18th century Initially built as a log structure on its present-day site at 622
Hamilton Street in
Center City Allentown in 1762, the original High German Evangelical Reformed Church building was replaced in 1773 with a simple brick structure, which was designed in a
vernacular federal style and erected a few yards north of the first log church's location.
Liberty Bell's hiding In September 1777, as American patriots prepared for a
British Army attack on the
colonial-era capital of
Philadelphia, the
Liberty Bell and other bells in Philadelphia were ordered taken down and then hastily transported to present-day
Allentown, which was then called Northampton Towne, where they were successfully hidden under the church's floor boards until June 1778 when the British abandoned Philadelphia.
19th century In 1838, when Zion Reformed was enlarged, contractors may have incorporated the 1762 structure into the walls of the current building's boiler room. The building was then enlarged further between 1886 and 1888 via
gothic revival-style improvements made by architect Lewis Jacoby.
20th century In 1983, in recognition of the church's valuable contribution to the nation's early history, it was added to the
National Register of Historic Places. ==Liberty Bell Museum==