How to Use the Images

Table of
Contents

Photo 1: The Gemeinhaus.

The Gemeinhaus was one of the largest log structures ever built in this country. The completed building measured 94' X 32' and contained a chapel, several rooms, and two dormitories. It served as the community house or "the house of many uses" and its design was based on the church houses of early Moravia and Bohemia. This building has been used continuously since construction began in 1741, but the exterior has been covered with clapboard siding since the mid-19th century.

Questions for Photo 1

1. Why do you think nearly every Moravian settlement built a gemeinhaus?

2. What activities do you think took place in this building?

3. How does this building reflect the Moravian lifestyle?

4. Based on Reading 3, does this structure appear to represent typical Moravian architecture? Why or why not?

* The photo on this screen has a resolution of 72 dots per inch (dpi), and therefore will print poorly. You can obtain a high quality version of Photo 1, but be aware that the file will take as much as 30 seconds to load with a 28.8K modem.