The Bethlehem Steel plant supplied the United States with critical building materials and served as an essential element of the Lehigh Valley region for over a century in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. This literal piece of regional history could have been lost when the plant was closed but it was instead transformed into SteelStacks, a ten-acre campus that now serves the nation and community in a different way.
One of the World’s Largest Steel Producing Companies
What would eventually become the Bethlehem Steel Corporation started to take shape in the mid-19th century, with the company becoming the second-largest steel producer and the world’s biggest shipbuilder by the 1950s. The mill served as the economic lifeblood of the Bethlehem and Lehigh Valley community of Pennsylvania. It employed thousands of people while producing the steel that was part of iconic structure like the Golden Gate Bridge, Rockefeller Center and numerous vessels that were part of World War I and World War II. This history and information about how steel was be produced at the site is now detailed all across it.
Various factors contributed to the company’s decline which began in the 1970s and would escalate over the next two decades. The steel furnaces operated for the last time in 1995 while the Bethlehem Steel organization would be completely dissolved by 2003. That began a long period of uncertainty for the site, as efforts to completely demolish the former plant were considered. Eventually, the community would come together to provide the location with a new identity and sense of purpose. A partnership involving the nonprofit ArtsQuest, the City of Bethlehem and others would transform the site into an arts and entertainment district in 2011.
Now showcasing music, art, festivals, educational programming and more throughout the year, the historic site that was once one of the most important iron and steel manufacturers in the United States has been reborn to become a destination for members of the community and beyond.
Events, Activity and Community Connection
Situated on 10-acres amidst the ruins of the former Bethlehem Steel plant, the blast furnaces define the look of the SteelStacks campus. Much of the structure and machinery from the plant remains but the entire space around it has been transformed in creative ways.
The Stock House, which is the oldest remaining building on the site, was turned into the Visitor Center, preserving the architectural historical significance of building. It now serves as a starting place for visitors who want to discover the history of the site and learn more about the various events and activities set to take place. It is also home to 5,000 square feet of office space to Arts Quest.
PNC Plaza is a 150,000 square foot open-air space for farmers, arts and antique markets. Levitt Pavilion, Windcreek Deck, and the Creativity Commons are also hubs of activity at SteelStack, regularly hosting events and happening of all types.
Musikfest, RiverJazz, Step Outdoors Lehigh Valley and the Levitt Pavilion Summer Concert Series are just a few of the events that take place at SteelStacks on an annual basis. Since its opening in spring 2011, residents and visitors have flocked to SteelStacks to enjoy 1,750-plus musical performances, films, community celebrations and festivals. These efforts are in addition to other direct revenue initiatives related to the sale of products and membership benefits.
An essential element of maps and guides to the region, with the blast furnaces becoming an unofficial icon of the landmark, SteelStacks highlights the power of transformation. Doing so can preserve essential pieces of history but also create engagement with the community in the present that can positively define the future.
How a Legacy of Steel can Evolve
One of the premier destinations in the Northeast for music, art and entertainment, the transformation of the former Bethlehem Steel plant into Steelstacks represents an incredible transformation of what would have otherwise been a lost piece of history to become a magnet for creativity for the region and nation. It has ensured that the location will be connected to a legacy of steel that defines the community in a whole new way.
