Welcome to the history of
Bethlehem in Denton County
Welcome HISTORY Location Reviews

Collection Timeline

Jul.  1970 First in collection was made by Judy at a ceramic shop in Justin, Texas.
Jun. 1990 Collection began experiencing major growth after a European vacation.
Feb. 1998 Inherited mother's collection of 300 and had no place to put them.
Aug. 1999 Husband began construction on gallery to house collection.
Oct.  2000 Placed first créche in completed facility.
Nov. 2000 First visitor arrived to experience "Bethlehem."
Jun. 2001 Added sidewalk and other exterior finishing touches for final completion.
Jun. 2002 More than 350 guests have registered from 35 Texas cities plus 17 other states.
Dec. 2002 One of Five places on Denton's Christmas Homes Tour
SIDEBAR OF INFO:

"Nativity" 
"a work of art symbolizing or representing the earliest infancy of Christ."

"Créche"

"a representation of the stable at Bethlehem with the infant Jesus surrounded by Mary, Joseph, the oxen and asses, and adoring angels, shepherds and magi."
Bethlehem, Early September 1999
Click  here
for more info about 
the early history of "nativities: and "créches."
 
 
Click here to read the full story of
"A Husband's Gift of Love to House 
God's Gift of Love"
Building began in August 1999 as a labor of love from a husband who wanted to give his wife ot only a special home for her collection of nativities, but also a sanctuary for meditation and a place of reflection and refuge from the chaos of today's world. (He also simply wanted to get them out of every room in the house and reclaim his home turf!)   As the bare shelves begn to fill, 
an unanticipated,  simple,  two-fold ministry began to unfold:
1) educate visitors in the terminology and the symbolism related to the birth of Christ;
2)  share with all who visit the gallery the joyous news of our Lord's birth.