A Brief History of the Lehigh Valley Landmarks You Know and Love
The Lehigh Valley is rich in history and culture, including dozens of interesting sites and landmarks that can be seen throughout the area. But have you ever wondered what these places were initially used for? Or how do they play such an essential role in the Lehigh Valley today?
As they say, history repeats itself, so we've compiled a brief history of some of the most popular sites in the area to give you a glimpse into how much our area has changed over time.
Site 1-Colonial Park Bridge
The Colonial Park Bridge is a beautiful, iconic bridge spanning the Delaware River. Built in 1848, it connects downtown Easton with Phillipsburg, New Jersey.
Site 2–The Cookie Factory
The Cookie Factory is perfect for taking the kids for an outing. Located at 640 East 4th Street in Allentown, this historic factory has been preserved by its owners as a living museum with the original equipment. Visitors can watch cookies being made on-site, see workers processing chocolate chips and marshmallows, or visit the gift shop. The best part? They'll get to sample some cookies at the end!
Site 3–The Gander House
The Gander House is a historic building in Allentown, Pennsylvania, built as a private residence in 1878. The house was sold to William Gander, who operated a grocery store on the first floor. The store became so popular that he soon converted most of the second floor into apartments for his employees.
Site 4-St. Luke's Episcopal Church
St. Luke's Episcopal Church is one of the most well-known landmarks in Allentown. Founded by a group of Quakers, it was completed in 1846 on a site donated by Asa Packer, one of Pennsylvania's wealthiest men. In addition to being a place of worship, this church was also a place where adults and children could learn.
Site 5-Bethlehem Arts Center
The Bethlehem Arts Center was originally built as the Union Evangelical Church in 1872. Architect Henry Hornbostel designed the church in the Romanesque Revival style, with stained glass windows by Louis Comfort Tiffany.
It is now owned by The Arts Council of the Lehigh Valley, which offers art classes for children and adults, concerts, theater productions, and more!
Site 6-Coca-Cola Park
In 2001, Coca-Cola Park was built in Allentown to replace Mack Truck Stadium. The ballpark is a multi-purpose stadium that seats 8,200 people with a grass field. The stadium is home to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs (a Triple-A Minor League team) and is used for concerts, festivals, and other events.
Site 7-Cathedral Basilica of St. Catharine of Siena
The Cathedral Basilica is a Catholic church in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Construction for this site started in 1887 and took about 20 years to complete, with many changes to the original design.
After construction was completed in 1907, it became one of the largest Roman Catholic churches in America. This church is known for its stained glass windows, including one that depicts St.
Site 8 – Hotel Allure
In 1887, a group of local businessmen purchased a building for $4,000 to use as an office building. They were successful in marketing it to businesses who were looking for office space. In 1897, when they could no longer afford the mortgage payments, they sold it to a private investor who turned it into a hotel. The Hotel Allure has been operating ever since.
Site 9-Ice Cream Cone Building
The Ice Cream Cone Building on Fourth Street in downtown Allentown was built as a bakery in 1927. The building served as a bakery until it closed its doors in 1966. After that, different businesses used it as a storefront before it was turned into an apartment building.
Site 10 – Globe Dye Works Building
The Globe Dye Works Building was a significant contributor to the textile industry in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The building was converted into apartments in 1996.
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