Published August 19. 2021 01:00PM
By Mark Kirlin
Bethlehem’s National Museum of Industrial History celebrated its fifth anniversary Aug. 3 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Foundry Park space. Many local dignitaries were on hand to speak during the event. Foundry Park is a 17,000-square-foot space just outside the museum. Some of the new notable exhibits include a Bethlehem Steel 1 million pound hydraulic press, Bethlehem Steel locomotive, mining equipment, forging machinery as well as other historical industrial machinery. The NMIH Museum is open to the public and is located at 602 E. Second St. in Bethlehem.
Press photos by Mark Kirlin Bethlehem's National Museum of Industrial History celebrated its fifth anniversary Aug. 3 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Foundry Park space. Many local dignitaries were on hand to speak during the event. Foundry Park is a 17,000-square-foot space just outside the museum. Some of the new notable exhibits include a Bethlehem Steel 1 million pound hydraulic press, Bethlehem Steel locomotive, mining equipment, forging machinery as well as other historical industrial machinery. The NMIH Museum is open to the public and is located at 602 E. Second St. Above: Local dignitaries cut the ribbon for the new Foundary Park located outside on the museum's grounds. Just behind them is a new Bethlehem Steel locomotive interactive exhibit.
To commemorate the event, a Certificate of Achievement is presented to President and CEO of NMIH, Kara Mohsinger (Center) by Northampton County Executive, Lamont McClure (right) and County Council Member, Kevin Lott (Left).
U.S. Congresswoman Susan Wild was on hand to deliver a speech during the ceremony. Wild represents Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district.
State Senator Lisa Boscola speaks to an enthusiastic audience. Boscola represents district 18 which is part of Lehigh and Northampton counties. Upper right: In Foundary Park is a newly paved path for museum visitors. Along the path are signs highlighting the history of the industrial items on display. Right: Photos were on display showing the process of restoring many of the new artifacts at Foundry Park.
State Representative Steve Samuelson speaks to the crowd. Samuelson represents district 135 of Northampton County.
Bethlehem Mayor Robert Donchez speaks of the museum's 5 year milestone and Foundry Park. Donchez has been Mayor of the city since 2014.
Attendees got to ride on a 1941 Whitcomb diesel-electric narrow-gauge locomotive which is original to the Bethlehem Steel plant and was restored to working condition.
One of the new exhibits is a hoisting engine. This particular model was built in 1902 in Bangor, PA. Hoisting engines were often used to pull and reposition rail cars for a variety of applications including the steel industry.
Visitors to the event got to see the new artifacts up close for the first time. The new added outdoor space allowed the museum to display several new exhibits.
