Your Place to Discover History

The Moravian Historical Society is a nonprofit museum and historic site that preserves, interprets, and celebrates the rich culture of the Moravians. 

Located in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, Moravian Historical Society maintains the 1740–1743 Whitefield House and the 1740 Gray Cottage, the oldest surviving Moravian structure in North America. Recognized widely for its significant collection and historically important 18th-century site, ​the Moravian Historical Society is the third oldest historical society in Pennsylvania. The museum offers permanent and special exhibitions and a museum store that features gifts, books, and handmade artisan items.​

Christmas in Nazareth 

Christmas in Nazareth is a town-wide celebration, which takes place at various locations in Nazareth.

The Moravian Historical Society will feature FREE family-friendly activities on the lawn of the historic 1740-1743 Whitefield House including:

• holiday market with local artisans,

• annual putz display in the 1740 Gray Cottage,

• Historic Walking tours to the Nazareth Moravian Church putz display, and

• seasonal food and drinks!

Thank you to our generous sponsor!

Celebrate a Moravian Christmas tradition!

Saturday, November 26, 2022 through January 8, 2023

Daily from 1 p.m–4 p.m.

Make plans to visit this exhibition of a historic Moravian Christmas putz. An elaborate display that tells the Christmas story, the putz is a Moravian tradition that reaches back into the eighteenth century.

This year’s display will take place in the historic 1740 Gray Cottage, the oldest Moravian structure in North America. The exhibit features historic Moravian putz collections from the 1850s through 1970s.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to enjoy a festive display Moravian stars.

Learn about our digitized archival resources

Moravian Historical Society is proud to introduce a new digitized archival collection—the Henry Family Collection—and a new online platform that makes it available to the public. The Henry Family Collection contains some 450 unique items, including letters, lectures, and unpublished research. 

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A Historical & Archives Records Care (HARC) grant from the Pennsylvania Museum and Historical Commission made this project possible. More recently an American Historical Association-National Endowment for the Humanities (AHA-NEH) grant, will help expand our digitized collections.

We hope you enjoy exploring the collection!
 

Special Exhibition Charting the Unknown: Early Moravian Maps

Through December 31, 2022

This exhibition of historic maps, archival documents, and objects from the collection of the Moravian Historical Society explores the role of the surveyor in colonial society, 18th century surveying techniques, the conflicts between Indigenous People and European settlers, and the Moravian contributions to surveying, cartography, and town planning in early America. 

Shop Small and Shop Local! 

The Museum Store is open daily from 1-4 p.m.

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We carry a large selection of local artisan-made gifts, ornaments, and Moravian stars.

Shop local and support your small museum!

Thank you to our generous supporters: