Published September 01. 2016 12:00AM
The National Museum of Industrial History opened Aug. 2 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the long-awaited facility in South Bethlehem, on the original property of Bethlehem Steel’s home plant. Bethlehem Steel operated for more than 150 years as an industrial powerhouse, longtime No. 2 steel company in the United States and also a leader of international steel sales.
The NMIH, a Smithsonian affiliate, is dedicated to preserving America’s rich industrial heritage with more than 200 unique artifacts, some of which represent Bethlehem Steel, in a first-class 18,000-square-foot museum facility with four galleries. The restored building dates back to 1903 as the local plant’s electrical shop. A second identical building with a restored exterior, stands ready to be opened as the second phase of the NMIH project in the future.
The newly opened museum at 602 E. Second St. is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday and closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
For additional information, call 610-694-6844 or email info@nmih.org.
Amy Hollander, NMIH president and CEO, addresses the museum opening crowd. “The National Museum of Industrial History, with its unique resources, such as Smithsonian affiliation, and extraordinary location, provides the perfect backdrop to share the stories of American industry by showcasing the companies and people whose hard work and creativity which led to new technology that shaped America
