Nazareth [Paperback]

In 1740, Moravian immigrants made their first permanent American settlement in Nazareth, Pennsylvania.

Nazareth was closed to residents outside of the Moravian faith.In 1856, the town opened to non-Moravians, who were then allowed to own property and live and work in the town.Early industries, including textiles, cement production, and agriculture, attracted immigrants and expanded the towns diversity from a predominately German origin to include a sizeable Italian and Polish population.During the 20th century, many of these businesses continued, including the world-renowned C.F.Martin Guitar Company, which has been family owned and operated since 1833.By mid-century, at least three large cement companies surrounded the Nazareth borough area and employed hundreds of laborers.Nazareth was also home to the Nazareth Speedway, a one-mile tri-oval paved track of Indy and United States Auto Club (USAC) racing fame, and is home to racing champions Mario Andretti, Michael Andretti, and third-generation driver Marco Andretti.

With an extensive collection of photographs, objects, and documents, the Moravian Historical Society is uniquely qualified to tell the story of Nazareth during its first 250 years. The Moravian Historical Society maintains the 1740/1743 Whitefield House and the 1740 Gray Cottage, the oldest surviving Moravian structure in North America. Susan F. Ellis is the executive director of the Moravian Historical Society.