Welcome to The 1803 House in Emmaus, Pennsylvania


Mailing address: Post Office Box 7, Emmaus, PA 18049;  Email: friends@1803house.org; 
Location: 55 South Keystone Avenue, Emmaus, PA 18049;


The mission of "The Friends of the 1803 House" is to help preserve and maintain the 1803 House, as a museum for the community of Emmaus.
We protect the past while ensuring the next generation of Americans will learn from the lessons of our history.


 

2024 Old Fashioned Christmas at the 1803 House:

December 7th..."2024 Old Fashioned Christmas at the 1803 House and all of Emmaus": 10am to 2pm [2024 Flyer]:
The House will be filled with an 1803 spirit of Christmas:  with a picturesque open-hearth fire; Colonial Decorated Christmas Tree; Macungie Ministrelaires; Emmaus Garden Club Windowsill decorations; Scale models of Emmaus historic buildings by Andre Fatula; Children’s Crafts; Annual Wreath Sale;1803 House Photo Cards; Gnomes; Moravian Stars; Church Babies; A Very Merrie Holiday Raffle; House Tours and so much more. Other historic Emmaus sites were open: The Emmaus Historical Society, The Knauss Homestead; The Shelter House; Plus, many holiday events happening in Emmaus.  Go to Winter EventsMorning Call Article; 
               

1803 House Fundraiser at Stone Cellar Farm Winery...November 14, 2024

  

Stone Farm Cellars & Vineyard...Thursday November 14th from 5:30pm to 8:00pm; at 5831 Vera Cruz Road, Center Valley fall flier: Tickets were $25 which included one drink and grazing board.  Try you luck at winning a themed Basket Raffles and a 50/50! Everyone enjoyed an evening of good wine, with good friends and for a good cause while listening to the acoustic sounds of Hannah Violet!  Grazing board was graciously donated by Schantz Funeral Home of Emmaus and other expenses were donated by Santander Bank.  For more Events at the 1803 House and in Emmaus go to "All Events" 
 
               

1803 House Archeological Dig:

Since 2015, Lehigh University Archaeology Professor David Small, has been working with teams of students and Emmaus volunteers on excavations at the 1803 House. Lehigh's enterprise was not the first, however. In 2012 Ryan Loughren, a teacher at  Seven Generations Charter School, took several students to dig south of the kitchen. In 2017, the project took on an exciting new focus. Lehigh University will be constructing an integrated, interactive website which will contain not only the information from the excavation, but the information from the 1803 House itself. This new focus is only possible through the "Mellon Digital Initiative Grant", which Lehigh University helped the 1803 House procure. That same year the excavating crew uncovered a "privy". In 2019, the team completed their excavation of the site. They preserved the site walls and then placed clean fill over the area. Now, the 1803 House, anxiously awaits the release of the new website being created by Lehigh University students. More on Dig;
 

The 1803 House:

In 1803, Jacob Ehrenhardt, Jr. built this stone, Federal-style home for his wife Susanna and their four daughters, Barbara, Anna Marie, Anna Eleonora and Suzanna.  It was located near the Moravian Church, surrounded by crop fields, the South Mountain and a stream nearby. The house preserves the architecture of the Moravian culture of Colonial Pennsylvania and is located at 55 South Keystone Avenue, Emmaus, PA and is managed by The Friends of the 1803 House. More history;



 

1803 House & Dale Earnhardt Jr.:

     
Why was NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt, Jr. in Emmaus?  His Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great, Great Grandfather was Johannes Ehrenhardt who was the father
of Jacob Ehrenhardt Sr., who was the father of Jacob Ehrenhardt Jr., who built the 1803 House.  
Morning Call article; or  "Ramblings from the Bench"; Paul Reinhard-Morning Call

Become a Friend of the 1803 House...

To become a "Friend" click on the "Become a Member" button below mail it with your tax-deductible contribution.

Attend an 1803 House or Emmaus Event:

For more information Go to Events;

Need a Speaker?

 
Planned Programs...
The 1803 House also gives slide show presentations to a group or organization at another location. Since we totally rely on donations to achieve our mission, we would greatly appreciate a donation.
To schedule a planned program, 
contact us.

1803 House Education Programs:

 
The 1803 House offers Educational Programs. We currently have an educational partnership with nearby Seven Generations Charter School and East Penn School District.
For more information Go To Education or contact us

1803 House Crock Fund Raiser:


The Friends are selling 1803 House Bujino pottery crocks.  A Great addition to any kitchen! We are selling the1803 House crocks! All monies go to the repairs and upkeep of this amazing piece of history right here in our town. Stop by South Mountain Cycle at 318 Main Street in Emmaus to pick one up today! The cost is $40 by check or cash and $45 by credit card. Thank you for supporting the 1803 House!!!