Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites will open “Working Hands: Supplying a Revolution” on Oct. 3 at the 1869 Luckenbach Mill, 459 Old York Road in Bethlehem, Pa. The exhibition examines how the Moravian community balanced pacifist beliefs with mounting pressure to support patriot forces during the American Revolution.
Visitors will see 18th-century artifacts alongside reproductions of tools, firearms and everyday goods, with prints, illustrations, video and period quotes that place Bethlehem at the center of wartime logistics. Programming tied to the show will span nearby Colonial Industrial Quarter sites, including the 1750 Smithy and the 1782 Grist Miller’s House, as the region prepares for America’s 250th anniversary in 2026.
By the mid-1750s, Bethlehem operated dozens of trades along Monocacy Creek, creating what is believed to be the nation’s first industrial center. That capacity became critical once war began. Moravian blacksmiths were compelled to manufacture muskets for the first time, while potters, shoemakers, woodworkers, tinsmiths, millers and butchers met military needs. In 1776, the Single Brethren’s House became a Continental Army hospital that treated more than 400 soldiers at one time, reshaping how the community lived and worked.
The bag was used to carry dispatches to Gen. George Washington.
“Working Hands: Supplying a Revolution” is free to the public and runs Fridays through Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Oct. 3, 2026. The exhibition is part of Lehigh Valley 250, a regional collaboration commemorating 250 years of American independence with exhibitions, tours and events.
This bag and breeches, on display as part of Working Hands, belonged to Col. Jacob Grim.
Want more context on Moravian industry in the CIQ? HBMS’s guided Birthplace of Industry Tour is offered Fridays and Saturdays at 11 a.m. Tickets are available at historicbethlehem.org.
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