Special Exhibition Opening on February 22 with Talk and Reception
- Scott Paul Gordon, professor at Lehigh University, will speak about the Moravians’ experiences during the American Revolution.
- The exhibition includes original drawings by artist Bob McLeod.
Nazareth, PA—The Moravian Historical Society announces the opening of a new special exhibition, Moravians & The Revolution: Caught in the Crossfire, on Sunday, February 22, 2026. The event begins at 1:00 p.m. with a talk by Dr. Scott Paul Gordon, followed by a reception for the exhibition from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Moravians & The Revolution: Caught in the Crossfire paints a picture of a pacifist community that found itself in a conflict that would ultimately transform its way of life. Moravians in Pennsylvania had to walk a delicate balancing act between their religious ideals of pacifism and the interests of American patriots, the British government, and Indigenous groups in the region. The Revolutionary War tested their desire for freedom from entanglements with the outside world.
Drawing from first-hand accounts in the Nazareth, Emmaus, and Bethlehem Diaries, Curator Andy McLeod realized the Moravians were caught in the crossfire of this conflict. McLeod remarked, “The Moravians hadn’t been strictly pacifist since before the French and Indian War, but Church leadership still wanted to maintain peace within their community as best they could and avoid choosing a side in political conflicts. Unfortunately, the war had other plans.”
These stories are further brought to life through original artwork created by Bob McLeod, who is best known for co-creating and illustrating The New Mutants for Marvel Comics. He began his career with Marvel’s Crazy Magazine and has pencilled or inked all the major characters for Marvel and DC, including Spider-Man, The X-Men, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, GI Joe, Star Wars, and many more. McLeod also wrote and illustrated Superhero ABC, published by HarperCollins and edited Twomorrows’ Rough Stuff magazine.
Scott Gordon will give the opening talk, providing insights into the pacifist Moravian community during the time of the Revolutionary War. Dr. Gordon is a professor and the Andrew W. Mellon Chair at Lehigh University.
Seating in the Museum is limited, and advanced reservations are required. Tickets for the talk are
$12 ($6 for MHS members and free for students with ID) and can be purchased by visiting www.moravianhistory.org/music-and-lectures.
Moravians & The Revolution: Caught in the Crossfire will be on view from February 22, 2026, through January 17, 2027. The talk and exhibition are supported, in part, with funding from the Hotel Tax Grant Program through the County of Northampton Department of Community & Economic Development.
Founded in 1857, the Moravian Historical Society (MHS) preserves, interprets, and celebrates the rich culture of the Moravians. MHS maintains the 1740–1743 Whitefield House and the 1740 Gray Cottage, the oldest surviving Moravian structure in North America. Recognized widely for its significant collection, the museum offers permanent and changing exhibitions, educational programs, guided tours, and public activities.
The Moravian Historical Society’s Museum is open daily from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and is located at 214 East Center Street, Nazareth, Pennsylvania.
For more information, visit www.moravianhistory.org
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Information provided to TVL by:
Susan Ellis
