The Knauss Homestead

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The Knauss Homestead

The Knauss Homestead was built in 1777 by Heinrich Knauss for his father, Moravian settler and founder of Emmaus, Sebastian Knauss.

On the National Register of Historic Places, it’s where the Lehigh Valley can gather and share their love of history. The Knauss Homestead was built in 1777 by Henry Knauss, son of Sebastian Henrich Knauss in Emmaus PA on land donated by Sebastian Heinrich Knauss.

01/29/2026

We believe the structure of the Knauss Homestead began as a primitive log cabin, built in the early 1740s when the Knauss family traveled north from Whitemarsh in Montgomery County. Remnants of this original log structure are still visible today in the stairwell leading to the cellar, offering a rare physical connection to the Homestead’s earliest years.

Visit knausshomestead.org to learn more or make a donation 🔗

01/27/2026

Preserved since 1777, the Knauss Homestead relies on membership support to maintain the house, barn, and original features, ensuring the site’s history remains protected and accessible.

Whether you’re reconnecting or joining for the first time, there’s a membership level for everyone who believes in safeguarding local history for generations to come.

Membership levels range from $25-$50-$75 / YEAR.

🔗 Learn more and join us at knausshomestead.org/membership

01/23/2026

Mary Ellen Knauss carried the story of this home longer than anyone before her.

She moved into the Knauss Homestead at just eighteen years old in 1866 and lived within these walls for sixty nine years. Her passing in 1932 marked the end of seven generations of Knauss family ownership and closed a remarkable chapter in Emmaus history.

Through her lifetime, the Homestead witnessed changing seasons, traditions, and the steady rhythm of daily life. Preserving this house means honoring the people who called it home and ensuring their stories continue to be told.

Learn more and support preservation at knausshomestead.org 🔗

01/21/2026

Between 1889 and 1932, the Knauss Homestead was home to Herman S. Knauss (son of Heinrich Knauss III and Mary Anna Christ) and his wife, Mary Ellen Adrain, along with their children: Wilson E., James H., Ellen M., Howard N., Charles R., Sarah E., and George L. Knauss.

Herman’s sister, Caroline Knauss, lived with a physical disability following an accident and was recorded as an owner of the property during this time. The article depicted by The Morning Call was about her accident in 1894.

Learn more at knausshomestead.org 🔗

01/17/2026

The Knauss Homestead was owned and occupied by Heinrich Knauss III (Henry), son of Jacob Knauss and Anna Maria Tool Knauss, and his wife, Mary Anna Christ between 1853 and 1889.

During their years at the Homestead, they raised their children: Sophia Louisa Knauss, Clarissa Knauss, Herman S. Knauss, and Caroline Knauss,

Visit knausshomestead.org to learn more! 🔗

01/15/2026

Between 1809 and 1853, the Knauss Homestead was occupied by Jacob Knauss, son of Heinrich Knauss and Anna Maria Ehrenhardt, and his wife, Anna Maria Tool Knauss.

During this period, they raised their children at the Homestead: Anna Maria Theresa Knauss, Heinrich (Henry) Knauss III, Eleanora Knauss, and Stephen Israel Knauss, continuing the direct family residence of the Homestead.

knausshomestead.org 🔗

01/13/2026

Heinrich and Anna Maria raised their family at the Knauss Homestead, welcoming fourteen children within these walls. Thirteen lived beyond their first year, reflecting the household’s continuity during a time of high infant mortality.

Between 1777 and 1809, multiple generations of Knauss children were connected to the Homestead, marking one of the earliest and most documented periods of family life at the property.

To learn more visit knausshomestead.org today

01/10/2026

Following Sebastian’s passing in 1811, the house became home to his son, Heinrich Knauss, and Heinrich’s wife, Anna Maria Ehrenhardt (1748-1840). Anna Maria was the first genealogical connection between two of Emmaus’s founding families, linking lineages that helped shape the early community.

Together, Heinrich and Anna Maria raised their family at the Knauss Homestead. They welcomed fourteen children within these walls, thirteen of whom lived beyond their first year, a testament to resilience, faith, and family life in early Pennsylvania.

01/04/2026

Knauss Homestead, circa 1777.
Emmaus

01/03/2026

Step back in time at the Knauss Homestead, one of the oldest surviving homes in Emmaus. For over 150 years, seven generations of the Knauss family lived here, shaping a home that reflects early settlement, Moravian heritage, and the rhythms of daily life in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Saved through community dedication and careful restoration, the homestead stands today as a living connection to the past. Supporting the Knauss Homestead ensures these stories, craftsmanship, and traditions continue to inspire and educate for generations to come.

Visit knausshomestead.org to make a donation or become a member.

12/31/2025

Dear Friends and Family of The Knauss Homestead,

As we prepare to celebrate our country’s 250th birthday, we are facing critical repairs needed to keep this historic landmark open, welcoming, and able to host the events that bring our community together.

The Homestead receives no tax dollars and relies entirely on community support to remain a living center of celebration for Emmaus.

If this incredible place holds as much meaning for you as it does for us, please consider making a tax-deductible gift before midnight.

Your gift tonight keeps the Homestead alive as a place where Emmaus gathers, celebrates, and remembers.

With heartfelt thanks,
The Knauss Homestead

🔗 knausshomestead.org/donations/one-time-donation

Address

152 E. Main Street (rear)
Emmaus, PA
18049

Telephone

+16104338626

Website

http://www.knausshomestead.org/

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