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Bethlehem is a small little town whose quaint, rustic look is so easy to fall in love with. And for someone who wants a destination for a weekend getaway—or just a few hours to admire historic buildings while walking down bustling streets lined with maples, pines, white ash—and other broad-boughed trees, Bethlehem will not fail to impress. Aside from the small-town allure, a captivating element it shares with other Pennsylvania gems, Chrismas City, as the town is known, has several other attractions.

There are four things a visit to Bethlehem should at least cover: There’s the Musikfest, a 10-day period when the town metamorphoses into a music mecca. There’s also Wind Creek Bethlehem, one of Pennsylvania's best casinos. And then the twin shopping districts. The final one—which we’ll expound on in this article—is the Hoover-Mason Trestle at the Steel Stacks, one of the most fascinating industrial history sites in the “Keystone State.”

Here’s Why You Should Visit Bethlehem’s Hoover-Mason Trestle

The Hoover-Mason Trestle is an imposing site that’s steeped in so much industrial history. In its heyday, it was the quintessential emblem of America’s manufacturing superiority. In a sense, it’s a fascinating story of innovation and grit—as well as courage and perseverance. If America rose from a predominantly agricultural country to a towering manufacturing giant, Hoover-Mason Trestle was at the heart of this fast-paced makeover. For starters, in terms of steel production in the United States, Hoover-Mason was second only to U.S. Steel, that’s associated with such business icons as Andrew Carnegie, J.P. Morgan, and Charles Schwab.

The rail track was a bustling carriageway used to transport such manufacturing necessities as iron ore and limestone. It would dominate the steel manufacturing landscape for a while. Then came the 60s and 70s when some wind of change started sweeping across the global manufacturing landscape. For instance, market demand saw a rapid shift to aluminum, whose light weight made it a metal of choice to vehicle manufacturers. Then the saw operator made the last cut at the hitherto giant facility—and the mill went silent. What was to be done with this behemoth?

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Rather than acting as a mortician and laying a wreath on one of the country’s manufacturing landmarks, the town’s residents and authorities came together to repurpose the facility as a memorial of the city’s celebrated past. That singular decision has added a glamorous feather to the city’s tourist cap.

How Bethlehem’s Hoover-Mason Trestle Looks Like Today

The site on which a manufacturing giant once stood is today coming back to life, albeit in a different style and for a different purpose. Visitors to this place will enjoy several attractions mostly related to the town’s industrial past. One of the buildings that have dramatically put on a new look is the National Museum of Industrial History. This museum stands inside what used to be Bethlehem Steel’s electrical repair shop. Aside from seeing equipment that was then used in this repair shop, one will learn interesting details of the company’s history—including the very first piece of steel that was made in the facility. Visitors will be interested to learn that this is the very first Smithsonian affiliate museum in the United States.

That said, the best way to explore this historic place is to take a walk on the Hoover-Mason Trestle. It stands about 14 meters above the ground and extends for about half a kilometer. These dimensions could make this historic track not only the highest but also the shortest in the state of Pennsylvania. Transformed today into a walking path, this elevated walkway allows visitors to see several blast furnaces where iron ore was smelted into pig iron—before being processed into steel.

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And while visitors cannot enter these blast furnaces—an outside look will almost be as rewarding. Visitors can access the track by stairs, although there’s also an elevator that makes it accessible to the handicapped. For those thinking of bicycling on the historic track, it’s important to note that riding bicycles on this track is not allowed.

Here’s What You Should Know Before Visiting the Hoover-Mason Trestle

For those planning to drive to Hoover-Mason, the good news is that parking space is available on this site. The lots are located on First Street. Also available on the site is handicapped parking.

  • Where Is The Hoover-Mason Trestle Located? The Hoover-Mason Trestle is located at 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem, PA, 18015.

For those wondering whether they should carry something to munch on, there are dining options here where visitors can enjoy some mouth-watering dishes. Walking tours on the Hoover-Mason Trestle cost $15 for adults. These weekend-only tours start at 11:30 AM. The Hoover-Mason today features several other enjoyable activities and exhibitions, including what’s arguably the best art gallery in Bethlehem—the ArtQuest. That’s it. A journey to Hoover-Mason Trestle is a trip back to the time of the country’s manufacturing glory days. There’s much to learn. Much to see. Much to do.