The Sinclair was built in 1856 by John Sinclair and became a small tavern in 1865 with 10 rooms. Over its lifetime it received five additions and grew into Bethlehem's second largest hotel, reaching 300 rooms at a time when the city had more than 30 hotels. Its Greek Revival columns and pavilion architecture accompanied amenities that included stables for 50 horses, a bowling alley, pool hall, carriage barn, horse riding ring, and baseball field. The hotel continued into the modern era, becoming a kosher hotel and adding a pool in 1952, before closing in 1974, when the building and contents were sold at auction. The hotel burned down in 1978.