Featured image: 1753 Bachmann Publick House, Easton, PA, preserved and administered by Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
COMMUNITY PANEL AND DIALOGUE
EVENT AT THE SIGAL MUSEUM
Sunday, June 22
12:00 p.m.
Free Members | $10 Non-Members
EASTON, PA (June 13, 2025) – Since the time of its settlement in the mid-18th century, the Lehigh Valley has been a place of growth, change, and transformation. From abundant agricultural lands and stone shopfronts to silk mills and warehouses, the changes in the Valley over the last 250 years reflect larger shifts across our region and our nation as a whole.
But as much as our landscape changes, dedicated community leaders, elected officials, and organizations strive to preserve the rich historical heritage of our cities and neighborhoods. Join a panel of experts from across the Valley for a community discussion on the state of historic preservation in the Lehigh Valley today, exploring programs of neighborhood revitalization, historic structure façade improvements, greenway spaces, and more.
Featured speakers will include:
- Honorable Robert Freeman, District 136, Northampton County, PA House of Representatives
- Sean Ziller, Executive Director, Redevelopment Authority of the City of Bethlehem
- Rob Wozniak, Principal Owner, Preservation Works Ltd.
- Tim Betz, Curator of Exhibitions, Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society
Executive Director Megan van Ravenswaay notes, “Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society serves as a steward of our shared history and cultural heritage. Hosting this community panel discussion on preserving history, culture, and architecture is not just important—it’s essential. These conversations bring together unheard voices and local perspectives, helping us understand what matters most to the people who live, work, and grow in this community.”
Preservation is about more than buildings and the physical landscape. Tim Betz, Curator of Exhibitions, reminds us, “When we talk about preservation at NCHGS, we’re really talking about identity—about honoring the stories, spaces, and traditions that shape who we are. Architecture tells us how people lived; culture tells us what they valued; history tells us how we got here. These discussions are a powerful way to connect generations, educate the public, and build a stronger, more inclusive future.”
This program aims to bring those diverse voices together. “By engaging the community directly, we ensure that preservation efforts are relevant, respectful, and rooted in lived experience. It’s our job not only to protect the past but to inspire a collective sense of responsibility for it—and that starts with listening to each other,” says van Ravenswaay.
This program is part of a series accompanying Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society’s temporary exhibit, Warehouse Valley: A Changing Landscape, which explores the history of the industrial, commercial, and social landscapes of the Lehigh Valley.
Learn more at https://sigalmuseum.org/exhibits/.
Sigal Museum
342 Northampton Street
Easton, PA 18042
NCHGS programs are supported in part by funding received through the County of Northampton’s Hotel Tax Grant Program.
Information provided to TVL by:
Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society
