{"nrhp_refnum":"72001142","name":"Old Waterworks","other_names":["1762 Waterworks"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"Within Historic Subdistrict A near Monocacy Creek","address_restricted":false,"city":"Bethlehem","county":"Northampton County","state":"PA","lat":40.62082776950007,"lon":-75.38299861588348,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1972-06-19","is_nhl":true,"nhl_designated_date":"1981-05-29","areas_of_significance":["Industry","Engineering"],"significance_levels":["national"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"The Old Waterworks is a stone pumphouse in Bethlehem, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, built in 1762 by the Moravian community to pump spring water to the settlement. It stands on the flood plain of Monocacy Creek.","why_significant":"The nomination argues that the system is believed to be the first pumped or forced water system in the United States, and that it is an example of 18th century Germanic Moravian building in Bethlehem. It also cites the engineering and urban planning value of delivering water to residents without carting. The building is noted as a designated national historic landmark of the American Society of Civil Engineers.","narrative":"Built in 1762 on the flood plain of Monocacy Creek in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the Old Waterworks was a stone pumphouse that used an undershot water wheel to drive pumps. A stone-lined race carried water through the building, and the pumps, operated by wallower and cogs off the main axle, lifted spring water about 90 vertical feet to supply the community. The Moravian settlement's system is believed to be the first pumped or forced water system in the United States. Its design reflects 18th century Germanic building traits common in Bethlehem, including limestone walls, a gabled roof and brick eyebrow arches. The pump house ceased operating in 1832 when the system moved to steam power. Later it served as office and warehouse space for the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company. Its engineering and its role in delivering cleaner water to residents explain its importance.","period_of_significance":"1762","architect_builder":null,"architectural_style":"18th century Germanic architecture","criteria":["A","C"],"status_note":"Fair condition; altered, at original site.","vacant_flag":null,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-haiku-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.1-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 17:11:29.007455-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_PA/72001142.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/72001142/d1e0a05dfc-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/72001142/d1e0a05dfc-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Pubdog","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bethlehem_Waterworks_Oct_11.JPG\" rel=\"noopener\">Pubdog</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bethlehem_Waterworks_Oct_11.JPG"},"district":{"nrhp_refnum":"72001131","name":"Central Bethlehem Historic District","url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/districts/pennsylvania/central-bethlehem-historic-district-72001131/"},"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71994658","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethlehem_Waterworks","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4898072"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/pennsylvania/northampton-county/old-waterworks-72001142/"}