Skip to content
NOWCAST Pittsburgh's Action News 4 at 11pm Sunday
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

Step inside the nation's oldest operating book store in Bethlehem, Pa.

Step inside the nation's oldest operating book store in Bethlehem, Pa.
And listen. It's not just any bookshop. It is the oldest continuously operating bookshop in the United States. The Moravian bookshop started in 17 45 as *** bookshop for the Moravian community. Remind me one more time for the first time, who are the Moravians. They're religious group from basically central Europe in the 17 hundreds, they formed Bethlehem as *** support area basically for their missionary work in the United States. The Moravians were very interested in education. Always, they came from that tradition of we want people to be able to read the Bible on their own. We want them to be literate. So books were an essential part of their tradition and their focus. They also educated, hated the women, which is really incredible for that time. I knew I liked you Moravians. Now it turns out Moravian College in Bethlehem was the first in the country to educate women and the first to educate native Americans in their own language. They used printers in Philadelphia, including Benjamin Franklin to print some of their books. But very soon after they came here, they started publishing their own books. And this building here was built as *** publishing house these days. The bookshop also supplies textbooks for many colleges based in the area. So, would you say education and scholarship is kind of what you guys are known for. We're known for paranormal activity. Curveball. We do ghost tours. There's *** woman who was in our book department. She likes to knock the books off the shelves. There's accountants stairs and there's *** gentleman who likes to run the hall. Your accountants are ghosts. No zombies. Now, the accountants work up stairs. I mean, I was kind of excited to meet some undead accountants. Oh, well, thanks ladies for continuing the Moravian tradition of keeping such an important bookshop alive. And well.
Advertisement
Step inside the nation's oldest operating book store in Bethlehem, Pa.
It's the oldest continuously operating bookshop in the U.S., and it's located in Pennsylvania's own Tinsel Town. Moravian Book Shop has been open continuously since the 18th century. Its history follows that of the Moravians, a Protestant group who promoted education – including literacy – among its order. Watch above to learn about this little-known history – as well as paranormal activity at the shop?What is Very Local?Very Local is a streaming app where you can watch local news, original series and more. Keep connected to your hometown with the news team you trust and discover original series and specials that explore your community and beyond. Very Local, from WTAE-TV parent Hearst Television, is available free on all mobile, tablet and connected TV devices.Follow Very Local on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for more.

It's the oldest continuously operating bookshop in the U.S., and it's located in Pennsylvania's own Tinsel Town.

Moravian Book Shop has been open continuously since the 18th century. Its history follows that of the Moravians, a Protestant group who promoted education – including literacy – among its order.

Advertisement

Watch above to learn about this little-known history – as well as paranormal activity at the shop?

What is Very Local?

Very Local is a streaming app where you can watch local news, original series and more. Keep connected to your hometown with the news team you trust and discover original series and specials that explore your community and beyond.

Very Local, from WTAE-TV parent Hearst Television, is available free on all mobile, tablet and connected TV devices.

Follow Very Local on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for more.