Michael Braun House

Located in the town of Granite Quarry, the house is an important reminder of the role German immigrants played in the settlement and development of Rowan County. Michael Braun, who arrived in America in 1737, built ­the house for his family, and it remained in his family after his death until early 1900’s. it has been owned by the Rowan Museum since 1959 and is currently open to the public as a museum on weekends.

With all but five acres in forest, the property retains the integrity of its natural setting. Edward Norvell, who sits on the board of the Rowan Museum and was instrumental in getting this property protected by easement, said “We owe a lot to the Brown-Fisher family and Mr. E.L. Hardin who all worked throughout the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s to restore this Piedmont treasure. I am proud that the current Rowan Museum board had the foresight to further protect the property surrounding the house so that the Michael Braun House will forever retain its frontier setting, even as new residential subdivisions surround it. The Hezakiah Alexander house in Charlotte, the only other 18^th century German stone house in North Carolina, once had a similar frontier setting, but you would never know it based on the way the surrounding area has developed. We are proud to know that the Michael Braun house will not suffer the same fate.”