Navigation menu

Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Johnson Hall State Historic Site

Skip Navigation LinksHome / Historic Sites / Johnson Hall State Historic Site
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 15 Mar
Remember the Ladies: Colonial Women and Revolutionary Commemoration
Saturday, March 15, 2025 01:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Johnson Hall State Historic Site
Join Johnson Hall State Historic Site and Old Fort Johnson on Saturday, March 15th as we celebrate Women's History Month with Remember the Ladies: Colonial Women and Revolutionary Commemoration, exploring three Revolutionary-era women who shaped not only their own time, but who shaped how we remember that history today. The program will take place at St. Patrick's Lodge No. 4, 22 North Perry Street, Johnstown NY, 12095, starting at 1:00pm. This afternoon of exciting historical information will feature presentations by experts in the fields of colonial women's history and historical interpretation, including: Sandy Spector, Michele Gabrielson, and Jessie Serfilippi.

Amenities Information

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

Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

Inside our Agency

Resources

News

Quick Links

Language Access