Walking Tours could support classroom learning

While this was a hot news item a couple of weeks ago when it hit the press, we thought we’d share information as these tools may support class research for local issues; if only by providing tools to help navigate the rich history of South Bethlehem.

Many courses at Lehigh University mention places and history of South Bethlehem. These walking tours can help provide context for local issues; current and historic. Learning may have more meaning when one has actually seen and felt the places of history and community. The tours can offer students not only tangible history, but could also be a great way to explore the city so near to campus.

Not only do these mobile tours provide contextual and location history for three separate walking tours of South Bethlehem, it is also a new way to support the South Bethlehem Historical Society. One can view details of the tours before venturing by exploring this website:

http://www.gpsmycity.com/gps-tour-guides/bethlehem-5686.html

Here are the three tours available now:

South Bethlehem Greenway. Sites include: Bethlehem Skateplaza, Sands Casino, Minsi Trail Bridge, Sands Hotel, Steel workers’ houses, Bethlehem Steel Corporation complex, SteelStacks, Bethlehem Steel Corporation headquarters, St. John’s Windish Evangelical Lutheran Church, Bethlehem Steel Corporation entrance gate, The Lodge Cafe, Neighborhood Gardens, Touchstone Theatre, Holy Infancy Church, Chinese Pavilion, Native Blue Heron sculpture, South Bethlehem Library, Lehigh Valley Cold Storage Company, Goodman’s Furniture Company, New Street. Details here.

Churches of  South Bethlehem. Sites include Grace Evangelical and Reformed Church, Our Lady of Pompeii Church, St. Joseph’s Chapel, St. Mark’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Holy Infancy Church, First Reformed Church, St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, St. John’s African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Packer Memorial Chapel, Saints Cyril and Methodius Church, Fritz Memorial United Methodist Church, University Parish of Holy Ghost, St. John Capistrano Roman Catholic Church, St. Stanislaus Polish Church, St. John’s Windish Evangelical Lutheran Church, St. John’s Slovak Lutheran Church, Cathedral Church of the Nativity. Details here.

Lunch in South Bethlehem. Sites include Starters Riverport Restaurant, Sal’s Old World Italian Restaurant, Manchu Picchu Peruvian Restaurant, Borinquen Restaurant, Jenny’s Kuali, Nawab Indian Restaurant, Alexandra’s Bistro, Taqueria La Lupita, Blue Sky Cafe, Goosey Gander Deli, Deja Brew Coffeehouse & Deli, Horns, Tulum, Olive Branch Cafe & Restaurant, Twenty Four East Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar, Looper’s Grille, Molinari’s, The Steel Pub, Emeril’s Burgers and More at Sands Casino, Carnegie Deli at Sands Casino, Colbalt Cafe at Sands Casino, Emeril’s Italian Table at Sands Casino, Mike & Ike Bistro at ArtsQuest Center. Details include hours, wi-fi, some menu items and payment options for each restaurant listed.

All three tours were authored by local historian Karen Samuels. The author is looking for new concepts for tours. She can be contact by email for any ideas or questions: karensamuels@verizon.net