Knauss, Heinrich, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1777 by Heinrich Knauss on a two hundred acre tract his father Sebastian Knauss bought in 1747, this two-story corner post and plank house stands in Emmaus, Pennsylvania. Its plan follows the Continental House type, a German-derived layout organized around an internal chimney with a kitchen, parlor and bedroom, plus a vestibule-like fourth room that separates visitors from the working kitchen. The house kept the Knauss family for 158 years, and Mary Ellen Knauss lived there from 1866 until her death in 1935. Much of the interior survives from the 18th century, including original random-width pine floors, six-panel doors, wrought iron strap hinges and decorative locks, and painted second-floor partitions. The house is regarded as one of the best-preserved examples of the Continental House plan in the Lehigh Valley. Since 2003 it has been run as a house museum by the Knauss House Preservation Society, which was incorporated in 1993.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an exceptionally well-preserved example of the Continental House plan, a German-derived type built around an internal chimney with a kuche, stube and kammer. It is described as one of the best-preserved examples of this plan in the Lehigh Valley. Its original interior finishes, sashes, doors and hardware are cited as key evidence of integrity.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 08000521, listed June 10, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 152 E. Main St., Emmaus |
|---|---|
| County | Lehigh County |
| Listed | June 10, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08000521 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1777 |
| Architect / builder | Knauss, Heinrich |
| Architectural style | COLONIAL |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant for the last thirty-seven years after occupation ended in 1970; restored in a limited campaign in 2002-2003 and operated as a house museum. |
| Acreage | 15.4 |
| Coordinates | 40.54440, -75.48463 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 08000521.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q139745090
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.