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Johnson Hall State Historic Site

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Address
139 Hall Avenue
Johnstown, NY 12095
  Saratoga/Capital District Region
Latitude 43.015064
Longitude -74.382301
  Directions


Johnson Hall was the 1763 Georgian-style estate of Anglo-Irish immigrant Sir William Johnson (1715 - 1774) and Molly Brant/ Konwatsi'tsiaienni of the Mohawks (1736-1796). They resided here with their eight children, numerous Native and European guests, and a large number of free, indentured, and enslaved servants. Their combined influence made them the most powerful family in the colonial Mohawk Valley, deeply impacting the diplomacy of the region and their wider worlds. Johnson's influence with the leadership of the Six Nations of the Haudenosaunee greatly influenced England's victory over France for control of colonial North America. For his service, the British Crown bestowed upon Johnson the title of Baronet, and later appointed him Superintendent of Indian Affairs, a position to which he devoted himself and held throughout his life.

Differing cultures, traditions and languages combined to create a unique life for the Johnson family, with the Hall bustling with activity as home life and business life intermingled daily. Visitors included members  and representatives of various Native Nations and tribes, sometimes numbering in the hundreds at Council gatherings. The home was the centerpiece of a 700-acre working estate, with elaborate formal gardens, vegetable plots, orchards, a mill, blacksmith shop, Indian trade store, barns, enslaved and tenant housing, and other support buildings.

Following the death of Sir William in 1774, Molly and her children left Johnson Hall, and his eldest son John inherited both the property and title of Baronet. By 1776, the new Revolutionary government forced this Loyalist family and many of their supporters to flee to Canada under threat of imprisonment and violence. Johnson Hall was seized and looted, with most of its remaining contents subsequently sold at auction following the war. Johnson Hall remained a private residence through 1906, when it was acquired by the State of New York and opened to the public as a State Historic Site. Today, Johnson Hall continues to welcome visitors and interpret the Johnson family through guided tours of the period room settings and of the historic grounds, educational programs, and special events.

Hours of Operation

  • 2024 Season: May 15 through October 13

    Guided Tours of The Hall
    Guided tours will be given on the hour Wednesdays through Saturday between 10am to 4pm (final tour begins at 3pm) and Sunday between 1pm and 4pm (final tour begins at 3pm). Special events may alter this schedule. To ensure tour date availability you may contact site staff during normal business hour at (518) 762-8712.
    The grounds are open to the public from sunrise to sunset.

Fees & Rates

  • Admission

  • Fees and Rates for Guided Tours

    $7.00 Adults
    $6.00 Senior Citizens
    Children 12 and under Free
    $2.00 per person per program/$20 minimum School Groups (advance reservation)
    $5.00 per person per program/$20 minimum Groups (advance reservation)

Sat 22 Feb
Soldiers, Servants, and Self-Manumitters: Black Colonial History in the Mohawk Valley
Saturday, February 22, 2025 01:00 PM - 04:30 PM
Johnson Hall State Historic Site
(518) 762-8712

Join us Saturday, February 22nd for an afternoon of presentations as we explore histories of both free and enslaved Black colonial residents of the Mohawk valley, from Albany to Fort Stanwix. After the presentations, visitors are invited to view some of the spaces most associated with the people of African ancestry enslaved at Johnson Hall between 1763 and 1774. This is a FREE event, however pre-reservation is required as space is limited. Please call the site at 518-762-8712 to secure your seat. The day's speakers include: Kelly Cardwell, Fort Stanwix National Monument- African Descended Troops in the Mohawk Valley Jessie Serfilippi, Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site- Seizing Liberty: Stories of Freedom Seekers at Schuyler Mansion Ian Mumpton, Johnson Hall State Historic Site- Articles in the Butler's Room: New Interpretations of the Enslaved Butler at Johnson Hall, When: Saturday, February 22nd, from 1:00pm-4:30pm Where: Johnson Hall State Historic Site, 139 Hall Ave, Johnstown NY, 12095 Cost: FREE (Pre-reservation required) Contact: Ian Mumpton, 518-762-8712 This event made possible with the generous support and participation of the Friends of Johnson Hall, Old Fort Johnson/Montgomery County Historical Society, Fort Stanwix National Monument, and Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site.
Registration: Required

Amenities Information

  • Amenities
  • Gift Shop (Accessible)
  • Picnic Area (Accessible)
  • Tours
  • Visitor Center (Accessible)

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