The National Museum of Industrial History will debut its first major changing exhibit, “Making America’s Pastime,” exploring the industrial history of America’s favorite sport from May 12^th to October 31^st with regular programming to enhance the visitor experience.

Today Major League Baseball is a $9.5 billion industry.  The “Making America’s Pastime” exhibit delves into the evolution and current production of the bats, balls, gloves, and uniforms that make the game.  From Civil War-era lathes that would have been used to make bats in the 1800s to uniform textiles from the Majestic Athletic facility in Easton, the exhibit is fun and engaging for adults and kids alike.

The exhibit also tracks the history of the Bethlehem Steel League and includes 100 year old uniforms from the company teams.  Why did famous major leaguers like Babe Ruth and “Shoeless” Joe Jackson end up on a Bethlehem Steel team?  How did World War I impact Major League Baseball?  All these questions and more are answered in the local history portion of the exhibit.

Finally, the Lehigh Valley has a rich baseball history.  Follow the history of early teams like the Allentown Cardinals and Allentown Ambassadors to the present day IronPigs in our hall of valley teams.

In July patrons will be able to make their own baseball, in August the museum will host Alvin H. Butz, Inc. to hear a behind-the-scenes account of the construction of Allentown’s Coca Cola Park, and in October the museum will host a Meet the Experts talk with Bonsall Bat Company to learn how professional-grade bats are manufactured.

“Making America’s Pastime” is generously sponsored by Alvin H. Butz, Inc, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Working Dog Press, and Joanne and Hank Barnette.