culture offers a guided tour to see how Native American tribes made tools from stone and made fire using those tools. There are also authentic, handmade items such as beadwork, pottery and basketry on display that Iroquois, Passamaquoddy and Lenape tribes traded. Additionally, view the Navajo sand art, Lakota Morning Star Quilt and Hopi textiles to appreciate their artistry.
Let’s Powwow!
Let’s Powwow is one of the featured exhibit on display at the museum. Powwow is one of the most underappreciated art forms. Learn about the history today through colorful dance regalia, powwow drums and more.
Museum of Indian Culture | 2825 Fish Hatchery Rd, Allentown
Steelwalkers: SteelStacks
Walking Tours
Discover what it was like working at the former Bethlehem Steel Corp., the second-largest steel producer and largest shipbuilder in America, from Bethlehem Steelworkers’ Archives (men and women who actually worked at the plant). The Steelworkers’ Archives are preserving heritage for future generations through oral history like the Steelwalkers tours. Learn how the blast furnaces worked, the skills needed to make steel, the danger that came with the job and other untold stories from the workers. Tours run at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sundays until December 18.
Visitor Center at SteelStacks | 711 E. 1st St., Bethlehem
