The Civil War Roundtable of Eastern Pa, presents “A Journey Through Time: The Civil War and Bethlehem”, a free exhibit of Civil War relics, artifacts and personal items including many Bethlehem and Lehigh Valley items from the American Civil War. See Capt. Jonathan Taylors sword, meet reenactors and historians, see uniforms, an original civil war camp display and much more.
The pop-up museum located at 555 Main Street in Bethlehem will be open Friday November 28 th at 11AM. The exhibition will run thru December 28th and will be open every Friday from 4 to 8pm; and Saturdays and Sundays from 10am-8pm, Nov 28th thru Dec 28th.
The pop-up museum all started with a dispatch to John Lerch during the Civil War, 164 years ago. A local collector, Jack Stanley, was researching Lerch and came across a newspaper article that mentioned a time capsule in what is today Main Street Commons.
He approached Lou and Lisa Pektor about searching for the time capsule, which was found in August of 2025. In the process of looking for the time capsule, Stanley asked the Pektor’s if they would allow the Civil War Roundtable to host a pop-up museum in the vacant space in the historic Woolworth Building, right next to the 1891 cornerstone. Among the various newspapers and advertisements in the time capsule, there was a photo of Frank Lerch, John Lerch’s son.
The public will be able to view the historic dispatch along with many other artifacts in the pop-up museum. The museum features swords and firearms, uniforms, a display by the National Museum of Industrial History, and Captain Jonathan Taylor’s sword. Captain Taylor was a Union officer from Bethlehem, who was mortally wounded at the Battle of Fredericksburg in 1862, he was 20 years old and was the Captain of Company C, 129 th PA Infantry. Captain Taylor was the only officer from Bethlehem to succumb to his wounds. He was carrying the sword when he was dealt the fatal blow. The sword is normally on display at Nitschmann Middle School and the pop-up museum was a great chance to display it in a more public setting.
Also, did you know the origins of the modern Santa Claus date back to the Civil War? Some of the first images of the modern Santa Claus emerged in 1863 depicted as a Union supporter distributing gifts to soldiers. There will be a period decorated Christmas tree, some original images of the modern Santa Claus and cookies made using a Civil War era recipe.
In addition to the exhibits, there will also be several guest speakers discussing the 153 rd regiment, Bethlehem and Revolutionary war, and GAR men buried in Nisky Hill Cemetery.
And if you see Abe Lincoln on Main Street, then you know you are in the right place. So feel free to take a break from holiday shopping and stop on in to the pop-up museum to discover the history, view some displays, and hear about the Civil War and its connection to Bethlehem.
