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Season 2, Episode 22 Landmarks With Leon AKA Lehigh Valley Landmarks Count Nicolas Ludwig von Zinzendorf Before Bethlehem was Bethlehem, one visionary count was already thinking bigger than borders. On this episode of Landmarks with Leon — soon to be Lehigh Valley Landmarks — uncover the remarkable life of Count Nicolaus von Zinzendorf, the noble reformer whose faith, exile, and global mission work helped shape the Moravian movement and gave Bethlehem its name on that Christm

Season 2, Episode 21 Landmarks With Leon AKA Lehigh Valley Landmarks Catherine Drinker Bowen From the President’s House at Lehigh University to the pages of award-winning biographies, this episode follows the remarkable life of Catherine Drinker Bowen — a Bethlehem-rooted writer, musician, and master biographer whose curiosity transformed how we read history. Discover how a violinist turned literary force became famous for revealing the human stories behind giants like Tchaik

Season 2, Episode 20 Landmarks With Leon John Heckewelder's Residence Discover the remarkable life of missionary, historian, and cultural bridge-builder John Heckewelder in this powerful episode of Landmarks with Leon. From living among the Lenape people and documenting their traditions, to witnessing the tragic aftermath of the Gnadenhutten Massacre, Heckewelder’s story reveals a deeply human side of early American history rarely told in textbooks. Join host Rachel Leon as s

Season 2, Episode 19 Landmarks With Leon Tomb of Unknown Soldier Bethlehem’s Revolutionary War story goes far beyond the battlefield. In this episode of Landmarks with Leon, uncover the haunting history of the Continental Hospital at the Moravian Second Single Brethren’s House, where hundreds of sick and wounded soldiers were treated and buried during the winter of 1776–1778. From the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to the 1995 archaeological discoveries that brought these forgot

Season 2, Episode 18 Landmarks With Leon Eugene G. Grace and his Uwehlan Mansion From baseball scholarship student to one of the highest-paid executives in America, this episode of Landmarks with Leon explores the extraordinary rise of Eugene Gifford Grace — the powerful leader who helped turn Bethlehem Steel into an industrial giant. Discover the wealth, innovation, labor battles, and larger-than-life legacy behind the man whose decisions shaped Bethlehem’s skyline, workforc

Season 2, Episode 17 Landmarks With Leon John F. Fritz His innovations built an industry—but his legacy didn’t end there. In this episode of Landmarks with Leon, discover how John F. Fritz continued shaping Bethlehem long after his retirement—from founding a groundbreaking engineering lab at Lehigh University to earning the prestigious John Fritz Medal. Explore how his work influenced everything from the Panama Canal to early space technology, and why his impact still resonat

Season 2, Episode 16 Landmarks With Leon John F. Fritz What does it take to earn the title “Father of the U.S. Steel Industry”? In this episode of Landmarks with Leon, host Rachel Leon sits down with Katie Rymon of the National Museum of Industrial History to uncover how John F. Fritz transformed Bethlehem into an industrial powerhouse. From groundbreaking innovations like the three-high rolling mill to the rise of American steel during the Civil War, discover how one self-ta

Season 2, Episode 15 Landmarks With Leon Southside Bethlehem Area Public Library Discover how the Southside Bethlehem Area Public Library grew from a modest 1906 branch into a true neighborhood hub — a place where books, literacy programs, technology, and even gardening tools and seeds help serve the community. In this episode of Landmarks with Leon, hear the story of a library that has continually adapted to meet South Bethlehem’s changing needs while keeping learning and co

Season 2, Episode 14 Landmarks With Leon The Walking Purchase Before Bethlehem became a city, its land was seized through one of colonial Pennsylvania’s most infamous deceptions. In this episode of Landmarks with Leon, uncover the story of the Walking Purchase — a fraudulent scheme that reshaped the Lehigh Valley, displaced the Lenni Lenape, and left a legacy of loss still worth remembering today. Tune in for a powerful look at the land beneath Bethlehem’s foundations. Specia

Season 2, Episode 13 Landmarks With Leon Nisky Hill Cemetery Step beyond the gates and into Bethlehem’s past on this episode of Landmarks with Leon . Explore Nisky Hill Cemetery — where rolling hills and ornate headstones tell the stories of steel magnates, civic leaders, war heroes, and artists who shaped the city. From the legacy of Bethlehem Steel to the resting place of poet H.D., this episode reveals how one cemetery became a living archive of community, culture, and his

Season 2, Episode 12 Landmarks With Leon Augustus Wolle Was Bethlehem built on faith—or forged in steel? In this episode of Landmarks with Leon , discover the untold story of Augustus Wolle, the Moravian merchant who helped bridge two worlds by founding the Saucona Iron Company—laying early groundwork for what would become Bethlehem Steel. From communal living to industrial ambition, his journey reveals how religion and industry didn’t clash—they combined to shape a city. Spe

Season 2, Episode 11 Landmarks With Leon Samuel Wetherill Before South Bethlehem became an industrial powerhouse, it briefly bore another name — Wetherill. On this episode of Landmarks with Leon , uncover the story of Samuel Wetherill II, the chemist-entrepreneur who revolutionized zinc production and helped spark the region’s industrial rise. From pioneering “white zinc” in America to shaping the workforce that fueled Bethlehem’s future, this episode reveals how one innovato

Season 2, Episode 10 Landmarks With Leon Hilda Doolittle H.D. Before she became a defining voice of modernist poetry, H.D. was a Bethlehem native shaped by hymn, ritual, and imagination. On this episode of Landmarks with Leon , trace the life of Hilda Doolittle — from her Moravian roots and literary rise alongside Ezra Pound to her groundbreaking work in Imagism, explorations of identity, and reflections on memory after the London Blitz. Visit the resting place where seashell

Season 2, Episode 9 Landmarks With Leon Nain-Schober House Hidden within Bethlehem stands a rare and powerful witness to early American history. In this episode of Landmarks with Leon , explore the story of the Nain-Schober House — the only surviving 18th-century structure in eastern Pennsylvania built and lived in by Native Americans. From Moravian missionary ambitions and cultural exchange to the tragic aftermath of the Paxton Boys uprising, this episode reveals a complex c

Season 2, Episode 8 Landmarks With Leon 1742 Moravian Sisters' Home Long before women’s independence became a national movement, Bethlehem was home to a remarkable experiment in female leadership and community. In this episode of Landmarks with Leon , explore the fascinating history of the Single Sisters’ House — where unmarried Moravian women from diverse backgrounds lived, worked, worshiped, and led together in the 18th century. Discover how this unique community fostered e

Season 2, Episode 7 Landmarks With Leon 1741 Gemeinhaus and the Lewis David de Schweinitz Residence Before American science had a name for it, one Bethlehem native was cataloging an unseen world. On this episode of Landmarks with Leon , discover the extraordinary life of Lewis David de Schweinitz — Moravian minister, global church leader, and the “Father of American Mycology,” who identified more than 1,200 fungi and helped shape early American botany. From Nazareth Hall to N

Season 2, Episode 6 Landmarks With Leon Brigadier General Casimir Pulaski Meet Casimir Pulaski — the Polish-born cavalryman celebrated as the “Father of the American Cavalry,” whose daring charge at Brandywine helped turn the tide for Washington and led to the formation of Pulaski’s Legion. Tune in to Landmarks with Leon to hear the thrilling story of Pulaski’s fight for freedom, his American adventures, and the legacy he left behind.

Season 2, Episode 5 Landmarks With Leon The First House of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Step into 285 years of hospitality on this episode of Landmarks with Leon : from the humble 1741 First House where Bethlehem got its name, to the grand Golden Eagle and the iconic Hotel Bethlehem that welcomed figures like Amelia Earhart — discover how one site shifted with the city while keeping its spirit of welcome. Tune in for a lively tour of architecture, famous guests, and local stories

Season 2, Episode 4 Landmarks With Leon The Archibald Johnston Mansion Discover the man behind Bethlehem’s Hill to Hill Bridge and his estate in this week’s Landmarks with Leon : a compact, illuminating look at Archibald Johnston — Bethlehem’s first mayor, Bethlehem Steel executive, and the visionary who helped stitch the city together physically and civically. Hear how a young engineer rose to lead consolidation, finance the hill-to-hill bridge, and build the Georgian-Reviv

Season 2, Episode 3 Landmarks With Leon Fire Fighting in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Fire, fear, and resilience shape this episode of Landmarks with Leon as host Rachel Leon traces the dramatic evolution of firefighting in Bethlehem — from 18th-century bucket brigades and hand-pumped engines shipped from London to the rise of organized fire companies that protected a growing industrial city. Drawing on vivid Moravian accounts and centuries of innovation, this episode reveals how