Special ‘Snapshots’ Post: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

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  • IMG_7153
  • IMG_7167 Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.
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  • IMG_7279 The Hill To Hill bridge.
  • IMG_7293 View of the Lehigh River and the Bethlehem Steel Stacks in the distance.
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  • IMG_7349 Bethlehem Steel Stacks.
  • IMG_7373 View of the ArtsQuest building.
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  • IMG_7384 Bethlehem Steel Stacks.
  • IMG_7403 View from Bethlehem Steel Stacks over the local PBS station.
  • IMG_7431 Bethlehem Steel Stacks.
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  • IMG_7470 An old fire station converted into a pub.
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  • IMG_7495 Historic Hotel Bethlehem.

In September, I visited Bethlehem, Pennsylvania for the 2015 Runner’s World Festival and Half. I did a bit of running during the trip (obviously), but I also had some time for sightseeing and picture-taking.

Bethlehem is a moderately-small town with quite a bit of history. It’s where Bethlehem Steel, billed as the second-largest producer of steel in its day, was based. The company had its manufacturing operation in the town, and the town was based on the company — so much so that they share the Bethlehem name. Steel began to lose demand in the latter half of the 20th century, and the company had to shut down in the 1990s. Nonetheless, the production facilities remained, and the town has turned them into a tourist attraction. Today, Bethlehem is a small town that, from the eyes of a tourist, thrives.

Apart from Bethlehem Steel’s facility — known locally as the Bethlehem Steel Stacks — there are mountains nearby as well.