Bethlehem, PA – The National Museum of Industrial History has opened a new permanent exhibition titled “Cheers to 250: Brewing in America,” celebrating the 250‑year legacy of brewing in the United States. The exhibit, located on the Steel Stacks Campus, showcases everything from colonial brewing tools to modern craft‑beer innovations.

Historian’s contributions

Rich Wagner, a Pennsylvania brewery historian with more than four decades of research, has supplied a range of artifacts and scholarly insight for the show. Wagner recalls his first encounter with the state’s breweries during a 1980 vacation, when he visited the few remaining operations and was struck by the “hulking wrecks of old breweries” that sparked his lifelong fascination.

His contributions include a dipstick used to measure water levels in a copper brewing pot, a replica of an 19th‑century Engel & Wolf Brewery can, and a collection of historic photographs and breweriana that illustrate the evolution of the industry from home‑brewing and Prohibition to today’s craft‑beer boom.

From teacher to brewer

After 23 years teaching school, Wagner earned a diploma in brewing technology and entered the craft‑beer world, working at Independence Brewing Company and later at Manayunk Brewery and Restaurant until 2003. He now devotes his time to research, speaking engagements, and his book, Philadelphia Beer: A Heady History of Brewing in the Cradle of Liberty.

Exhibit highlights

The exhibition offers visitors a hands‑on look at historic brewing equipment, interactive displays on colonial brewing practices, and a visual timeline that links early lager production at Engel & Wolf Brewery in Fairmount Park to the hundreds of craft breweries operating in Pennsylvania today.

Andria Zaia, President & CEO of the museum, says the exhibit “captures one of our oldest industries and connects it to the spirit of innovation that still drives American brewing.” She notes that the museum aimed to recreate the atmosphere of the 1876 Centennial Exhibition’s Brewer’s Hall, providing a “tap takeover” experience for guests.

Visit the exhibit

“Cheers to 250: Brewing in America” is on view at the National Museum of Industrial History, 602 E. 2nd Street, Bethlehem, PA, and will remain open through March 2027. Tickets and additional information are available on the museum’s website.

Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.