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.


"Prost" or Cheers to 2024!

1803 House Fundraiser at Yergey Brewing

  
When: February 24, 2024
Time: 2pm to 6pm
Where: YERGEY BREWING, 235 Main Street, Emmaus, PA
The 1803 House will be celebrating over 22 decates of history!!!
Taste special ale brewed by Yergey's, plus local ciders, cocktails and wine offerings;
Break bread with homemade food from Why Not Burgerz.; 
Enjoy the acoustic sounds by Russ Rentler;
There will be a Gift Card and Lottery Ticket Raffle Boards. and a 50/50 Raffle;
And learn more about colonial times in Emmaus and Jacob Ehrenhardt Jr. the builder of the 1803 House!
 
[2024 flier] 
     

For more Events at the 1803 House and in Emmaus go to "All Events" 

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 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, as Ryan Loughren, a teacher at  Seven Generations Charter School, in 2012, 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;
 

March 21,2024-1803 House Presentation


The Friends of the 1803 House will be presenting at the Emmaus Historical Society March Program. "Dig this: The archaeological Dig at the 1803 House Explanined..." The presentation will be on March 21, 2024 at 7:00pm at St. Johns Lutheran Church located at 501 Chestnut Street, Emmaus.  Begun by a teacher of Seven Generations Charter School in 2012, the dig project at the 1803 House, was adpoted by Lehigh University Professor of Archaeology, David Small, and his students from 2014 to 2019.  Over the years, as we peeled back the layers of soil and artifacts we looked for answers to the myster of what the sturcture on the kitchend end of the house could be.  What did we Discover?

1803 House Crock Fund Raiser:


The Friends are selling 1803 House Bujino pottery crocks.  Great addition to any kitchen! We are selling 1803 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!!!

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 & 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