National Register of Historic Places listings in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania facts for kids
Have you ever wondered about the old buildings and special places in your town? Some places are so important that they are added to a special list called the National Register of Historic Places. This list helps protect buildings, sites, and objects that are important to the history of the United States.
Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, has many amazing historic places! This page will tell you about some of them. There are 54 places in Lehigh County on this list. One of them is even more special and is called a National Historic Landmark. This means it's super important to the whole country's history!
What is the National Register of Historic Places?
The National Register of Historic Places is like a hall of fame for old buildings and important sites. It's the official list of places in the United States that are worth saving. When a place is on this list, it means it has a special story to tell about our past.
Why are these places important?
These historic places help us learn about how people lived long ago. They show us how our towns grew and changed. Protecting them means future generations can also learn from and enjoy these amazing parts of history.
Cool Historic Places in Lehigh County
Let's look at some of the interesting places in Lehigh County that are on the National Register.
Old Bridges with Stories
Lehigh County has several old bridges that are on the list. These bridges are not just ways to cross water; they are like time machines!
Bogert Covered Bridge
The Bogert Covered Bridge is south of Allentown. It's a beautiful old wooden bridge that looks like something from a storybook. It was built a long time ago, in 1841! Imagine all the people and wagons that have crossed it over the years.
Centennial Bridge
The Centennial Bridge in Center Valley crosses Saucon Creek. It was built in 1876, the year America celebrated its 100th birthday (its "centennial"). That's why it's called the Centennial Bridge!
Covered Bridges in North Whitehall Township
There are several other cool covered bridges in North Whitehall Township, like the Geiger Covered Bridge, Rex Covered Bridge, and Schlicher Covered Bridge. Covered bridges were popular because the roofs protected the wooden parts from rain and snow, making them last longer.
Buildings with a Past
Many buildings in Lehigh County have been around for a long time and have interesting histories.
Allentown Masonic Temple
The Allentown Masonic Temple is a grand building in Allentown. It was built in 1925 and is known for its impressive design. It's a place where a group called the Masons meet.
Americus Hotel
The Americus Hotel, also in Allentown, is a tall, historic hotel. It was built in 1927 and was once a very fancy place for travelers and important events.
Coplay Cement Company Kilns
In Coplay, you can find the old Coplay Cement Company Kilns. These huge structures were used to make cement, which was very important for building roads and buildings in the past. They show how industries used to work.
Lock Ridge Furnace Complex
The Lock Ridge Furnace Complex in Alburtis is another example of Lehigh County's industrial past. This was a large iron furnace that helped produce iron, a key material during the Industrial Revolution. It's a great place to see how things were made long ago.
George Taylor House
The George Taylor House in Catasauqua is a very special place. It's not just on the National Register; it's also a National Historic Landmark! George Taylor was one of the people who signed the Declaration of Independence. His house is a direct link to the founding of our country.
Historic Neighborhoods
Sometimes, not just one building, but a whole area or neighborhood is considered historic. These are called "Historic Districts."
Central Bethlehem Historic District
Part of Bethlehem is a historic district. This area has many old buildings that show what the town looked like in the past. It's a great place to walk around and imagine life long ago.
Slatington Historic District
The Slatington Historic District in Slatington includes many buildings that tell the story of this town, especially its history with slate mining.
Current Listings
| Name on the Register | Image | Date listed | Location | Municipality | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Allentown Masonic Temple |
 |
(#04000402) |
1524 West Linden Street 40°35′55″N 75°29′25″W / 40.598611°N 75.490278°W |
Allentown | |
| 2 | Allentown National Bank |
 |
(#05001490) |
13–17 N. 7th Street 40°36′17″N 75°28′17″W / 40.604722°N 75.471389°W |
Allentown | |
| 3 | Americus Hotel |
 |
(#84003454) |
541 Hamilton Street 40°36′10″N 75°28′12″W / 40.602778°N 75.47°W |
Allentown | |
| 4 | Bethlehem Armory |
 |
(#91001693) |
301 Prospect Street 40°37′09″N 75°23′16″W / 40.619167°N 75.387778°W |
Bethlehem | |
| 5 | Biery's Port Historic District |
 |
(#84003457) |
Roughly bounded by Pineapple, Front, Race, and Mulberry Streets 40°38′57″N 75°28′04″W / 40.649167°N 75.467778°W |
Catasauqua | |
| 6 | Bogert Covered Bridge |
 |
(#80003552) |
South of Allentown on Legislative Route 39016 in Little Lehigh Park 40°34′08″N 75°30′17″W / 40.568889°N 75.504722°W |
Allentown | |
| 7 | Bridge in Heidelberg Township |
 |
(#88000765) |
Legislative Route 39110 over a branch of Jordan Creek 40°42′03″N 75°42′37″W / 40.700833°N 75.710278°W |
Heidelberg Township | |
| 8 | Burnside Plantation |
 |
(#90000705) |
Schoenersville Road 2 miles (3.2 km) southeast of its junction with Easton Avenue 40°37′51″N 75°23′22″W / 40.630833°N 75.389444°W |
Bethlehem | |
| 9 | Catasauqua Residential Historic District |
 |
(#84003465) |
Roughly bounded by Howertown Road, Railroad Avenue, Oak and Bridge Streets 40°39′19″N 75°28′25″W / 40.655278°N 75.473611°W |
Catasauqua | |
| 10 | Centennial Bridge |
.jpg) |
(#88000772) |
Station Avenue over Saucon Creek 40°31′43″N 75°23′31″W / 40.528611°N 75.391944°W |
Center Valley | |
| 11 | Central Bethlehem Historic District |
 |
(#72001131) |
Bounded by Main, Nevada, and East Broad Streets, and the river 40°37′06″N 75°22′56″W / 40.618333°N 75.382222°W |
Bethlehem | Extends into Northampton County |
| 12 | Cold Spring Bridge |
 |
(#88000874) |
2nd Street over Spring Creek 40°42′03″N 75°31′01″W / 40.700833°N 75.516944°W |
North Whitehall and Whitehall Townships | |
| 13 | Coopersburg Historic District |
 |
(#82003798) |
Main Street and Pennsylvania Route 309 40°30′32″N 75°23′23″W / 40.508889°N 75.389722°W |
Coopersburg | |
| 14 | Coplay Cement Company Kilns |
 |
(#80003556) |
North 2nd Street 40°40′34″N 75°29′42″W / 40.676111°N 75.495°W |
Coplay | |
| 15 | Dent Hardware Company Factory Complex |
 |
(#86001772) |
1101 3rd Street, Fullerton 40°38′24″N 75°28′30″W / 40.64°N 75.475°W |
Whitehall Township | |
| 16 | Dillingersville Union School and Church |
 |
(#79002290) |
East of Zionsville on Zionsville Road 40°28′26″N 75°29′17″W / 40.473889°N 75.488056°W |
Lower Milford Township | |
| 17 | Dime Savings and Trust Company |
 |
(#85000036) |
12 North 7th Street 40°36′08″N 75°28′22″W / 40.602222°N 75.472778°W |
Allentown | |
| 18 | Dorneyville Crossroad Settlement |
 |
(#77001172) |
South of Allentown at the junction of U.S. Route 222 and Pennsylvania Route 29 40°34′48″N 75°31′19″W / 40.58°N 75.521944°W |
South Whitehall Township | |
| 19 | Jacob Jr. Ehrenhardt House |
 |
(#03001123) |
55 South Keystone Avenue 40°32′23″N 75°29′11″W / 40.539722°N 75.486389°W |
Emmaus | |
| 20 | Fireman's Drinking Fountain |
 |
(#81000551) |
Main Street 40°45′06″N 75°36′48″W / 40.751667°N 75.613333°W |
Slatington | |
| 21 | Fountain Hill Historic District |
 |
(#88000450) |
Roughly bounded by Brighton, Wyandotte, W. 4th, and Seminole Streets, and Delaware Avenue 40°36′40″N 75°23′10″W / 40.611111°N 75.386111°W |
Bethlehem | Extends into Northampton County |
| 22 | Frantz's Bridge |
 |
(#88000771) |
Legislative Route 39060 over Jordan Creek 40°39′03″N 75°39′02″W / 40.650833°N 75.650556°W |
Lowhill Township | Replaced with a concrete bridge in 2011 |
| 23 | Gauff-Roth House |
 |
(#85001966) |
427–443 Auburn Street 40°35′46″N 75°27′52″W / 40.596111°N 75.464444°W |
Allentown | |
| 24 | Geiger Covered Bridge |
 |
(#80003558) |
Southeast of Schencksville on Township 681 40°38′46″N 75°37′00″W / 40.646111°N 75.616667°W |
North Whitehall Township | |
| 25 | Haines Mill |
 |
(#81000548) |
Walnut Street and Main Boulevard 40°35′06″N 75°31′56″W / 40.585°N 75.532222°W |
South Whitehall Township | |
| 26 | Helfrich's Springs Grist Mill |
 |
(#77001174) |
West of Fullerton on Mickley Road 40°37′31″N 75°29′29″W / 40.625278°N 75.491389°W |
Whitehall Township | |
| 27 | High German Evangelical Reformed Church |
 |
(#83002259) |
620 Hamilton Street 40°36′08″N 75°27′31″W / 40.602222°N 75.458611°W |
Allentown | |
| 28 | Hotel Sterling |
 |
(#84003469) |
343–345 Hamilton Street 40°36′19″N 75°27′43″W / 40.605278°N 75.461944°W |
Allentown | |
| 29 | Kemmerer House |
 |
(#77001173) |
3 Iroquois Street 40°32′54″N 75°29′57″W / 40.548444°N 75.49925°W |
Emmaus | |
| 30 | Frederick and Catherine Leaser Farm |
 |
(#03001420) |
7654 Leaser Road 40°40′32″N 75°50′47″W / 40.675556°N 75.846389°W |
Lynn Township | |
| 31 | Lehigh Canal |
 |
(#80003553) |
Walnutport to Allentown Section 40°42′08″N 75°31′52″W / 40.702222°N 75.531111°W |
Allentown | Extends into Northampton County |
| 32 | Lehigh Canal; Allentown to Hopeville Section |
 |
(#79002307) |
Along the Lehigh River 40°36′55″N 75°24′52″W / 40.615278°N 75.414444°W |
Allentown | |
| 33 | Linden Grove Pavilion |
 |
(#79002289) |
Linden and South Main Streets 40°30′18″N 75°23′35″W / 40.505°N 75.393056°W |
Coopersburg | |
| 34 | Lock Ridge Furnace Complex |
 |
(#81000547) |
Franklin and Church Streets 40°30′32″N 75°35′39″W / 40.508889°N 75.594167°W |
Alburtis | |
| 35 | Manasses Guth Covered Bridge |
.png) |
(#80003559) |
West of Greenawalds on Township 602 40°37′42″N 75°33′13″W / 40.628333°N 75.553611°W |
South Whitehall Township | |
| 36 | Martin Tower |
 |
(#10000401) |
1170 8th Ave. 40°37′54″N 75°23′40″W / 40.631667°N 75.394444°W |
Bethlehem | |
| 37 | Albertus L. Meyers Bridge |
 |
(#88000870) |
8th Street over Little Lehigh and Railroad Streets 40°35′45″N 75°28′16″W / 40.595833°N 75.471111°W |
Allentown | |
| 38 | Mount Airy Historic District |
 |
(#88000453) |
Roughly Prospect Avenue between 15th and 8th Avenues 40°37′12″N 75°24′09″W / 40.62°N 75.4025°W |
Bethlehem | |
| 39 | Neuweiler Brewery |
 |
(#80003554) |
401 North Front Street 40°36′40″N 75°27′29″W / 40.611111°N 75.458056°W |
Allentown | |
| 40 | Old Lehigh County Courthouse |
 |
(#81000550) |
5th and Hamilton Streets 40°36′13″N 75°28′04″W / 40.603611°N 75.467778°W |
Allentown | |
| 41 | Rex Covered Bridge |
 |
(#80003560) |
South of Schencksville on Township 593 40°38′05″N 75°36′47″W / 40.634722°N 75.613056°W |
North Whitehall Township | |
| 42 | Rodale Organic Gardening Experimental Farm |
 |
(#99000515) |
2056 Minesite Road 40°33′17″N 75°31′20″W / 40.554722°N 75.522222°W |
Lower Macungie Township | |
| 43 | Schlicher Covered Bridge |
 |
(#80003555) |
Legislative Route 39058 near Allentown 40°39′42″N 75°37′38″W / 40.661667°N 75.627222°W |
North Whitehall Township | |
| 44 | George F. Schlicher Hotel |
 |
(#92000396) |
105–107 South Main Street 40°30′43″N 75°36′12″W / 40.511944°N 75.603333°W |
Alburtis | |
| 45 | Shelter House |
 |
(#78002426) |
South 4th Street 40°31′50″N 75°29′06″W / 40.530556°N 75.485°W |
Emmaus | |
| 46 | Slatington Historic District |
 |
(#04000839) |
Roughly bounded by Ridge Alley, Chesnut Street, Railroad Street, Kern Street, Hill Alley, 5th Street, and Dowell 40°44′54″N 75°36′43″W / 40.748333°N 75.611944°W |
Slatington | |
| 47 | George Taylor House |
 |
(#71000709) |
Front Street 40°38′52″N 75°27′59″W / 40.647778°N 75.466389°W |
Catasauqua | |
| 48 | Trout Hall |
 |
(#78002425) |
414 Walnut Street 40°36′09″N 75°27′50″W / 40.6025°N 75.463889°W |
Allentown | |
| 49 | Troxell-Steckel House |
 |
(#80003557) |
4229 Reliance Street 40°40′32″N 75°32′08″W / 40.675556°N 75.535556°W |
Egypt | |
| 50 | Vigilant Fire Company Firemen's Monument |
 |
(#04000838) |
Union Cemetery, west side of Pennsylvania Route 873, approximately 1⁄3 mile (0.5 km) south of Slatington 40°44′23″N 75°36′49″W / 40.739722°N 75.613611°W |
Washington Township | |
| 51 | Valentine Weaver House |
 |
(#84003482) |
146 South Church Street 40°30′40″N 75°33′21″W / 40.511111°N 75.555833°W |
Macungie | |
| 52 | Wehr Covered Bridge |
 |
(#80003561) |
West of Greenawald on Township 597 40°34′08″N 75°30′17″W / 40.568889°N 75.504722°W |
South Whitehall Township | |
| 53 | Zollinger-Harned Company Building |
 |
(#79002288) |
605–613 Hamilton Mall and 14016 North 6th Street 40°36′10″N 75°28′14″W / 40.602778°N 75.470556°W |
Allentown |
Former Listings
Sometimes, a place might be removed from the National Register. This can happen if the building is changed too much, or if it is unfortunately torn down. Here are some places that were once on the list in Lehigh County:
| Name on the Register | Image | Date listed | Date removed | Location | Municipality | Summary | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bridge in Lynn Township |
 |
(#88000822) |
|
Legislative Route 39112 over Ontelaunee Creek |
Steinsville | |
| 2 | Lehigh County Prison |
(#81000549) |
|
4th and Linden Sts. |
Allentown | ||
| 3 | Nonnemaker House |
 |
(#73002281) |
|
301 S. Lehigh St. |
Allentown |
