The Knauss Homestead, Emmaus

About The Knauss Homestead

The Knauss Homestead is an 18th-century house and barn in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, preserved and open to visitors as a historic site. Built in 1777 by Heinrich Knauss for his father Sebastian, the homestead offers tours of the restored home and its period furnishings, including the dining room, second-floor bedrooms with period rope beds, and original door details. The property spans two hundred acres and remained in the Knauss family for 158 years until 1935. The Knauss Homestead Preservation Society, established in 1992, continues restoration work to return the structure to its authentic 18th-century condition. The site hosts seasonal events including the Harvest Festival with local artists, crafters, and food vendors, as well as community celebrations. Visitors interested in Lehigh Valley history, the founding of the Moravian community of Emmaus, or Revolutionary War-era domestic life will find connections to their own family heritage or regional history at the homestead.