National Museum of Industrial History

Bethlehem, PA · 1 hour 6 minutes from Reading · Under $20 a person

nmih.org|Day trips from Berks County
National Museum of Industrial History

Plan the day

Drive1 hour 6 minutes from Reading, 42 miles49 minutes from Boyertown · 50 minutes from Hamburg · 1 hour 27 minutes from Morgantown
Where602 East Second Street, Bethlehem, PAOpen in maps →
OpenYear-round, Wednesday to Sunday; closed Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day; closes at 2 pm on November 7, 2026.Wednesday to Sunday 10 am to 5 pm
AdmissionAdults 18 to 64 $18; seniors 65+, veterans and educators $12; youth 7 to 17 and students $10; children 6 and under free; EBT, SNAP or ACCESS cardholders $3 (posted October 2026)
Good forlittle kids, big kids, teens, adults, a group of friends, older adults

The National Museum of Industrial History is a Smithsonian-affiliated museum in Bethlehem, PA, set in the former Electric Repair Shop of the Bethlehem Steel plant.

The museum occupies a Bethlehem Steel building and covers steel, textiles and the 1876 Centennial Exposition with artifacts from the Smithsonian's 1876 industrial collection and hands-on interactives. Free parking sits in the nearby SteelStacks Ruins lots, first Wednesdays are half price for seniors, first Thursdays half price for students, and on Sundays children under 12 get in free with a paying adult. Children 6 and under are always free.

Before you go

Limited free parking in the SteelStacks Ruins East and West lots, with paid parking at the NCC Fowler Center lot or Polk Street Garage. Food stays out of the galleries, but outside food is fine in the Education Center. Strollers are welcome, and large bags go in the free coat closet.

Coming up

Steel Weekend 2026 is October 10 and 11, 10 am to 5 pm, with smithing, hot riveting and steam hammer demonstrations; Trunk or Treat follows October 27 and a Flashlight Tour on November 6.

Official site →Tickets →

Checked October 8, 2026 on the official site. Hours, prices and seasons change, so confirm there before a long drive.

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