Bethlehem Steel Corporation
For Immediate Release

BETHLEHEM, Pa., December 16, 1999 - Quoting an ancient Chinese proverb, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step," the chairman of Bethlehem Steel Corporation called a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the Preview Center of The National Museum of Industrial History "the catalyst for the completion of the next part of our journey."

Tom Ridge, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, presented a check for $4.5 million for the museum�s Preview Center to Curtis "Hank" Barnette, chairman and chief executive officer, Bethlehem Steel Corporation, who said:

"We�ve been asked many times how long this Bethlehem Works journey will take. We would like to see this billion dollar Bethlehem Works and Bethlehem Commerce Center development completed overnight. But, we must also be realistic, because we know that we will only complete our journey if we take the necessary steps in a measured, well-ordered and well-considered way."

The Preview Center of The National Museum of Industrial History, in affiliation with the Smithsonian Institution, will house industrial artifacts on long-term loan from the Smithsonian. Many artifacts that were exhibited today for the Governor�s presentation, and which will be displayed in the Preview Center and the permanent museum, were part of the 1876 Exposition Collection, which until recently was on exhibit at the Arts and Industries building of the Smithsonian on the Mall in Washington, D.C. The National Museum of Industrial History, including its Preview Center, is the first community-based museum in the nation to reach an agreement with the Smithsonian through the Institution�s Affiliates Program to display Smithsonian artifacts.

The grant today by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will enable construction of the $9-million Preview Center to begin in early 2000, with completion expected before the end of next year. The remaining $4.5 million has been raised from private sources. The Preview Center and The National Museum of Industrial History, the later of which will open in several subsequent stages, will anchor the 160-acre tract of land known as Bethlehem Works.

Bethlehem Works is part of an 1,800-acre development initiative on land owned by Bethlehem Steel on the City of Bethlehem�s South Side. Long home to iron and steelmaking, which ceased in 1995, the western edge of the plant property, known as Bethlehem Works, is dedicated to cultural, educational, entertainment and retail uses. The central and eastern portions of the plant, comprising 1,600 acres, is known as Bethlehem Commerce Center, which is dedicated to intermodal, warehousing, distribution and manufacturing uses.

In thanking the Governor for the grant, Mr. Barnette reminded the audience of the significance of the Governor�s Land Recycling Act , better known as the Brownfields Program, that expedites the return to productive use of former industrial properties. "The Land Recycling Act has made possible the creative, adaptive reuse approach we are taking to this site. The economic opportunity that it presents for our region has implications far beyond the numbers. The quality of life, the opportunity for individual and community growth, the security of our families - all these matters will be improved because common sense programs have made possible opportunity that otherwise would not have happened. Governor, thank you again," Mr. Barnette said.

The Preview Center is being located in the Bethlehem Steel plant�s former electrical repair shop, which operated from 1913 to 1997. The 15,000-square-foot, two-story building will house certain industrial artifacts from the Smithsonian collections as well as a large format film theater to be used by the Discovery Center for Science and Technology, which purchased in 1996 the former Bethlehem plant office building that is adjacent to the Preview Center.

Principals in the renovation of the Preview Center include: David Scott Parker, Southport, Conn., architect; Keystone Consulting Engineers Inc., Bethlehem, Pa., civil engineer; Alvin H. Butz, Inc., Allentown, Pa., construction manager; Idea Network, Orlando, Fla., project coordinator, and R.H. Productions Inc., New York, N.Y., exhibit design.