The Moravian Historical Society announces the opening of a new special exhibition, Grounds for Meditation: Moravian Pleasure Gardens, on Sunday.

Grounds for Meditation: Moravian Pleasure Gardens explores the international influences which the Moravians brought together to create their own distinct landscapes and pleasure gardens in Europe and Pennsylvania. In the mid-18th to early 19th centuries, an era when Moravians lived and worked communally, these green spaces provided a place for rest, contemplation of nature, and mental solitude.

Through collected reminiscences and first-hand observations made by visitors to these early American parks, this special exhibition explores varied historic landscapes that are no longer possible to see and experience.

The inspiration for the exhibition began when curator Farrar Lannon was struck by the beautiful landscapes in the Moravian Historical Society collection of the Bethlehem and Nazareth settlements and pleasure gardens.

“As the landscape surrounding Nazareth continues to change, with mushrooming distribution centers near Route 33, I wanted to highlight the beauty of this area and the need for preservation,” says Lannon.

The public is invited to attend a talk by Sara Cedar Miller, historian emerita of the Central Park Conservatory, at 1 p.m. in the Museum. Miller will place the Moravian pleasure gardens in the context of American parks, from the first public commons to the most iconic urban parks.

Moravian pleasure gardens pre-date the creation of Central Park by over a century, yet the purpose of these green spaces was similar. This illustrated talk, “A Rest from Mental Toil: Central Park and Moravian Pleasure Gardens,” will examine the history and design of New York’s celebrated Park and how its landscapes relate to the pleasure gardens built by Moravians.

Seating is limited and advanced reservations are required. Tickets can be purchased at www.moravianhistory.org/music-and-lectures.

Following the talk, the public is invited to a free opening reception for the special exhibition from 2-4 p.m.

The exhibit will be on view from March 10 through Feb. 16, 2025. The Moravian Historical Society’s Museum is open daily from 1-4 p.m. and is located at 214 E. Center St., Nazareth.

For more information, visit www.moravianhistory.org.