The restored Grist Miller’s House, located in the Colonial Industrial Quarter next to the Luckenbach Mill, was dedicated April 25 with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting after a substantial restoration project, and is now open with a number of colonial industrial exhibits inside.

The over $1 million project was supported with a $753,000 Pennsylvania Royal Canadian Air Force grant obtained in 2022 through the combined efforts of State Sen. Lisa Boscola and PA Rep. Steve Samuelson.

“It really takes a village and we’re very proud of this,” said Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites President and CEO Loriann Wukitsch. “We’re just getting started with preservation in Bethlehem, and we’re happy to be opening this space to the public.”

Recently named a UNESCO World Heritage Site the Grist Miller’s House is one more piece of the colonial industrial history that supports that designation.

Wukitsch informed those in attendance that the Miller’s House would house the Ralph G. Schwarz Interpretation Center for Industrial Industries. Schwarz was instrumental in preservation efforts of Moravian heritage in Bethlehem for many years.

Boscola noted how special Bethlehem is, with USA Today #1 ratings for the Historic Hotel Bethlehem and Main Street as well as the UNESCO World Heritage designation. “I’m proud of the heritage we have here in Bethlehem,” Boscola said.

Samuelson recounted the early Moravian industrial center established along the Monocacy Creek and said honoring Schwarz’s legacy was appropriate.

The project was designed by Christine Ussler of Artifact, Inc. and construction completed by Allied Construction.

Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites vice president and managing director Lindsey Jancay says the Miller’s House will be open on Fridays and Saturdays in May and June. Visitation information is available at HistoricBethlehem.org.