The Knauss Homestead

04/23/2026

Thank you to the Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites for having us as part of Community Heritage Day. It was a beautiful day filled with hands-on history, live demonstrations, and a shared appreciation for the stories that shape our communities. We were so glad to be there and connect with so many visitors throughout the day.

A special thank you to the Daughters of the American Revolution National Headquarters Knauss Chapter for their incredible participation, from period attire to quill pen demonstrations that added such a thoughtful and authentic touch.

Knausshomestead.org 🔗

04/16/2026

Join us at Community Heritage Day in Bethlehem, PA, this Saturday, April 18th, from 10 AM to 4 PM!

Hosted by Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites, this family-friendly event brings the 1700s to life with hands-on activities, live demonstrations, and historic trades like blacksmithing, open-hearth cooking, and colonial crafts. You can also explore historic buildings and meet Revolutionary-era interpreters throughout the day.

General admission is FREE, but don't forget to get your tickets ahead of time!

Tickets: www.historicbethlehem.org/visit-us/experience/community-heritage-day/ 🔗

We hope to see you there!

04/11/2026

Back in February, we had the privilege to meet the Director of Tourism, Christiane Vollprecht, who came all the way from Herrnhut, Germany to visit The Knauss Homestead!

Visit knausshomestead.org to make a donation or plan your visit today! 🔗

Pictured from left to right: Hannah Hardiman, Maggie Fischer, Christiane Vollprechtk, Maryellen Iobst, Gene Clock

04/09/2026

Come and experience life as it was during Heinrich Knauss’s time in Emmaus!

Visit our website at KnaussHomestead.org to schedule a tour 🔗

04/05/2026

Happy Easter! 🐰❤️

Wishing you & your family a wonderful Easter, brimming with heartfelt appreciation for life's many blessings.

Please visit knausshomestead.org to make a donation. 🔗

04/01/2026

In 1922, Mary Ellen Knauss brought a little extra magic to the Homestead each spring. 🐰❤

A firm believer in the Easter Bunny, she invited children from the community to set their own nests on the grounds. By morning, fifty-four nests were carefully filled with beautifully colored Easter eggs, creating a tradition that brought joy to so many.

Visit knausshomestead.org to learn more 🔗

03/24/2026

The story of the Knauss Homestead begins long before the house itself was built. 🏠

This timeline follows the Knauss family from their arrival in Pennsylvania in 1723, through the founding of Emmaus, and to the construction of the Homestead in 1777, where seven generations would live and carry the family history forward.

Understanding the Knauss family's origins is essential to appreciating the significance of the Homestead's preservation.

Visit Knausshomestead.org to explore further or make a donation! 🔗

02/27/2026

🚨This is a critical piece of Lehigh Valley history, and if we want to save it, we’re going to have to fight for it. Reverend Blumer’s farm is in danger. This barn held our Liberty Bell and kept it safe during the time it was being transported to Allentown for safe keeping - we need to return the favor 250 years later. Please SIGN and SHARE before this property is lost.🚨

Protect and restore The Reverend Blumer Farm House and Barn

02/03/2026

Seven generations of The Knauss Homestead begin with Sebastian Knauss.

Born October 6, 1714, in Düdelsheim, Germany, Sebastian and his wife, Anna Catherine Transue, came to Pennsylvania in 1723 seeking religious freedom. A wheelwright by trade, Sebastian worked closely with Henry Antes before eventually making the journey north from Montgomery County to what would become Emmaus.

Sebastian’s son, Heinrich Knauss, built the Homestead for his father in the late 1700s. Heinrich lived only briefly to see the house completed and passed away in 1810, leaving behind a legacy rooted in faith, craftsmanship, and perseverance that would carry on for generations.

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 🔗