From the first municipal water pump system to the I-beam, Bethlehem has been a cradle of innovation and industry for 275 years.
It began with the Moravians, who settled the land in 1741 and built a self-sustaining community with 50 industries in 20 years. By the mid-19th century, industry became the bedrock of the community with the rise of what became Bethlehem Steel. Its flagship plant attracted thousands of workers from all over the world to make the steel, while the era's brightest minds created ways to make the steelmaking process more efficient and the product stronger.
Image: http://www.mcall.com
