Four years after Moravian settlers founded Bethlehem, they opened a bookstore. That was 1745. The American Revolution was still 31 years away. George Washington was 13 years old. And the Moravian Book Shop on Main Street has been selling books ever since, making it the oldest bookstore in America and one of the oldest continuously operating bookstores in the world.
A Bookstore Born of Faith
Bishop Augustus Spangenberg of the Moravian Church charged Samuel Powell, an innkeeper on Bethlehem's South Side, to open and operate a bookstore in 1745. The original purpose was to import international tomes and sell the church's religious texts. The Moravians were serious about literacy and education, and a bookstore was as essential to their community as a church or a school.
In 1871, the shop moved to a building near the Central Moravian Church on Main Street, where it has remained ever since. Today it is owned by Moravian University with day-to-day operations handled by Barnes and Noble College Booksellers. It functions both as the university bookstore and as a general interest bookshop open to the public.
More Than History
The Moravian Book Shop is not a museum. It is a real, working bookstore where you can browse new releases, pick up a bestseller, or find a gift for someone who loves to read. The building itself is a draw, with its historic architecture and its location in the heart of downtown Bethlehem, steps from other Moravian landmarks like Central Moravian Church and God's Acre cemetery.
A Living Link
In 2024, Bethlehem's Moravian Church Settlements received UNESCO World Heritage designation, the 26th such site in the United States. The Moravian Book Shop is part of that living heritage. It connects modern Bethlehem to its 18th century founders and reminds visitors that this city's commitment to learning and culture is not new. It is 281 years old and counting.
