Editing Johnson House

{{Infobox Museum
| name = Johnson House Historic Site
| image =
| image_caption = Johnson House in Germantown
| type = Historic house museum
| address = 6306 Germantown Avenue
| neighborhood = Germantown
| coordinates = 40.0350,-75.1743
| phone = (215) 438-1768
| website = https://www.johnsonhouse.org
| established = 1768 (house); 1980 (museum)
| founder = Johnson family
| director =
| collections = Underground Railroad history
| visitors = 10,000+ annually
| hours = Thu-Sat 10 AM - 4 PM
}}

'''The Johnson House Historic Site''' is a historic house museum in [[Germantown, Philadelphia|Germantown]] that served as a station on the '''Underground Railroad'''. Built in '''1768''' by John Johnson Sr., a Quaker slaveholder who later freed his enslaved workers, the house became an important stop on the secret network that helped freedom seekers escape from slavery in the antebellum period. Today, the Johnson House is one of the few authenticated Underground Railroad sites in Philadelphia open to the public.<ref name="johnson">{{cite web |url=https://www.johnsonhouse.org/about/ |title=About the Johnson House |publisher=Johnson House Historic Site |access-date=December 30, 2025}}</ref>

The Johnson family's Quaker faith led them from slaveholding to active involvement in the abolitionist movement and the Underground Railroad. The house's location in Germantown—a stop on the road north from Philadelphia—and its construction (with multiple hiding places) made it an ideal refuge for those escaping bondage. Tours explore the house's architecture, the Johnson family's transformation, and the dangerous work of the Underground Railroad.<ref name="visit">{{cite web |url=https://www.visitphilly.com/things-to-do/attractions/johnson-house-historic-site/ |title=Johnson House Historic Site |publisher=Visit Philadelphia |access-date=December 30, 2025}}</ref>

== History ==

=== The Johnson Family ===

'''John Johnson Sr.''' built the stone farmhouse in '''1768'''. Like many Quakers of his era, Johnson initially held enslaved people. However, the Society of Friends (Quakers) was moving toward abolition, and Johnson eventually freed his enslaved workers.

Subsequent generations of the Johnson family became active abolitionists:
* '''John Johnson Jr.''' and his wife were conductors on the Underground Railroad
* The family worked with other Germantown Quakers in the antislavery movement
* They risked imprisonment and fines to help freedom seekers

=== The Underground Railroad ===

The Underground Railroad was a network of secret routes and safe houses used by enslaved African Americans to escape to freedom in the Northern states and Canada. The Johnson House served as a '''station''' on this network:
* Freedom seekers would arrive, often at night
* They would be hidden, fed, and rested
* They would then be directed to the next station
* The network stretched from the South to Canada

=== Risk and Resistance ===

Helping freedom seekers was illegal under the Fugitive Slave Act:
* Conductors faced imprisonment and fines
* Freedom seekers faced recapture and worse treatment
* The work required secrecy and trust
* Germantown's Quaker community provided a network of support

=== Preservation ===

The house remained in the Johnson family until the 20th century. It was:
* Designated a National Historic Landmark in '''1997'''
* Opened as a museum to interpret Underground Railroad history
* Preserved as a testament to the struggle for freedom

== The House ==

=== Architecture ===

The Johnson House is a Georgian-style stone farmhouse:
* Built 1768
* Typical of colonial Germantown
* Stone construction
* Multiple floors and hiding places

=== Underground Railroad Features ===

The house's construction aided its use as a station:
* Hidden spaces for concealment
* Cellar access
* Attic hiding areas
* Strategic location near roads north

=== Outbuildings ===

The property includes:
* Original stone house
* Historic garden
* Carriage house (now visitor center)

== Visiting the Johnson House ==

=== Hours ===

* '''Thursday-Saturday:''' 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
* '''Closed:''' Sunday-Wednesday
* Tours at scheduled times

=== Admission ===

* '''Adults:''' Approximately $12 (check website for current pricing)
* '''Seniors/Students:''' Discounted rates
* '''Children:''' Discounted rates

Reservations recommended, especially for groups.

=== Tours ===

* Guided tours interpret the house and Underground Railroad history
* Tours last approximately 1 hour
* School groups and special programs available
* Check website for tour times

=== Tips ===

* The house is best experienced through a guided tour
* Good for adults and older children interested in history
* Combine with other Germantown historic sites
* The subject matter is serious—tours discuss slavery and resistance

=== Getting There ===

* '''SEPTA Regional Rail:''' Chelten Avenue Station (10-minute walk)
* '''SEPTA Bus:''' Route 23
* '''By Car:''' Located on Germantown Avenue
* '''Parking:''' Street parking

=== Nearby Attractions ===

* [[Cliveden]] (2 blocks)
* [[Germantown White House]] (Deshler-Morris House)
* [[Wyck]] (nearby)
* [[Germantown, Philadelphia]] (surrounding neighborhood)

== Educational Programs ==

=== School Programs ===

* Field trips aligned with curriculum standards
* Underground Railroad education
* Primary source learning
* Experiential activities

=== Public Programs ===

* Lectures and discussions
* Community events
* Juneteenth celebrations
* Black History Month programming

== See Also ==

* [[Underground Railroad in Philadelphia]]
* [[African American History in Philadelphia]]
* [[Germantown, Philadelphia]]
* [[Quakers in Philadelphia]]
* [[Cliveden]]

== References ==
<references />

== External Links ==

* [https://www.johnsonhouse.org Johnson House Historic Site Official Website]
* [https://www.visitphilly.com/things-to-do/attractions/johnson-house-historic-site/ Visit Philadelphia Guide]

{{#seo:
|title=Johnson House Historic Site - Underground Railroad in Philadelphia
|description=Visit the Johnson House in Germantown, an authenticated Underground Railroad station. Learn about the freedom seekers who passed through this Quaker home on their journey to freedom.
|keywords=Johnson House, Underground Railroad Philadelphia, Germantown historic site, Quaker abolitionists, freedom seekers, slavery history, African American history
|type=Article
}}

[[Category:Museums]]
[[Category:Historic Sites]]
[[Category:Germantown]]
[[Category:Underground Railroad]]
[[Category:African American History]]