John Johnson House (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) facts for kids
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John Johnson House
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U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
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John Johnson House in 2009
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| Location | 6306 Germantown Avenue Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States |
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| Area | < 1-acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1768 |
| Architect | Jacob Norr |
| Architectural style | Colonial Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001162 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | January 13, 1972 |
| Designated NHL | December 9, 1997 |
The John Johnson House is a very important historical building in Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is famous because it played a big part in helping people escape slavery through the Underground Railroad. Today, you can visit it as a museum. It is located at 6306 Germantown Avenue. This house is also part of a larger historical area called the Colonial Germantown Historic District.
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A Home with a Secret: The Underground Railroad
Philadelphia was a very important city in the 1800s for people who wanted to end slavery. The Germantown area, where the Johnson House is, was a key center for this movement. From 1770 to 1908, five different generations of the Johnson family lived in this house.
The Johnson Family's Role
The second and third generations of the Johnson family were very active in the Underground Railroad during the 1850s. This was a secret network of safe houses and routes. It helped enslaved people travel to freedom, often in the northern states or Canada.
Members of the Johnson family, including Jennett Rowland Johnson and her children Rowland, Israel, Ellwood, Sarah, and Elizabeth, were strong supporters of ending slavery. They belonged to groups like the American Anti-Slavery Society. Through these groups, they became involved in the Underground Railroad.
The Johnsons used their home as a "station" on this secret network. They also used nearby homes of relatives. Here, they would hide people who were escaping slavery. The Johnson House is a great example of a safe place on the Underground Railroad. The Johnsons were important leaders in the fight against slavery.
Building the House and a Historic Battle
The John Johnson House was built between 1765 and 1768. At that time, it was one of the largest homes in Germantown. A builder named Jacob Norr constructed it for Dirck Jansen. Jansen built it for his son, John Johnson, Sr.
In 1777, a major battle happened very close to the house. This was the Battle of Germantown during the American Revolutionary War. Even today, you can see marks on the house from musket balls and cannonballs from that battle.
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