BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A major expansion that officials say will double the size of the National Museum of Industrial History is underway.
The museum is renovating its second floor at the facility at 602 East Second St., Bethlehem.
The project will be funded in part by a $500,000 award from the National Endowment for the Humanities, as part of its infrastructure and capacity building challenge grant. The funding stream is focused on capital projects.
- The National Museum of Industrial History was awarded a $500,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities
- The grant money, plus other funding, will be used to renovate the second floor, which will double the size of the space
- The museum is housed inside a former Bethlehem Steel facility on East Second Street
Renovation plans
According to the NMIH's President and Chief Executive Officer, Kara Mohsinger, construction will begin in March and is estimated to be completed within two years.
The first phase will involve creating an open-air space that can be rented out for private parties, weddings and other meetings and conventions.
"When we first opened in 2016, we didn't realize how quickly it was going to take off for third-party rentals, not just for weddings but also for corporate events and those who are interested in the museum and its unique backdrop," Mohsinger said.
New exhibits coming
In the second phase of construction, the museum will work closely with a design firm to decide where to house its new exhibits.
"We are consulting with experts in the field, visitors feedback, surveying our members and volunteers and staff, and collecting a lot of information to figure out what people want to see in the museum. Not just about the second floor, we're actually taking the opportunity to look holistically at the museum and figure out what is the storyline," Mohsinger said.
The museum currently has several industrial artifacts in storage waiting to be put on display.
"We want to be able to weave the story of the American experience to more of holistic approach in different types of industries," Mohsinger said. "Right now where we have iron and steel, we're focusing on silk — we want to be able to expand that story and talk about the worker experience and what it felt like for them."
Other grants awarded
The museum applied for the NEH grant in May and also received $500,000 from the state's Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) funding for the expansion.
Additionally, the Smithsonian-Institute affiliate had previously received $1 million that was put towards insulating the windows and roof, along with the installation of staircases and elevators in the former Bethlehem Steel facility.
Since opening five years ago, NHIM has relied heavily on state and local funding for projects such as the completion of Foundry Park and the acquisition of a 113-ton steam engine.
According to NHIM, capital funding for the early stages of expansion was also provided by Northampton County Hotel tax, Helen and R.K. Laros Foundation, Julius and Katheryn Hommer Foundation, Keystone Savings Foundation, and Otis Elevator and a state marketing to attract tourists grant.
